A lawsuit filed on November 4 in a federal court in Colorado puts internal personnel conflicts at the Ethereum Foundation in the spotlight.
Kayleen Fulton (Nixo), former head of the Protocol Support team, is suing six parties: the Swiss-registered entity Stiftung Ethereum, its Singapore affiliate EAPL, nominal employer Lightsource HR, payroll provider Vensure, former co-executive director Bastian Aue, and Vitalik Buterin.
The timeline is central to the allegations. On March 24, she informed management in writing that she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The following day, she and colleague Trent Van Epps launched an open letter that was ultimately signed by 53 people, opposing the Foundation’s deadline for employees to pledge support for “The Ethereum Foundation Mandate.” On April 6, the two organizers were fired one after the other in separate calls about 30 minutes apart. Aue praised her work performance but gave no specific reason.
A recording of a May 1 conversation has drawn particular attention. The lawsuit quotes Buterin as saying that if employees realized they could affect outcomes by making a fuss, they would see this as a way to push the Foundation to change its decisions. Fulton cites this as key evidence for her claim of retaliatory termination, while also alleging disability discrimination and interference with medical leave. She is seeking compensation for lost wages and benefits, as well as punitive damages, and asks the court to rule that her separation agreement does not bar her from suing and that the case need not be arbitrated in Singapore. EAPL, meanwhile, denies wrongdoing and retaliation through its lawyers, arguing that the arbitration clause is valid.
The case is still at the stage of a complaint filed by one side, and all allegations remain subject to judicial review. But with just 13 days between disclosing her diagnosis, launching the open letter, and being fired—and with the recording’s contents—the organization at the heart of the $ETH ecosystem now faces public scrutiny over governance and employment compliance.
#以太坊 #Ethereum Foundation
Kayleen Fulton (Nixo), former head of the Protocol Support team, is suing six parties: the Swiss-registered entity Stiftung Ethereum, its Singapore affiliate EAPL, nominal employer Lightsource HR, payroll provider Vensure, former co-executive director Bastian Aue, and Vitalik Buterin.
The timeline is central to the allegations. On March 24, she informed management in writing that she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The following day, she and colleague Trent Van Epps launched an open letter that was ultimately signed by 53 people, opposing the Foundation’s deadline for employees to pledge support for “The Ethereum Foundation Mandate.” On April 6, the two organizers were fired one after the other in separate calls about 30 minutes apart. Aue praised her work performance but gave no specific reason.
A recording of a May 1 conversation has drawn particular attention. The lawsuit quotes Buterin as saying that if employees realized they could affect outcomes by making a fuss, they would see this as a way to push the Foundation to change its decisions. Fulton cites this as key evidence for her claim of retaliatory termination, while also alleging disability discrimination and interference with medical leave. She is seeking compensation for lost wages and benefits, as well as punitive damages, and asks the court to rule that her separation agreement does not bar her from suing and that the case need not be arbitrated in Singapore. EAPL, meanwhile, denies wrongdoing and retaliation through its lawyers, arguing that the arbitration clause is valid.
The case is still at the stage of a complaint filed by one side, and all allegations remain subject to judicial review. But with just 13 days between disclosing her diagnosis, launching the open letter, and being fired—and with the recording’s contents—the organization at the heart of the $ETH ecosystem now faces public scrutiny over governance and employment compliance.
#以太坊 #Ethereum Foundation