Ethereum Researcher Justin Drake Quits EigenLayer Advisory Role, Here’s Why

As an analyst with over two decades of experience in the tech and blockchain industry, I have seen my fair share of controversies and scandals. However, the recent turn of events involving Justin Drake and EigenLayer has left me somewhat perplexed.


In just under half a year following the revelation of his advisory position at EigenLayer, Ethereum Foundation’s Justin Drake has opted to step down from that role. This move comes in response to criticism from the cryptocurrency community, who voiced worries about potential conflicts of interest.

No EigenLayer (EIGEN) Token Vested

Lately, it appears that significant disagreements might exist among members of the Ethereum community, with some influential figures caught in the middle. Mainly, they express concern over the evolving standards within the blockchain industry regarding potential conflicts of interest.

Justin Drake asserted that he acted honestly in securing his role. However, there seems to be a struggle among many to align EigenLayer’s stance with his duties at Ethereum.

In addition, Drake expressed remorse not only towards the community but also his peers at the Ethereum Foundation. He admitted that his decision was a mistake in retrospect. Moreover, he clarified that his advisory role had already been terminated prior to any of his EIGEN tokens becoming available for vesting.

Moving ahead, Drake announced he would decline all positions as advisor, angel investor, and member of security councils. This personal decision exceeds the current conflict-of-interest policy across EF, not because it was required, but to emphasize his dedication towards maintaining impartiality.

In summary: I have relinquished my role as an advisor for EigenLayer, departed from the ultrasound team, and implemented various adjustments to intensify my commitment towards maintaining neutrality while concentrating on Layer 1 research and collaboration.

In September, I relinquished my position as an advisor for the EigenFoundation. I’d like to extend my apologies to the Ethereum community and the EF for any inconvenience this may cause.

— Justin Ðrake (@drakefjustin) November 2, 2024

Controversy About Justin Drake and Conflict of Interest

Researcher Dankrad Feist, who works at the Ethereum Foundation, has chosen to leave EigenLayer along with developer Drake. They have been involved in the cryptocurrency project for several years. EigenLayer is a platform that allows crypto applications to temporarily utilize Ethereum’s security using a unique concept called “restaking.

In May, Drake and Feist announced they’d joined the Eigen Foundation as advisors, also receiving a share of tokens. However, concerns about potential conflicts between EigenLayer and their current employer, the Ethereum Foundation, sparked debates. Notably, the Ethereum Foundation team members often took on advisory positions with other projects.

In response to public doubts about perceived inconsistencies, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin expressed his pride on X that Ethereum encourages open dialogue, rather than silencing people’s views. He emphasized that both positive and negative opinions about the protocol or its environment were welcome within its community.

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2024-11-02 22:05