Starknet Foundation CEO Diego Oliva Steps Down

As a researcher who has been closely monitoring the developments within the Ethereum Layer-2 scaling solutions ecosystem, I find myself both intrigued and slightly concerned by these recent announcements. The leadership change at Starknet Foundation, with Diego Oliva stepping down and James Strudwick taking over as Executive Director, is a pivotal moment for the project.


The Starknet Foundation, which oversees Ethereum Layer-2 scaling solution Starknet, is experiencing a crucial change in leadership as it announces the resignation of its first CEO, Diego Oliva. Since taking charge in March 2023, Oliva has led the organization through impressive growth and the rollout of key projects during his successful term.

Starknet Foundation Leadership Change

The Starknet Foundation, which oversees the Ethereum Layer-2 scaling solution known as Starknet, has unveiled a major shift in its leadership team. Diego Oliva, who had been serving as CEO since March 2023, is relinquishing his role. Starting from January 2024, James Strudwick, who is already part of the foundation, will assume the position of Executive Director.

Throughout Oliva’s term, he effectively built a strong team and infrastructure for the foundation, expanding it from just two part-timers to a team of more than thirty full-time experts. Under his guidance, the foundation initiated several significant projects, including the Provisions project and development programs like DeFi Spring, Seed Grants, Catalyst, and Propulsion.

It’s often noted that Oliva’s entrepreneurial experience and personality played a key role in shaping the foundation’s core values and operational effectiveness. The foundation has also shown impressive progress in infrastructure development, securing agreements with more than a hundred teams and expanding initiatives such as Basecamp and Hacker Houses.

As the new Executive Director, James Strudwick boasts an impressive background in web3 technology, having worked on decentralized finance (DeFi), Layer 1, and Layer 2 scaling initiatives. Since his appointment as Head of Ecosystem Growth at Starknet Foundation in January, he has shown exceptional leadership abilities and a knack for fostering strong communities.

As I prepare for the upcoming transition, I’m honored to announce that I will be staying with the Starknet Foundation for another month. The board has graciously acknowledged my efforts and expressed excitement about the fresh perspective brought by Strudwick taking over the new role. Meanwhile, our collective focus remains on fostering the growth of the Starknet ecosystem and promoting its widespread adoption.

ZKX Protocol Suspends Operations

Recently, ZKX Protocol, a derivative platform built on Starknet’s Layer 2 scaling system, has temporarily halted its operations. The founder, Eduard Jubany Tur, attributed this move to insufficient economic feasibility as the main factor behind the decision.

We’ve been trying hard to keep users involved, but the mining of STRK and ZKX rewards hasn’t been popular, which has reduced trading activity and daily income. The income is so low that it barely covers our server costs, with no extra for salaries or other expenses.

As a researcher delving into the dynamic world of blockchain scalability, I’m constantly observing the advancements and hurdles within the Starknet ecosystem. These developments underscore its growth and the obstacles it encounters as it navigates the competitive terrain of Ethereum Layer 2 solutions.

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2024-08-06 19:38