{"id":"tomasz-stanczak","title":"Tomasz Stańczak","content":"**Tomasz Stańczak** is a software engineer, entrepreneur, and figure in the [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) development space, known as the founder of the [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) infrastructure company Nethermind and the decentralized finance project Oiler Network. Stańczak previously served as a co-executive director of the [Ethereum Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum-foundation-ef). [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-LyI8tfhev5) [\\[8\\]](#cite-id-pZjeLJ3DHC) [\\[11\\]](#cite-id-jbYDOnulbXYraKkL)​\n\n# Education\n\nStańczak graduated from Adam Mickiewicz University with an MSc in Information Technology in 2009. [\\[9\\]](#cite-id-geSf0YFOek)\n\n# Career\n\n### Early Career\n\nStańczak began his career in 2007 as a software developer at Comarch SA, where he worked on extensions and core components for the company’s ERP platforms. From 2009 to 2011, he was with itelligence/Cirquent, contributing to MunichRe projects and maintaining applications used in underwriting and premium calculations. In 2011, he joined CME Group/Elysian Systems to support the development of the CME Direct trading platform for commodity futures.\n\nBetween 2011 and 2016, Stańczak worked at Citi in London, advancing from an intermediate programmer analyst to Vice President of FX eTrading Technology. His responsibilities included building frameworks for trading applications, developing pricing and risk platforms, managing teams, and working with front-office trading desks. In 2016, he joined Rokos Capital Management as a software developer, a position he held until mid-2017.\n\n### Blockchain Entrepreneurship\n\nIn 2017, he founded Nethermind, a London-based technology company focused on [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) infrastructure and related development. He later established Oiler Network in 2020.\n\n### Leadership and Advisory Roles\n\nStańczak became involved in multiple blockchain initiatives, including serving as a member of the [Forta Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/forta) council, a board member of the [Starknet Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/starknet), and a participant in Flashbots.\n\nIn 2022, he joined Twinstake as Chief Executive Officer, a position he held until 2024, after which he became Chairman of the Board until 2025. Over the same period, he continued his work with Nethermind while maintaining advisory and governance roles in the broader [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) ecosystem. [\\[10\\]](#cite-id-2kbUEXUPrx)​\n\nIn early 2025, Stańczak took on the role of co-executive director at the [Ethereum Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum-foundation-ef), sharing the position with [Hsiao-Wei Wang](https://iq.wiki/wiki/hsiao-wei-wang). On February 13, 2026, he announced he would be stepping down from the role at the end of the month. Bastian Aue was named as his successor. Stańczak stated he planned to remain active in the ecosystem by \"working directly with founders in frontier tech and Ethereum.\" [\\[11\\]](#cite-id-jbYDOnulbXYraKkL) [\\[12\\]](#cite-id-kypdqvPPEhiRUxMD)​\n\n# Interviews\n\n## Ethereum Foundation\n\nIn a July 2025 interview with the Unchained podcast celebrating [Ethereum's](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) 10th anniversary, Stańczak discussed the organization's focus on technological issues rather than on the price of [Ether](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ether-eth). He highlighted that the foundation avoids engaging in discussions about [Ether's](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ether-eth) price except when considering treasury management. Stańczak emphasized the vital challenges facing [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum), particularly interoperability, and outlined the foundation's short-term goals, which included scaling [Layer 1](https://iq.wiki/wiki/layer-1), improving user experience, and supporting technological innovation. While acknowledging the complexity of [Ethereum's](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) economy, he emphasized the importance of upholding the core values of security and decentralization. Additionally, Stańczak noted the need for the foundation to act as a connector within the [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) ecosystem, facilitating communication between various stakeholders and reaffirming the foundation’s commitment to supporting builders and addressing community concerns without directly engaging in price speculation. [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-et9Dydri9Z)\n$$widget0 $$widget0 $$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](PGLbMQDClA4)$$$$$$\n\n## Ethereum Zoom Out\n\nOn the Clear Crypto Podcast in July 2025, hosts Nathan and Gareth welcomed Stańczak, the co-executive director of the [Ethereum Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum-foundation-ef) and founder of Nethermind, a key execution client for the [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) network. Stańczak discussed the concept of [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) as a decentralized \"world computer\" that enables participants to verify computations in a trustless manner, facilitating a range of applications from financial markets to automated systems. He shared his journey into the [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) space, which began a decade ago at a meetup in London, and detailed the transformative potential of [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) for the traditional finance industry. The conversation also touched upon [Ethereum’s](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) ongoing upgrades, particularly the transition from a [proof-of-work](https://iq.wiki/wiki/proof-of-work-pow) to a [proof-of-stake](https://iq.wiki/wiki/proof-of-stake) [consensus mechanism](https://iq.wiki/wiki/consensus-mechanism), and the crucial role of the [Ethereum Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum-foundation-ef) in coordinating development and upgrades within the decentralized network. [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-5oH6e1Lx5G)\n$$widget0 $$widget0 $$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](-D-q6kJJkWM)$$$$$$\n\n# Presentations\n\n## Vision for Ethereum\n\nAt [EthCC](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum-community-conference-ethcc) in June 2025, Stańczak delivered a presentation on [Ethereum's](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) vision. He acknowledged the significant contributions of the community, including [Vitalik Buterin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/vitalik-buterin), in shaping this vision, which he felt was his responsibility to execute. Stańczak expressed gratitude for the venue and attendees, highlighting the importance of communication and visibility in promoting [Ethereum's](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) values of open source, privacy, and security, particularly in a rapidly evolving technological landscape influenced by AI. He highlighted key goals for [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum), including enhancing protocol resiliency, improving the user experience, and exploring the integration of AI and [real-world assets](https://iq.wiki/wiki/real-world-assets-rwas). Stańczak emphasized the need for collaboration across diverse communities to promote privacy and facilitate institutional adoption while ensuring that [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) remains a platform that prioritizes and protects human agency amidst increasing automation. He discussed ongoing initiatives, security projects, and the foundation's strategy to engage with developers and global communities to advance [Ethereum's](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) goals in the coming years. [\\[4\\]](#cite-id-mbZmHICHB8)\n$$widget0 $$widget0 $$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](dreIjLi2hXk)$$$$$$\n\n## Ethereum Apps\n\nDuring a presentation at DAPPCON in June 2025, Stańczak discussed his experiences with [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) applications, highlighting both the strengths and weaknesses of user experiences on the platform. He noted that while [stablecoins](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stablecoin) have emerged as a significant application for [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum), the overall user experience remained fraught with challenges, particularly in terms of onboarding and privacy. Stańczak shared his journey of trying to set up wallets and transfer funds, which was often impeded by frustrating user interfaces, requirements for personal information, and technical hurdles. He reflected on how regulatory pressures affected privacy and the ease of use, suggesting that many users, particularly newcomers, faced significant obstacles that detracted from the potential benefits of [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) applications. Through his exploration, he aimed to shed light on these issues within the [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) community, emphasizing the need for improvement in user experience across various applications. [\\[7\\]](#cite-id-pagN45zQfT)\n$$widget0 $$widget0 $$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](BCG9xjibwnE)$$$$$$\n\n## Scaling Ethereum\n\nStańczak from Nethermind delivered a presentation at Pragma Singapore in October 2024, focusing on miner extractable value (MEV) and its implications for scaling [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum). He discussed how MEV drives innovation in [Layer 1 (L1)](https://iq.wiki/wiki/layer-1) performance, as searchers and [arbitrage](https://iq.wiki/wiki/arbitrage) traders seek faster methods to execute transactions. This competition motivates execution client implementers to enhance their systems, ultimately benefiting [validators](https://iq.wiki/wiki/validator) and stakers. Stańczak highlighted the upcoming [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) roadmap and improvements, including the potential for higher data availability and faster block simulation times. He noted the impact of MEV on [Layer 2 (L2)](https://iq.wiki/wiki/layer-2) decentralization, [validator](https://iq.wiki/wiki/validator) behavior, and the design of censorship-resistant systems. Additionally, he addressed the challenges presented by centralization in block production and emphasized the importance of ongoing research to address these issues in the [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) ecosystem. [\\[5\\]](#cite-id-Z1DpeXQzPV)\n$$widget0 $$widget0 $$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](44G37e-b6IQ)$$$$$$\n\n## Starknet\n\nIn an August 2024 presentation at StarknetCC led by Stańczak, the concept of Miner Extractable Value (MEV) within the [Starknet](https://iq.wiki/wiki/starknet) ecosystem was explored, emphasizing the need for awareness and understanding among developers. Stańczak explained MEV as a form of potential profit extracted by privileged actors, particularly sequencers, who might take advantage of transaction ordering. He categorized MEV into front-running, back-running, and sandwiching, illustrating how these practices could be detrimental or beneficial to users. The conversation highlighted ongoing initiatives aimed at mitigating malicious MEV while fostering a deeper comprehension of transaction sequencing among developers, particularly during a period of growth in [decentralized finance (DeFi)](https://iq.wiki/wiki/defi) on [Starknet](https://iq.wiki/wiki/starknet). There was a call for collaboration within the community to create tools and content that could enhance the overall ecosystem, address potential MEV risks associated with increased activity, and facilitate a more streamlined integration of market opportunities. [\\[6\\]](#cite-id-CAOZ50FMK0)\n$$widget0 $$widget0 $$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](majGaDvfpLA)$$$$$$","summary":"Tomasz Stańczak is a software engineer and entrepreneur in the blockchain space. 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