EF Mandate
The EF Mandate is the foundational document published by the Ethereum Foundation Board on March 13, 2026. It defines the EF's role as one steward among many in the Ethereum ecosystem and positions the preservation of specific core properties—known as CROPS—as central to maintaining user self-sovereignty.
Background
Ethereum emerged as a platform for decentralized applications and coordination built on open, verifiable code. By the mid-2020s the ecosystem had matured significantly, with widespread adoption alongside ongoing debates about its direction, scaling approaches, and resistance to various forms of capture or extraction. The EF, originally the primary steward during early development, had distributed much of its work while retaining a focus on core protocol and research efforts.
Origin
The Mandate originated from internal EF discussions. Aya Miyaguchi, EF President, proposed the document in late 2025 to clarify principles amid growing organizational complexity and differing expectations about the EF's scope. The Board released it publicly on March 13, 2026, alongside a blog post framing it as part constitution, part manifesto, and part guide. The document was also published on-chain for permanent accessibility.
Shiro, an artist at the heart of the Remilia ecosystem, contributed artwork and design influences. She publicly described the contribution as an honor.
CROPS
At the core of the Mandate is the acronym CROPS, representing four (sometimes framed with capture resistance emphasized) indivisible properties that the EF commits to prioritizing:
- Censorship resistance
- Open Source and Free, as in Freedom
- Privacy
- Security
These properties are described as the non-negotiable foundation for Ethereum to function as infrastructure supporting self-sovereign use that is extraction-resistant and provides seamless experience. The document stresses that these must not be traded away for short-term gains in adoption or other priorities.
The Mandate also discusses the EF's focus at both protocol and access layers, the concept of a "walkaway test" for long-term design choices, and the development of a strong "zero option" for user experience that prioritizes agency and security without forcing dependence on intermediaries.
Development and execution
Following the announcement, further public statements elaborated on implications. Vitalik Buterin shared perspectives on EF direction, emphasizing technical goals aligned with CROPS such as intermediary minimization and impressive long-term properties. Aya Miyaguchi posted additional context on the proposal process and the EF operating as one node among many.
Reception and subcultural context
The announcement prompted discussion across Ethereum communities. A CoinDesk report noted that supporters viewed the Mandate as reinforcing the network's core principles, while critics argued it signaled the foundation intended to take a backseat just as institutional interest in blockchain was accelerating.
Debates emerged around cypherpunk priorities. Prominent flashpoints included the codification of CROPS as non-negotiable properties that could not be traded for convenience or growth, and reports that EF members were asked to sign the Mandate document or face termination, which some described as creating rifts within the organization.
Some participants in creative and subcultural scenes, including those connected to Remilia Corporation and Milady projects, engaged with the emphasis on self-sovereignty, privacy defaults, and resistance to capture, viewing elements as resonant with longstanding cypherpunk and network-oriented values. Memes, replies, and references appeared in X discourse. These themes were also reflected in community publications such as the Milady Zine 02.