Tomasz, a key figure in Ethereum's core development, has transitioned from founding Nethermind to contributing to the Ethereum Foundation (EF). Over the past few years, nearly 600 individuals have joined the Ethereum ecosystem through internships, gaining experience and often moving on to start their own ventures or join significant projects within the ecosystem. Tomasz noted that Nethermind, initially self-funded, did not deliberately avoid external funding but faced challenges in securing venture capital. The Ethereum Foundation's work spans multiple areas, including security, protocol upgrades, testing, and ecosystem coordination. The foundation focuses on research to advance these areas while maintaining a delicate balance to avoid imposing overly rigid development directions.