Seven of Ethereum’s most established protocol teams have joined forces. They created the Ethereum Protocol Advocacy Alliance (EPAA) this November 5th. The goal is to address growing global regulatory pressure. This pressure threatens the governance of decentralized systems. The coalition includes prominent names like Aragon, Lido Labs Foundation, and the Uniswap Foundation.
This new global coalition will focus on defending Ethereum’s open infrastructure. This infrastructure currently secures over $100 billion in on-chain assets. Importantly, the group will not function as a traditional lobby. It will not have central leadership or a dedicated lobbying budget. Instead, its strategy is to provide invaluable technical expertise to policymakers. To do this, it will collaborate closely with existing advocacy organizations. Among them are the DeFi Education Fund and the European Crypto Initiative.
For years, Ethereum’s Layer-1 protocols have been the silent backbone. They have powered DeFi, stablecoins, and smart contracts. However, as governments accelerate crypto regulation, developers find themselves drawn into policy debates. The Ethereum Protocol Advocacy Alliance (EPAA) seeks to ensure laws reflect how these systems actually operate. Anthony Leutenegger, CEO of Aragon, highlighted the technical complexity of on-chain tools. He stated that “Bringing together the most credible protocol teams will help ensure regulatory outcomes are workable”.
Can developers educate regulators before it’s too late?
The shared policy framework of the Ethereum Protocol Advocacy Alliance (EPAA) focuses on four key priorities. First, protecting the neutrality of the protocol layer. This ensures the code itself is not subject to regulation. Second, advancing on-chain transparency as a real-time, verifiable source of compliance. Likewise, they seek to preserve flexibility for innovation, avoiding rigid standards. Finally, they uphold global, permissionless access to decentralized infrastructure.
The formation of this alliance marks a notable maturation phase. The builders of the blockchain are now becoming active advocates. Sam Kim, Chief Legal Officer at Lido Labs Foundation, emphasized the importance of Ethereum’s core principle. He stated that “Decentralization is the foundation of Ethereum’s credibility and resilience”. Meanwhile, Brian Nistler of the Uniswap Foundation added that the project’s past regulatory battles reinforce the need. Developers must have a seat at the policy discussion table.
This strategic move occurs as lawmakers in Washington and Brussels evaluate new frameworks for DeFi. Global officials face the challenge of classifying infrastructure that lacks a central operator. Connor Spelliscy of the Decentralization Research Center, summarized it well: “Those who build decentralized systems should help shape the rules that govern them”. Although the Ethereum Protocol Advocacy Alliance (EPAA) starts with seven founders, it is designed to grow and clarify the nature of this technology.
