Ethereum core developer Péter Szilágyi has publicly criticized the Ethereum Foundation's compensation system and governance structure, expressing dissatisfaction with his financial remuneration. Szilágyi, who has been with the Foundation for six years, revealed that his total compensation amounted to $625,000, despite Ethereum's market cap soaring to $450 billion. He argued that the low salary forces developers to seek external funding, risking protocol capture by interest groups. Szilágyi also highlighted issues such as unfair compensation, lack of transparency, and centralized power within the Foundation. He criticized the reliance on idealists and the opacity in compensation details, suggesting that the Ethereum ecosystem is dominated by a small circle around Vitalik Buterin and a few opinion leaders. Szilágyi warned that Ethereum's governance has shifted from idealism to realism, potentially jeopardizing its future.