Kayleen Fulton, who previously led the Ethereum Foundation's Protocol Support team, has sued the foundation, Vitalik Buterin and Bastian Aue in federal court. She alleges she was wrongfully terminated after disclosing a serious medical diagnosis and objecting to an internal staff pledge. The court has not ruled on any of the claims.
Kayleen Fulton, the former head of the Ethereum Foundation's Protocol Support team, has sued the foundation, Vitalik Buterin and Bastian Aue. She alleges she was wrongfully terminated after objecting to an internal staff pledge and disclosing a serious medical diagnosis.
What the complaint alleges
The complaint was filed on November 4, 2026, in the US District Court for the District of Colorado. It accuses the foundation of wrongful termination and discrimination, and its claims also invoke the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
According to the filing, Fulton disclosed her ovarian cancer diagnosis on March 24, 2026. She alleges that she and another organizer, Trent Van Epps, were dismissed roughly two weeks later. The termination date is reportedly April 6, 2026, and Fulton had been earning $195,000 in the role.
The staff mandate at the center of the dispute
The second thread involves an internal document called the "Ethereum Foundation Mandate." Drafts reportedly began circulating among staff on February 25, 2026, and the final version was published on March 13.
One section, referred to as the "Source Seppuku License," is described as demanding a vow of suicide from anyone who failed to meet its criteria. That provision reportedly triggered significant dissent among employees. Fulton and 53 other staff members pushed back with a letter stating that the signatories had not resigned.
Fulton alleges that this resistance, combined with her medical disclosure, led directly to her firing. These remain allegations in a civil complaint.
Why naming Buterin matters
Suing an organization over employment practices is routine, but naming Buterin personally is not. The complaint ties the alleged violations to the foundation's leadership, not just its HR process.
Source: Crypto Briefing
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