Ethereum Foundation researcher Dankrad Feist announced on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) that he has recently taken on an advisory role at EigenLayer. This follows a similar disclosure by fellow Ethereum researcher Justin Drake, who revealed his advisory position on Sunday.

Neither Feist nor Drake have specified the exact timeline for when they assumed their roles at EigenLayer. Feist emphasized that his advisory position is personal and not representative of the Ethereum Foundation. He stated his focus would be on assessing risks and ensuring decentralization, adding that he is prepared to adopt contrarian views on EigenLayer if necessary.

"I am taking this position personally, not representing the Ethereum Foundation, and with a focus on risks and decentralization," Feist wrote. He also disclosed that he would receive a "significant amount" of Eigen tokens for his advisory role, but assured that this compensation would not influence his views on the protocol or its development.

The announcements from Feist and Drake have sparked discussions regarding potential conflicts of interest between EigenLayer and the Ethereum Foundation. These concerns were highlighted by crypto trader and influencer Jordan Fish, known as Cobie, who questioned Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin on the matter. Cobie asked about the implications of Ethereum Foundation core developers or researchers receiving substantial compensation from projects built on Ethereum, which might have conflicting incentives with the main Ethereum network.

“How do you feel about Ethereum Foundation core developers or researchers taking life-changing $ packages from projects built on Ethereum to become ‘advisors’, when those projects may have conflicted incentives with Ethereum, either now or in the future?,” Cobie queried. He used EigenLayer as a theoretical example to illustrate his point.

While Buterin did not respond to Cobie's question, Justin Drake took to X the next morning to address the community. "I feel the community deserves transparency," Drake stated. He pledged to reinvest all his advisorship proceeds into Ethereum projects, either as investments or donations, to alleviate concerns about his motivations.

In contrast, Feist did not make any similar commitment regarding the use of his advisorship proceeds. Instead, he focused on outlining the risks and benefits associated with restaking, an area of keen interest and scrutiny for EigenLayer.

The Ethereum community continues to debate the implications of such advisory roles and the potential for conflicts of interest. Transparency and clear communication from key figures within the Ethereum ecosystem remain crucial as the blockchain space navigates these complex dynamics.