Jack Kubinec

The Ethereum Foundation, a non-profit supporting the Ethereum ecosystem, removed the warrant canary indicating it’s never been served a government subpoena from its website on Feb. 26.&nbsp;



“[W]e have received a voluntary enquiry from a state authority that included a requirement for confidentiality,” Ethereum web developer Pablo Pettinari <a href="https://github.com/ethereum/ethereum-foundation-website/commit/769b30603504b4b5e8f601f8014691a8d1821390">wrote</a> alongside a code commit removing the canary.&nbsp;



The Ethereum Foundation performs functions such as handling grants and providing research for the Ethereum ecosystem. It emphasizes that it does not control or lead Ethereum. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin <a href="https://ethereum.foundation/ef">serves</a> on its executive board.&nbsp;



The Ethereum Foundation erroneously <a href="https://x.com/TiKawamoto/status/1130081578028273664?s=20">removed</a> its warrant canary in 2019 — though this time seems to be for real.&nbsp;



The price of ether (<a href="https://blockworks.co/price/eth">ETH</a>) <a href="https://x.com/MikeSeligEsq/status/1770475199609114831?s=20">fell</a> more than 2% immediately after the news broke, furthering a bearish week for the token.&nbsp;



Industry watchers were quick to point out that the Ethereum Foundation’s “voluntary enquiry” could be no big deal.&nbsp;



“It’s extremely common for crypto protocol foundations to receive voluntary requests for information from federal and state regulators. And subpoenas are about as sure as the sunrise for a crypto entity,” Mike Selig, partner at Willkie Farr &amp; Gallagher, <a href="https://x.com/MikeSeligEsq/status/1770475199609114831?s=20">said</a> on X.&nbsp;



The Ethereum Foundation did not immediately return a request for comment.



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