Ethereum Foundation Sued by Former Employee Over Alleged Disability Discrimination and Suicide
The Ethereum Foundation, Vitalik Buterin and other defendants are facing a lawsuit from former Protocol Support lead Kayleen Fulton, who alleges disability discrimination and retaliation after she opposed an internal mandate containing a provision requiring people bound by its terms to take their own lives under certain circumstances. The allegations were reported by Coin Bureau, citing Protos.
Fulton claims she was dismissed on April 6, just 13 days after disclosing her ovarian cancer diagnosis and 12 days after organizing a letter opposing the mandate. Her complaint alleges that the timing of her termination was connected to both her medical disclosure and her efforts to challenge the controversial provision.
Controversial License Included a Suicide Provision
At the center of the dispute is a mandate that included a license containing language calling on individuals bound by it “to take his or her own life with a sword” if they violated its terms or changed or removed any part of the license.
The provision became the subject of internal opposition among Ethereum Foundation employees. According to the complaint, 79 employees voted to remove the pledge, while Buterin promised “significant changes” in response to the concerns.
However, the complaint alleges that the foundation subsequently published the mandate with the disputed pledge still intact. It also says the document was recorded on the Ethereum blockchain, placing the controversial language on the network despite the reported employee vote and Buterin's commitment to changes.
Former Employee Alleges Retaliation After Cancer Disclosure
Fulton's lawsuit links her dismissal to two events that occurred shortly before April 6: her disclosure of an ovarian cancer diagnosis and her organization of a letter opposing the mandate. The complaint describes the termination as disability discrimination and retaliation.
The reported timeline markets places the firing 13 days after Fulton disclosed her diagnosis and 12 days after she organized the opposition letter. Those details form part of the allegations against the Ethereum Foundation and the other named defendants.
The lawsuit names the Ethereum Foundation, Vitalik Buterin and others. The claims described in the report remain allegations presented in the complaint; the information provided by Coin Bureau and Protos does not establish that a court has determined liability.
The dispute centers on both the foundation's handling of the contested license and Fulton's allegation that she was dismissed after raising concerns while dealing with a serious medical diagnosis. The complaint also highlights the reported decision to publish the mandate with the pledge intact and record it on Ethereum.
Writer: Victoria HaleTechnology & Blockchain WriterVictoria Hale writes about blockchain technology, digital infrastructure, and the intersection of emerging technologies with finance. Her articles explore how new protocols and systems are shaping the evolving digital economy.She prioritises clarity and accuracy when explaining technical developments to a general audience.
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