StarkWare has begun cutting staff and restructuring operations into two core business units as part of a strategy aimed at accelerating revenue generation and improving product-market fit. During an all-hands meeting, CEO Eli Ben-Sasson told employees the company had grown “simply and sadly too big” for its next phase and needed to return to a startup style operating model that prioritizes speed and flexibility.
While the company did not disclose the exact number of layoffs or timeline, affected employees were informed they would receive individual emails inviting them to one-on-one discussions with managers. StarkWare also stated it would provide severance packages exceeding legal and contractual requirements in several jurisdictions.
Ben-Sasson emphasized the company’s intention to take full ownership of its blockchain proving stack, including Cairo, Sierra, and quantum-secure STARK cryptography, reducing reliance on external Layer 1 networks and third-party application developers.
Starknet chain revenue, near $6 million in a single month in late 2023, stood at roughly $48,000 through the first half of April 2026, DefiLlama data.
Two New Business Units Target Product and Network Development
The restructuring introduces a revenue-focused applications unit led by Chief Product Officer Avihu Levy, who will oversee development of revenue generating products built directly on StarkWare technology. A second Starknet development unit, led by Head of Product Tom Brand, will focus on strengthening the network’s infrastructure, with both units operating dedicated engineering, product, and go to market teams.
Leadership Changes Support New Organizational Structure
Additional leadership adjustments include CFO Ran Grinshtein expanding responsibilities to finance, human resources, security, and IT operations. Gideon Kaempfer, previously head of core engineering, will transition to chief architect, reporting directly to Ben Sasson. General Counsel Katherine Kirkpatrick Bos will continue overseeing legal functions, while COO Oren Katz plans to depart but remain with the company through the end of April.
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