Ethereum Foundation Updates Ecosystem Support Program To Focus On Strategic Initiatives And Proactive Growth

In Brief

The Ethereum Foundation is temporarily pausing open grant applications to redesign its Ecosystem Support Program for a more strategic, proactive, and community-focused approach.

The Ethereum Foundation (EF), a non-profit organization focused on the development of the Ethereum blockchain, announced adjustments to the Ecosystem Support Program (ESP) to better align with its updated ecosystem development strategy. As part of this transition, open grant applications have been temporarily paused to allow time for a redesign that shifts the program from a reactive model to a more proactive approach, emphasizing strategic initiatives and supporting the priorities of other EF teams.

EF will continue funding Ethereum public goods and accepting applications under a revised process to be detailed in a future announcement. Core objectives remain consistent, including allocating resources to projects that enhance Ethereum’s resilience and usability, supporting public goods and open-source contributions that advance the ecosystem, and focusing on areas such as developer tools, core and shared infrastructure, research, community resources, and other public goods.

During the pause on new grant applications, the ESP team will continue assisting active grantees and remain available through Office Hours for non-financial support, including guidance, project feedback, or help identifying useful resources. New applications will not be reviewed during this period. An update on the refined priorities and approach for ESP is expected in Q4 2025.

EF’s Ecosystem Support Program Evolves To Drive Strategic Growth And Community Impact

EF’s Grants Program, launched in 2018, has evolved into the ESP, providing funding and resources to projects that contribute to the growth and resilience of the Ethereum ecosystem. The program aims to support work that strengthens Ethereum’s foundations and empowers future builders in areas such as developer tooling, research, community development, infrastructure, and open standards.

In 2024, ESP awarded nearly $3 million to 105 projects and initiatives submitted through its open grants program webforms. These grants, part of ESP’s broader portfolio, supported a wide range of initiatives, including Commit-Boost (developer tooling), BundleBear (data and analytics), Web3Bridge (education), ZK Playbook (research), and the Ethereum Cypherpunk Congress (community event).

Over the past three years, the program has refined its processes to increase efficiency. However, managing a high volume of applications with a lean team has absorbed a lot of time and resources, limiting the ability to pursue new strategic opportunities. Looking forward, ESP plans to implement changes that will allow for a more focused approach, deeper community support, and continued growth alongside the wider Ethereum ecosystem.