The EF’s Grants Program launched in 2018 and has developed over time to grow to be the Ecosystem Support Program (ESP), offering grants and help to builders that assist the Ethereum ecosystem thrive. Our mission is to allow work that strengthens Ethereum’s foundations and empowers future builders, in domains corresponding to developer tooling, analysis, group constructing, infrastructure, and open requirements.
In 2024 alone, ESP awarded near $3M in funding to 105 initiatives and initiatives that got here by way of our open grants program webforms. These grants, that are one a part of ESP’s bigger portfolio, supported a various vary of labor, corresponding to Commit-Boost (developer tooling), BundleBear (information and analytics), Web3Bridge (schooling), ZK Playbook (analysis), and Ethereum Cypherpunk Congress (group occasion).
Over the previous three years, we have now streamlined our processes to enhance effectivity. Nonetheless, as an open grants program with a lean workforce and broad scope, the excessive quantity of inbound functions has consumed most of our time and sources, leaving restricted capability to pursue new strategic alternatives. As we glance forward, we’re coming into a brand new chapter the place we’ll discover adjustments that permit us to raised focus our efforts, help the group extra meaningfully, and proceed rising along with the ecosystem.
Evolving with Ethereum’s Progress
The EF just lately articulated its vision and launched adjustments to its Ecosystem Development structure, reflecting a broader shift in the way it engages with the Ethereum ecosystem. This second gives a well timed alternative to discover the following iteration of ESP. Because the Ethereum ecosystem grows in scale, complexity, and visibility, our funding method should evolve alongside it.
To align extra intently with the EF’s up to date ecosystem improvement technique, we’re refining ESP’s priorities and method. As a part of this transition, we have now quickly paused open grant functions. This modification will allow us time to revamp in a manner that redirects our focus towards strategic initiatives, transferring from a reactive mannequin to a extra proactive one which additionally helps the priorities of different EF groups.
We’ll proceed funding Ethereum public items and accepting functions, however with a brand new method to be outlined in a future publish. Our core values stay unchanged:
- Allocate sources to vital initiatives and initiatives that strengthen Ethereum’s resilience and usefulness
- Help public items and open-source work that advances the Ethereum ecosystem
- Concentrate on domains corresponding to developer tooling, core and shared infrastructure, analysis, group sources, and different public items
What’s Subsequent
Whereas open grant functions are paused, the ESP workforce will proceed supporting our lively grantees and stays out there by way of Office Hours—for these searching for non-financial help corresponding to steerage, undertaking suggestions, or help to find helpful sources. Please word that in this era, we won’t be reviewing new grant functions.
We’ll share an replace on ESP’s refined priorities and method in This autumn 2025. Within the meantime, you may comply with the newest EF grant bulletins and grantee undertaking progress on our socials: @EF_ESP X (Twitter), @ef-esp Farcaster, @ef_esp Lens, and @ef-esp Bluesky. For a whole record of EF grants, take a look at the quarterly Allocation Replace posts revealed on the ESP blog.
We stay deeply dedicated to supporting the Ethereum ecosystem and the general public items that maintain it. Whereas these adjustments mark a brand new chapter for ESP, we’re energized by the alternatives forward to raised help the unbelievable builders, researchers, and contributors driving Ethereum’s progress. The way forward for Ethereum is a shared journey, and we’re excited to maneuver ahead with you!
