The EF’s Grants Program launched in 2018 and has evolved over time to become the Ecosystem Support Program (ESP), providing grants and support to builders that help the Ethereum ecosystem thrive. Our mission is to enable work that strengthens Ethereum’s foundations and empowers future builders, in domains such as developer tooling, research, community building, infrastructure, and open standards.
In 2024 alone, ESP awarded close to $3M in funding to 105 projects and initiatives that came through our open grants program webforms. These grants, which are one part of ESP’s larger portfolio, supported a diverse range of work, such as Commit-Boost (developer tooling), BundleBear (data and analytics), Web3Bridge (education), ZK Playbook (research), and Ethereum Cypherpunk Congress (community event).
Over the past three years, we have streamlined our processes to improve efficiency. However, as an open grants program with a lean team and broad scope, the high volume of inbound applications has consumed most of our time and resources, leaving limited capacity to pursue new strategic opportunities. As we look ahead, we’re entering a new chapter where we’ll explore changes that allow us to better focus our efforts, support the community more meaningfully, and continue growing together with the ecosystem.
Evolving with Ethereum's Growth
The EF recently articulated its vision and introduced changes to its Ecosystem Development structure, reflecting a broader shift in how it engages with the Ethereum ecosystem. This moment offers a timely opportunity to explore the next iteration of ESP. As the Ethereum ecosystem grows in scale, complexity, and visibility, our funding approach must evolve alongside it.
To align more closely with the EF’s updated ecosystem development strategy, we are refining ESP’s priorities and approach. As part of this transition, we have temporarily paused open grant applications. This change will enable us time to redesign in a way that redirects our focus toward strategic initiatives, moving from a reactive model to a more proactive one that also supports the priorities of other EF teams.
We will continue funding Ethereum public goods and accepting applications, but with a new approach to be outlined in a future post. Our core values remain unchanged:
- Allocate resources to critical projects and initiatives that strengthen Ethereum’s resilience and usability
- Support public goods and open-source work that advances the Ethereum ecosystem
- Focus on domains such as developer tooling, core and shared infrastructure, research, community resources, and other public goods
What's Next
While open grant applications are paused, the ESP team will continue supporting our active grantees and remains available through Office Hours—for those seeking non-financial support such as guidance, project feedback, or assistance in finding useful resources. Please note that during this period, we will not be reviewing new grant applications.
We will share an update on ESP’s refined priorities and approach in Q4 2025. In the meantime, you can follow the latest EF grant announcements and grantee project progress on our socials: @EF_ESP X (Twitter), @ef-esp Farcaster, @ef_esp Lens, and @ef-esp Bluesky. For a complete list of EF grants, check out the quarterly Allocation Update posts published on the ESP blog.
We remain deeply committed to supporting the Ethereum ecosystem and the public goods that sustain it. While these changes mark a new chapter for ESP, we are energized by the opportunities ahead to better support the incredible builders, researchers, and contributors driving Ethereum’s growth. The future of Ethereum is a shared journey, and we’re excited to move forward with you!
