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TL;DR: The EPF has successfully wrapped up its third cohort and is gearing up for the fourth cohort. Applications will be announced shortly. Register here to receive updates when they launch.
The Ethereum Protocol Fellowship recently celebrated the conclusion of its third successful cohort in February 2023. This milestone represented four months of intensive learning, research, and contributions to the Ethereum core ecosystem, involving a talented group of committed fellows. Before delving into the third cohort, let’s take a moment to review what Ethereum core development entails and the role of the EPF within this framework.
Development of the Protocol
At the core of the Ethereum ecosystem is development, encompassing the research and coding that powers the Ethereum network. This includes client implementations, specifications, and other fundamental components.
Ensuring a steady influx of core developers is vital for the ongoing prosperity of Ethereum. These programmers and researchers collaborate to shape the trajectory of Ethereum’s innovative roadmap, address its numerous challenges, and deploy solutions. Their work guarantees that the protocol remains current and can meet the growing demands of its expanding user base.
Nevertheless, entering the realm of core protocol development poses significant challenges. No formal organization oversees protocol development. The swift pace of Ethereum protocol advancements, paired with fragmented information, can create barriers for individuals trying to stay informed. Numerous areas and roadmap objectives are in development, each with its own complexities to explore.
The Ethereum Protocol Fellowship was created as a remedy to make core contributions more accessible, aimed at assisting developers in joining the diverse teams contributing to the protocol.
Fellowship for Protocol
The Ethereum Protocol Fellowship (EPF) is a four-month permissionless fellowship initiative that facilitates the process of becoming a core developer.
The program is designed to provide fellows with the autonomy and independence necessary for functioning as core developers. Participants select their area of focus, propose a project, and develop it for the duration of the program. They receive constructive feedback from experienced core developers and become part of a community of peers eager to learn through practical experience.
EPF projects are varied and provide contributions across multiple domains, including research, consensus and execution clients, testing, and protocol security. The EPF is entirely open and permissionless, enabling anyone to engage with and take part in the program. A portion of the budget is allocated to reward exceptional contributions from participants without permission. Numerous EPF fellows have made significant contributions to the Ethereum core ecosystem, with some obtaining long-term roles on core teams such as Lighthouse, Teku, Prysm, Ethereum Foundation Research, Flashbots, Optimism, and others.
Cohort Three
Applications for the third cohort opened on September 1st, 2022. After assessing more than 600 applications and conducting numerous interviews, 23 candidates were chosen to join the official cohort. However, as it is a permissionless program, the cohort concluded with a total of 36 contributors.
Throughout the four-month duration, fellows collaborated with 27 core developer mentors from various client and research teams. Their progress was routinely documented in over 300 weekly updates. Fellows also joined weekly standup and office hours meetings to share their progress, discuss projects, and engage in AMA sessions with mentors and core developers.
Overall, fellows proposed and contributed to 20 projects, some of which are still under ongoing contributions. These projects not only constitute a valuable learning experience but also signify meaningful contributions to the Ethereum ecosystem.
Projects from the EPF Third Cohort
| Project | Overview |
|---|---|
| 4337 Bundler in Rust | Develop bundler for EIP-4337 AA as a standalone component capable of functioning alongside any execution client |
| 4337 Wallet | Modular 4337 browser extension wallet |
| 4844 CL Client | Assist in the implementation of EIP-4844 within Lighthouse |
| Portal Network Ultralight Client | Developing the subprotocols of the Ultralight client |
| Consensus Client Reward APIs | Collection of RESTful APIs designed to improve interoperability across beacon node implementations |
| ETH Monitor | Monitoring system for tracking network data and on-chain occurrences |
| Helios CL P2P | Peer-to-peer networking service for Helios |
| Holon | A comprehensive rollup analytics software suite “` |
| CL Light Client | APIs for Teku light client |
| MEV in Open Games | MEV structures within the Open Game framework to evaluate MEV tactics |
| Model DAS | Implementation in Rust of a Secure Kademlia DHT overlaying the discv5 protocol |
| Prysm Beacon API Compliant Validator | Modify the code for the Prysm validator to comply with the standard Beacon API |
| Reducing Trust in Relay | Approach to diminish trust in the PBS relay |
| Validator Signing Key Revocation | Mechanism for revocation enabling validators to enhance their operational security |
| Verkle Trie Migration Exploration | Research and Development for transitioning from Merkle Patricia Tries to Verkle Tries |
| Staking Pool Attestation Analysis | Conduct attestation examination of primary staking pools |
| Improving Censorship Resistance | Interface to monitor network health and block usage |
| Hive P2P Tests | Expand the range of eth, discv4, and discv5 tests, plus introduce new tests for Ethereum execution clients |
| Geth DoS Attack Mitigation | Apply the DoS defense strategy suggested in the DETER document |
All program resources can be located in its repository. You can track all activities within the cohort there, review project resources, development news, and fellows’ insights. Projects encompass not only FOSS contributions, but every task conducted within the cohort is entirely open, forming a genuine component of Ethereum’s collective research and resources.
However, it’s not solely focused on work and contributions. A significant aspect of the EPF is the chance to connect with numerous inspiring individuals involved in core development. During EthDenver, over half of the cohort convened for EPF Day, dedicating a full day to coding with project showcases, panel discussions, and networking occasions.
Next Cohort Soon™️
In light of the triumph of the third cohort, we are enthusiastically organizing for the commencement of the fourth cohort of the Ethereum Protocol Fellowship. Anyone interested in exploring Ethereum core development, stay alert for the application announcement that will be released in the upcoming weeks. To receive updates, join the EPF google group.
In the meantime, you can get ready for your application by ensuring a solid grasp of the Ethereum protocol, contributing to open-source projects via your GitHub profile, particularly with contributions to existing projects in the Ethereum ecosystem, and contemplating the type of project you would like to engage with.
Join us in molding the future of Ethereum. Become part of the EPF.
