The EF’s Grants Program commenced in 2018 and has transformed over time into the Ecosystem Support Program (ESP), offering grants and assistance to creators that enhance the Ethereum ecosystem. Our objective is to facilitate endeavors that fortify Ethereum’s bedrock and empower upcoming creators in areas such as developer tools, research, community development, infrastructure, and open standards.
In 2024 alone, ESP granted nearly $3M in financing to 105 projects and initiatives that were submitted through our open grant program webforms. These grants, which comprise one facet of ESP’s broader portfolio, backed a diverse array of work, including Commit-Boost (developer tools), BundleBear (data and analytics), Web3Bridge (education), ZK Playbook (research), and Ethereum Cypherpunk Congress (community event).
Over the preceding three years, we have optimized our procedures to enhance productivity. Nonetheless, as an open grant program with a slim team and wide-ranging scope, the significant influx of applications has absorbed the majority of our time and resources, restricting our capacity to pursue new strategic opportunities. Looking forward, we are entering a new phase where we will explore modifications that enable us to concentrate our efforts more effectively, support the community in a more substantial manner, and continue to evolve alongside the ecosystem.
Evolving with Ethereum’s Growth
The EF recently outlined its vision and introduced modifications to its Ecosystem Development structure, indicating a broader shift in its interaction with the Ethereum ecosystem. This juncture presents a timely chance to examine the next iteration of ESP. As the Ethereum ecosystem expands in scale, intricacy, and visibility, our funding strategies must adjust correspondingly.
To align more closely with the EF’s updated ecosystem development approach, we are honing ESP’s priorities and strategy. As part of this transition, we have momentarily halted open grant applications. This adjustment will give us the time we need to reconfigure our focus on strategic initiatives, moving from a responsive model to a more proactive one that also supports the aims of other EF teams.
We will persist in funding Ethereum public goods and accepting proposals, but with a fresh strategy to be detailed in a forthcoming post. Our fundamental values remain intact:
- Allocate resources to pivotal projects and initiatives that bolster Ethereum’s durability and usability
- Aid public goods and open-source endeavors that propel the Ethereum ecosystem forward
- Concentrate on areas such as developer tools, core and shared infrastructure, research, community resources, and other public goods
What’s Next
Although open grant applications are on hold, the ESP team will continue to assist our current grantees and is available through Office Hours—for individuals seeking non-financial assistance such as advice, project evaluations, or help in locating valuable resources. Please be aware that during this time, we will refrain from evaluating new grant proposals.
We will provide an update on ESP’s refined priorities and strategy in Q4 2025. In the interim, you can keep up with the latest EF grant announcements and grantee project developments on our social platforms: @EF_ESP X (Twitter), @ef-esp Farcaster, @ef_esp Lens, and @ef-esp Bluesky. To access a complete inventory of EF grants, please refer to the quarterly Allocation Update posts shared on the ESP blog.
We are profoundly dedicated to supporting the Ethereum ecosystem and the public goods that uphold it. While these modifications signify a new chapter for ESP, we are invigorated by the prospects ahead to enhance our support for the exceptional builders, researchers, and contributors fostering Ethereum’s advancement. The future of Ethereum is a collective expedition, and we eagerly anticipate progressing alongside you!