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- The Ethereum Foundation’s Ecosystem Support Program (ESP) awarded nearly $3M to 105 projects in 2024.
- ESP is shifting from an open grant model to a more strategic and proactive funding approach.
- Open applications are paused as the program redesigns its priorities for long-term ecosystem growth.
The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has continued to evolve its approach to supporting the blockchain ecosystem. Since its launch in 2018, the Grants Program has grown into the Ecosystem Support Program (ESP). Its mission has been clear from the start: to strengthen Ethereum’s foundations and enable future builders.
ESP has funded developer tools work, research, infrastructure, and community development in previous years. ESP in a single year of 2024 distributed nearly $3 million in funds. Grants went to 105 projects in open webform proposals.
These grants supported diverse projects like Commit-Boost for developer tooling, BundleBear for analysis of data, Web3Bridge for education, ZK Playbook for studies, and Ethereum Cypherpunk Congress for community development. All of them contributed to the growth and development of Ethereum.
Proactive Funding Model Planned for Ethereum Growth
With the growth of Ethereum, the ESP work has also expanded in terms of scope. Since the past three years, processes have been fine-tuned to handle a vast quantity of applications. Even though that became more efficient, sheer numbers of requests limited time for venturing into broader strategic opportunities.
The EF has newly framed a new vision of ecosystem development. ESP is therefore looking ahead to design its future phase. Open-grant applications by the program have been put on hold in a bid to rethink priorities. The hold is not a decision but a step to rethink fund allocation.
Instead of reacting to applications, ESP is going to move into a more future-oriented approach. The aim is to aid EF’s new strategy and highlight high-impact areas of Ethereum development. Grants will remain centered on public goods and open-source projects.
Areas mainly unaffected: developer tooling, infrastructure, research, community resources, and other areas that are critically necessary for network growth. We’d like to invest where it will have the most long-term impact.
Ethereum Support Program Pauses New Applications
Meanwhile, ESP will keep supporting active grantees. The team will also remain accessible through Office Hours and keep offering non-financial support in the form of guidance on projects and connection to resources. There will be no review of new applications until the new framework is rolled out.
EF has also confirmed that the new fine-tuned set of priorities is going public in the fourth quarter of the year 2025. The changes will be publicized through ESP’s official media outlets, including social media and the program blog. These changes signify the advent of a new era in Ethereum support infrastructure.
With strategic funding, ESP aims to build more stable foundations for researchers and builders. The program remains dedicated to ensuring that Ethereum continues to be a public benefit that is governed by the contributions of the world community.
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