The Ethereum Foundation announced the temporary suspension of open grant applications to its Ecosystem Support Program (ESP) as part of a strategic shift toward more proactive funding. Launched in 2018 to support projects that advance Ethereum’s growth, the ESP will use the pause period to redesign its application model and align grant distribution with broader organizational priorities. Existing grantees will continue to receive funding and access to Office Hours for feedback and connections, ensuring continuity for active projects.
The decision was driven by a surge in application volume that strained the program’s capacity, limiting its ability to act quickly on high-priority initiatives. By moving away from a reactive, first-come-first-served approach, the Foundation intends to streamline its processes, enhance efficiency, and allocate resources where they can deliver the greatest impact on technical infrastructure, community initiatives, and public goods. In 2024, the ESP awarded nearly $3 million to 105 projects spanning tooling, infrastructure, research, education, and community events.
During the suspension, the ESP team will develop a new framework that emphasizes strategic funding objectives, drawing input from various Foundation departments to ensure alignment with long-term ecosystem goals. The revised model is expected to be announced in the fourth quarter of 2025, following which the open application channel will reopen under updated guidelines. This restructuring aims to bolster Ethereum’s development roadmap, reinforce support for key public goods, and foster innovation across decentralized finance, layer-2 scaling solutions, and core protocol research.
The pause also provides an opportunity for the Foundation to reassess its resource allocation, refine grant evaluation criteria, and introduce mechanisms for tracking the outcomes of funded initiatives. By focusing on proactive, targeted investments, the ESP seeks to maximize its impact at a time when Ethereum’s ecosystem is expanding rapidly, with total value locked in decentralized finance exceeding $90 billion and growing demand for scalable, low-cost transaction solutions.
Looking ahead, the Ethereum Foundation reaffirms its commitment to the public goods that underpin the network’s growth. While open grant requests are on hold, the organization will continue to support existing awardees, maintain transparent communication through Office Hours, and share detailed plans for the ESP’s new strategic direction. The refinements are designed to ensure that the program remains responsive to emerging technological needs and community priorities while upholding the Foundation’s mission to foster a robust, sustainable Ethereum ecosystem.
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