Ethereum Foundation pauses Ecosystem Support Program’s open grant applications
The Ethereum Foundation is pausing all open grants applications as the entity’s Ecosystem Support Program transitions to a new growth chapter.
- Ethereum Foundation has paused open grants in its support program as it eyes transition to a new model.
- The Ecosystem Support Program awarded over $13 million to 105 projects in 2024.
The Ethereum Foundation, a key player in the Ethereum ( ETH ) blockchain ecosystem, is taking a new approach in the support for builders.
On Aug. 29, the EF announced that the Ethereum Support Program, which launched as a grants program in 2018 and aimed at offering grants to projects helping to advance Ethereum ’s growth, is taking a new direction.
The move follows a recent overhaul of the foundation’s vision and approach to ecosystem development.
EF is looking at a structure aimed at streamlining processes and enhancing efficiency, hence a more proactive funding model for builders, according to the update. Latest changes follow the foundation’s shake up of its structure in June 2025, including cutting of the core team amid broader reorganization.
Funding Ethereum’s builders
Evolving the funding model aligns with Ethereum’s growth, which currently sees over $91 billion in total value locked in decentralized finance and more than $148 billion in stablecoin market cap. Scaling this network amid developer activity aimed at accelerating adoption necessitates that the funding approach mirrors the traction.
“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,” the Ecosystem Program Support team wrote.
In 2024, the grants program saw nearly $3 million in funding awarded to 105 projects, including across developer tooling, data and analytics, research and education. Specific projects that benefited included Commit-Boost, BundleBear, Web3Bridge and Ethereum Cypherpunk Congress.
Although open grant applications are temporarily paused, the Ethereum Foundation through the ESP team plans to continue support for all active grant beneficiaries. The team will also share more details for the new model and refined priorities in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
You may also like
Decoding VitaDAO: A Paradigm Revolution in Decentralized Science
Mars Morning News | ETH returns to $3,000, extreme fear sentiment has passed
The Federal Reserve's Beige Book shows little change in U.S. economic activity, with increasing divergence in the consumer market. JPMorgan predicts a Fed rate cut in December. Nasdaq has applied to increase the position limit for BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF options. ETH has returned to $3,000, signaling a recovery in market sentiment. Hyperliquid has sparked controversy due to a token symbol change. Binance faces a $1 billion terrorism-related lawsuit. Securitize has received EU approval to operate a tokenization trading system. The Tether CEO responded to S&P's credit rating downgrade. Large Bitcoin holders are increasing deposits to exchanges. Summary generated by Mars AI. The accuracy and completeness of this summary are still being iteratively improved by the Mars AI model.
The central bank sets a major tone on stablecoins for the first time—where will the market go next?
The People's Bank of China held a meeting to crack down on virtual currency trading and speculation, clearly defining stablecoins as a form of virtual currency with risks of illegal financial activities, and emphasized the continued prohibition of all virtual currency-related businesses.
Trending news
MoreCrypto prices
More
