The EF grant program was launched in 2018 and has evolved over time to become the Ecosystem support program (ESP), offering subsidies and support to manufacturers who help the Ethereum ecosystem to prosper. Our mission is to allow work that strengthens Ethereum foundations and empowers future manufacturers, in fields such as developers’ tools, research, community strengthening, infrastructure and open standards.
In 2024 alone, ESP has allocated nearly $ 3 million in funding to 105 projects and initiatives that have gone through our web forms of the Open Gose Program. These subsidies, which are part of the largest ESP portfolio, have supported a diverse range of work, such as Engage (developer tools), Bandon (data and analyzes), Web3bridge (education), ZK Playbook (research), and Congress Ethereum Cypherpunk (Community event).
Over the past three years, we have rationalized our processes to improve efficiency. However, as an open subsidy program with a Lean team and a wide range, the high volume of incoming applications consumed most of our time and our resources, leaving a limited capacity to pursue new strategic opportunities. While we look to the future, we are entering a new chapter where we will explore changes that allow us to better concentrate our efforts, support the community more significantly and continue to grow with the ecosystem.
Evolving with the growth of Ethereum
EF recently articulated its vision and introduced changes to his Ecosystem development structureReflecting a broader change in the way it engages with the Ethereum ecosystem. This moment offers a timely opportunity to explore the next iteration of ESP. As Ethereum ecosystem develops in scale, complexity and visibility, our financing approach must evolve alongside.
To align yourself more closely with the development strategy of the USE Updated ecosystems, we refine the priorities and the ESP approach. As part of this transition, we temporarily interrupted the requests for open subsidies. This change will allow us to rethink in order to redirect our attention to strategic initiatives, going from a reactive model to a more proactive objective which also supports the priorities of other EF teams.
We will continue to finance Ethereum public goods and accept requests, but with a new approach to describe in a future article. Our fundamental values remain unchanged:
- Allocate resources to critical projects and initiatives that strengthen Ethereum resilience and conviviality
- Support public goods and open source work that advances the Ethereum ecosystem
- Focus on areas such as developer tools, basic and shared infrastructure, research, community resources and other public goods
What is the next step
While open grant requests are interrupted, the ESP team will continue to support our active beneficiaries and remain available via Office hours—For those looking for non -financial support such as advice, project comments or assistance to find useful resources. Please note that during this period, we will not revise new subsidy requests.
We will share an update on the refined priorities and approach of ESP in the fourth quarter of 2025. In the meantime, you can follow the latest EF grant announcements and the progress of the beneficiary project on our Socials: @Ef_es X (twitter), @ ef-spy Farcaster, @ef_es Lens, and @ ef-spy Bluesky. For a complete list of EF grants, consult the quarterly allowance update articles published on the ESP Blog.
We remain deeply determined to support the Ethereum ecosystem and the public goods that support it. Although these changes mark a new chapter for ESP, we are energized by the opportunities to come to better support the incredible manufacturers, researchers and contributors stimulating Ethereum’s growth. The future of Ethereum is a shared trip, and we are delighted to move forward with you!
