The progress made in the Ethereum ecosystem in recent times is truly inspiring. Whether you’re excited about the adoption of proof-of-stake (and a faster, more secure, and greener Ethereum), the upcoming merge and other major upgrades, or some of the many applications and solutions who have the power to change various industries, now is the perfect time to be part of the Ethereum community.
Our evolving role
While we are all excited about the growth of Ethereum and the future that our collective work can help create, I am also often asked about the role of the Ethereum Foundation and how our philosophy of subtraction fits. inscribed in this future.
“Society thrives when old men plant trees that they know will never be able to sit in the shade. » – anonymous Greek proverb
When we think about creating real, lasting impact, that will outlast each of us personally as well as our organizations, it becomes important for us to subtract where we can so that the ecosystem – the Ethereum garden – can exist and thrive sustainably without dependence. too much on EF or any other entity.
However, we also understand that there are many things that will not happen organically until the garden is mature. Someone has to plant seeds, others have to water them. And we take care of weeds when things block healthy growth in the garden. We care not only about longevity, but also about the health of the Ethereum garden so that Ethereum remains “Ethereum”.
Looking for opportunities in a broader context
In pursuing longevity and ecosystem health, I always encourage our team to zoom out and look at the bigger picture, thinking about the exceptional tasks that only EF can accomplish. One of the questions I often ask is: “Are we looking for users who would benefit the most from Ethereum?” »
Developing countries now account for more than 80% of the world’s population, and of the approximately 400,000 babies born worldwide every day, more than 360,000 are born in developing countries. People in developing countries not only represent our future as a people, but they could also represent the next billion active users of Ethereum. This means new generations of developers who, together, will make Ethereum’s future more resilient and stronger. Additionally, Ethereum’s ability to foster trust, transparency, efficiency, and coordination has high potential in developing countries where these characteristics are often in short supply. It is in this context – an overlap between opportunities, impact and potential for Ethereum – that the Ethereum Foundation Scholarship Program was created.
Discover the EF scholarship program
THE Ethereum Foundation Scholarship Program is a pilot project launched by The next billionan EF team focused on finding opportunities in emerging economies. The EF Fellowship Program provides us with the opportunity to work with changemakers, whose projects have high potential to create impact in emerging economies using Ethereum. The program offers a unique experience that includes mentorship, expertise, and access to leaders in the Ethereum ecosystem.
How is this different from regular grants? Our vision is not only to support these specific projects, but to create a ripple effect. We hope that others will learn from the work of this cohort and be inspired to do similar work in their own communities, or even to create improved solutions.
Our first cohort
Benson Njuguna (Acre Africa) is working to implement blockchain solutions for a microinsurance product that protects thousands of small farmers in Kenya against extreme weather events. His project will test and showcase the potential of Ethereum to enable the viability and sustainability of products and services targeting the bottom of the wealth pyramid.
Chuy Cepéda (OS.City) provides municipal and national governments with a platform to easily issue blockchain-based digital identities and documents to their citizens, with the goal of one day keeping government-issued documents (like permits and ID cards) ‘identity) in our Ethereum wallets. During the fellowship program, he and his team will work with the Argentine government and create strategies to advance meaningful adoption of blockchain in the public sector in Latin America.
Kuldeep Bandhu Aryal (BRAC) will develop a blockchain and crypto strategy for BRAC, the largest NGO in the world. Headquartered in Bangladesh, BRAC serves more than 100 million people each year. Kuldeep’s project involves multiple experiments using blockchain and could serve as a model for other social enterprises and the development sector as a whole.
Naroa Zurutuza (Giga) is exploring Ethereum-based solutions as part of Giga’s efforts to connect every school to the internet. In helping to deliver today’s most important public good to billions of currently unconnected people, Naroa envisions many roles that blockchain can play, from increasing accountability of service providers and financing connectivity infrastructure to a point of access to the global economy and markets.
Stay informed and involved
While it starts small and is an experiment with this pilot class, this program also represents a new strategic avenue for EF to allocate resources to regions that are still a blue ocean for Ethereum’s future. The questions we focus on have important, long-term implications for the value of Ethereum as something that can be adopted by the public sector while contributing to financial inclusion, having a positive impact on fight against climate change and much more.
We are excited to begin working with Benson, Chuy, Kuldeep, and Naroa for the pilot year of the Ethereum Foundation Fellowship program, as they integrate Ethereum into their projects over the coming months. Congratulations to Taira Ishikura and Serena Tan from the Next Billion team on the launch, and we would also like to give a special thanks to those who helped us identify the candidates.
We look forward to working with others in the community to support these fellows, and if you would like to stay connected with the fellowship program or any of the fellows, please sign up to stay informed hereor contact the team at bourse@ethereum.org.
