Ethereum Foundation unveils new ESP grants program
The Ethereum Foundation has introduced a new grant structure for the Ecosystem Support Program to further innovation and adoption on the Ethereum blockchain.
- Ethereum Foundation announces new grants program approach.
- Move follows the organization’s brief pause to all open applications in late August.
- The Ethereum community is looking forward to the activation of the Fusaka upgrade.
The Ethereum ecosystem support program team announced the new initiative via a blog post .
Rather than open applications, the project will adopt a dual approach: one focused on a Wishlist and another on Requests for Proposals.
EF brings this new approach to the ecosystem grants on the back of an earlier decision to halt open applications temporarily.
As crypto.news highlighted , the Ethereum Foundation paused all open grant applications in late August 2025.
The move followed an earlier reorganization of the non-profit’s leadership, and the brief halt to open grants allowed the EF time to design “a more targeted, impactful, and sustainable mode.”
According to the Ethereum Foundation team, the new approach better reflects Ethereum ( ETH )’s growth.
Ethereum Foundation rolls out a fresh model for ESP grants
In its previous model, EF’s open grants program allowed hundreds of projects building on Ethereum to access key financial and related support. However, following the team reorganization, a lean team could not effectively handle the staggering number of applications.
For the new model, EF is addressing the challenge proactively. Ditching a reactive campaign means EF can work with ecosystem players in a way that aligns funding priorities with the ecosystem’s need for impactful projects.
In this case, EF envisions the Wishlist as key to driving new project innovations across cryptography, privacy, security, and community.
Meanwhile, RFPs will focus on clear deliverables and outcomes, with applicants expected to outline targeted solutions.
“Our work doesn’t stop here,” the ESP team noted. “We will continue coordinating grant-making across EF teams to ensure that support is aligned and impactful. Beyond funding, we are committed to enhancing the grantee experience by providing robust support throughout their journey.”
The unveiling of ESP’s new grants structure comes as Ethereum prepares to roll out the Fusaka upgrade in early December.
Deployment across Ethereum testnets has been successful and anticipation for what Fusaka brings is high. That’s despite the continued downward pressure on Ether’s price.
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
The AI boom may follow the path of the 19th-century railway bubble, and builders may not be the ultimate winners
Goldman Sachs analyst Bobby Molavi compared the current situation to the 19th-century British railway mania: 500 companies spent more than the nation's annual income building 8,000 miles of railway, with most early investors losing out, while the real beneficiaries were the later "passengers." He pointed out that the current AI craze is driven by both debt and momentum, and that the S&P 500’s forward P/E ratio of 18x is only "a bit cheaper." Whether the builders can retain value is uncertain, and history does not offer an optimistic answer.
If Anthropic's IPO goes smoothly and the stock price rises next week, then everything remains the same for AI. Otherwise, some companies will go bankrupt.
The shrinking valuations of two major giants have triggered a chain reaction—investors are adopting more conservative revenue multiples for AI startups and are directly halting high-valuation financing for companies with zero revenue. Multiple venture capital firms have advised their portfolio companies to lower valuation expectations and to quickly build up cash reserves. Market participants warn that the outcome of Anthropic’s IPO will be a barometer for the industry: if successful, the boom will continue; if it fails, some companies may face elimination.
After the Brazilian election, political discount deepens; Morgan Stanley remains bullish on Petrobras (PBR.US), focusing on fuel pricing and dividends
Morgan Stanley still maintains its most optimistic "Overweight" rating, but has lowered its year-end 2027 target price from $31 to $25.
Corning (GLW.US) receives initial "Buy" rating from Jefferies! AI factories driving a fiber optic rush, with a potential global supply gap of up to 30%
For Corning, the recent profit growth mainly comes from the expansion of AI clusters. As the number of optical links crossing cabinets and campuses increases, customers need to deploy more optical fibers within limited conduit and cabinet space, thus driving demand for high-density optical cables and connection systems.
Crypto prices
More
