The non-profit Ethereum Foundation has temporarily halted the acceptance of grant applications under its Ecosystem Support Program (ESP).
1/ ESP is growing into its next chapter 🚀
To support this evolution, open grant applications are temporarily paused starting today.
🧵 Here’s what to know:https://t.co/VIDUkfjjAs
— EF Ecosystem Support Program (@EF_ESP) August 29, 2025
According to the statement, this decision is linked to a reassessment of ecosystem development approaches and priorities.
“This change will give us time to restructure, allowing us to shift focus to strategic initiatives, moving from a reactive model to a more proactive one, also considering the priorities of other EF teams,” the organization explained.
The roadmap with updated program objectives is expected to be published in the fourth quarter of 2025. The main goals of the initiative remain unchanged and include:
- allocating resources to critical projects that enhance the resilience and usability of Ethereum;
- supporting public goods and open-source developments that foster ecosystem growth;
- focusing on areas such as developer tools, core and shared infrastructure, research, and community resources.
During the suspension of new applications, the ESP team will continue to support existing grantees in areas such as guidance or assistance in finding data and information.
In 2024, the structure allocated about $3 million in funding for 105 projects and initiatives. Beneficiaries of the program included Commit-Boost, BundleBear, Web3Bridge, ZK Playbook, and Ethereum Cypherpunk Congress.
Back in July, EF unveiled its development plan for the next decade.