The Ethereum Foundation is pausing open applications to its Ecosystem Support Program (ESP) and shifting to a curated grant model to prioritize strategic, high-impact projects; details on priorities and a curated methodology are expected in Q4 2025.
ESP shifts from open grants to a curated funding model to focus on strategic ecosystem needs.
The pause addresses review capacity limits and aims to target interoperability, layer‑1 scaling and security initiatives.
In 2024 ESP awarded nearly $3M across 105 projects; Q1 2025 saw $32.6M in total grants.
Ethereum Foundation ESP overhaul: pause on open applications, curated grants, clearer priorities — learn what changes and what to expect next. Read more.
After awarding millions of dollars, the Ethereum Foundation is overhauling its Ecosystem Support Program, shifting from open applications to a curated model.
What is the Ethereum Foundation’s change to the Ecosystem Support Program?
The Ethereum Foundation’s Ecosystem Support Program (ESP) is moving from an open-application grant model to a curated approach to concentrate funding on predefined strategic priorities. The pause on open applications aims to free capacity for proactive outreach and targeted investments in interoperability, scaling and security.
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The Foundation says the new model will involve proactive identification of high-leverage opportunities and targeted partnerships. Details are expected in Q4 2025 and will outline specific priorities, evaluation criteria, and a process for inviting or sourcing proposals aligned with those goals.
The pause follows a period in which ESP supported hundreds of initiatives. The Foundation said a surge of inbound applications created “limited capacity to pursue new strategic opportunities,” prompting the shift to a model that emphasizes curated grants and strategic engagement.
ESP has a recent track record of sizable funding: nearly $3 million across 105 projects in 2024, and $32.6 million in grants disbursed during the first quarter of 2025.
Ethereum faces growing competition from faster, lower-cost platforms, prompting a renewed emphasis on layer‑1 scaling, lower fees and an improved user experience. The Foundation flagged interoperability as “the highest‑leverage opportunity within the broader UX domain over the next 6–12 months.”
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Source: https://en.coinotag.com/ethereum-foundation-may-shift-esp-from-open-grant-applications-to-curated-funding-model/