After austerity, the Ethereum Foundation relaunches developer recruitment
The Ethereum Foundation is emerging from a phase of austerity in 2026 and relaunching its EPF7 program to attract new talent. A bold strategy to strengthen its ecosystem in the face of Bitcoin. Find out how this initiative could redefine the future of blockchain.
In brief
- The Ethereum Foundation relaunches the EPF7 program to recruit developers after a phase of austerity.
- 18 grants awarded in Q1 2026 for core projects (security, cryptography, protocol).
- Objective: Strengthen the Ethereum ecosystem to compete with Bitcoin through innovation.
After austerity, the Ethereum Foundation bets on new developers
In 2026, after a period of budgetary restraint, the Ethereum Foundation is relaunching its Ethereum Protocol Fellowship (EPF7) program. The aim? Recruit talented developers to strengthen the protocol. Indeed, with 18 grants awarded by Q1 2026, the Foundation is demonstrating its determination to maintain its technological leadership.
To this end, candidates selected by the Ethereum Foundation will benefit from mentoring and a monthly grant. A unique opportunity to contribute to projects such as the Fusaka transition or security tools. Applications are open until May 13, 2026, with a smaller but more committed cohort.
ETH, destined to remain the second-largest crypto?
Ethereum remains firmly entrenched in second place among cryptos, but can it overtake Bitcoin? The new developers in the EPF7 program could well be the key. Indeed, their work on innovations such as zero-knowledge proofs or scalability solutions (L2) could reinforce mass adoption. Will these technical improvements be enough to reverse the trend? With a rapidly expanding ecosystem, Ethereum is banking on innovation to differentiate itself.
Although Bitcoin still dominates in terms of capitalization, analysts believe that a flippening (overtaking of Ethereum) could occur by 2028-2030, if mass adoption of decentralized applications accelerates and scalability solutions (such as rollups) reduce costs. However, Bitcoin remains the undisputed store of value. Everything will therefore depend on regulatory developments, institutional adoption and Ethereum’s technological advances.
The Ethereum Foundation is betting on talent to consolidate its position. Could the EPF7 program make ETH a serious competitor to Bitcoin? The debate remains open, but one thing is certain: innovation will be at the heart of this battle to follow.
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The world is evolving and adaptation is the best weapon to survive in this undulating universe. Originally a crypto community manager, I am interested in anything that is directly or indirectly related to blockchain and its derivatives. To share my experience and promote a field that I am passionate about, nothing is better than writing informative and relaxed articles.
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.