The Ethereum Foundation Modernizes its Grants Program

The Ethereum Foundation announces a major revamp of its grants program, moving from an open system to a targeted approach. This evolution aims to better support strategic projects for the crypto ecosystem. A decision that could also influence the value of ETH and the adoption of Ethereum.

Ethereum: a strategic revamp from an open model to a targeted approach

Since 2018, the Ethereum Foundation grants program has funded hundreds of projects, contributing to the growth of the crypto ecosystem. Recently, it liquidated 1000 ETH for this noble purpose. However, faced with the increasing influx of requests, resources became saturated, limiting the ability to target key opportunities. The solution? A transition to a more selective model combining a wishlist and Requests for Proposals (RFPs).

Indeed, the Wishlist identifies priority areas like crypto, security, or community growth, leaving creative freedom to developers. RFPs, on the other hand, target specific problems with clear deliverables and defined deadlines. This duality allows both to encourage innovation and to meet precise needs, while optimizing fund allocation.

This proactive approach, aligned with the priorities of the Ethereum ecosystem, marks a turning point in grant governance. It reflects a desire for maturity, essential for a constantly evolving network.

Ethereum grants program: what impacts for developers?

For developers, this revamp offers better visibility on the expectations of the Ethereum Foundation. The Wishlists and RFPs provide a clear framework, facilitating project alignment with the needs of the crypto ecosystem. Office Hours sessions and personalized feedback strengthen this support, creating an environment more conducive to innovation.

However, this transition is not without challenges. Developers will now have to compete to respond to RFPs, which are often more competitive. Projects outside priority themes might struggle to secure funding. For the ecosystem, this targeted approach promises a more efficient resource allocation! Thus accelerating the development of critical solutions like scalability or security.

In the long term, this strategy could strengthen Ethereum’s resilience by attracting talents and projects aligned with a shared vision. A dynamic that will ultimately benefit the entire crypto community.

An advance that could boost the value of ETH?

The modernization of the Ethereum Foundation grants program is not limited to internal optimization. It could also have a direct impact on the value of ETH, the native crypto of the network. By targeting strategic projects, such as those related to the application layer or security, the Foundation strengthens Ethereum’s utility and attractiveness.

Technical updates, such as the upcoming Fusaka upgrade planned for December 2025, illustrate this dynamic. By improving network performance, these advances stimulate demand for ETH, both for transactions and staking. A more strategic governance also reassures investors, attracting new capital to the ecosystem.

Historically, major Ethereum upgrades have often been followed by significant increases in the price of ETH. If this revamp achieves its goals, it could thus provide additional structural support to the crypto, consolidating its leadership position in the blockchain landscape.

The revamp of the Ethereum Foundation grants program marks a decisive step for the crypto ecosystem. By aligning funding with clear priorities, it promises to accelerate innovation and strengthen the value of ETH. We await to see if this approach will be sufficient to meet future challenges. And you, do you think this strategy will sustainably stimulate Ethereum adoption?