Ethereum Foundation ESP
Supporting Ethereum ecosystem growth
Grant ProgramActive
About
The Ecosystem Support Program (ESP) provides grants to teams and individuals working on projects that benefit the Ethereum ecosystem. In 2024, ESP allocated approximately $3M across 105 projects covering research, development, community building, and education. The program supports work on core protocol, Layer 2, security, and ecosystem tooling.
Mechanisms Used
Allocation
Direct Grants
Traditional grant-making where a committee or individual directly allocates funds to selected projects based on applications and evaluation.
Best for:
Technical infrastructureResearch grants+2 more
4 implementations
Allocation
Milestone-Based Funding
Funding released in tranches as projects complete predefined milestones, reducing risk and ensuring accountability.
Best for:
Large development projectsInfrastructure builds+2 more
3 implementations