TL;DR
- $32.65M Ecosystem Boost: The Ethereum Foundation is distributing $32.65 million in Q1 2025 grants to accelerate Layer 2 scalability, cryptographic research, and global educational initiatives.
- Wide-Ranging Impact: The funding supports over 30 projects, including international conferences, hackathons, and developer boot camps, aiming to nurture local talent and strengthen community-building.
- Tech & Developer Focus: Investments extend to advanced projects like zero-knowledge proofs and improved developer tooling, positioning Ethereum for more secure, efficient, and inclusive network growth.
The Ethereum Foundation gave out $32.65 million in grants in the first quarter of 2025. Distributed through its Ecosystem Support Program, these funds are designed to fuel initiatives that enhance Layer 2 scalability, strengthen cryptographic research, and expand global educational outreach. This investment marks a significant step in Ethereum’s ongoing commitment to a healthier, more inclusive ecosystem.
Broad Focus Across the Ecosystem
The allocation spans multiple strategic domains. A substantial share has been dedicated to community-building and education, with funds supporting over 30 initiatives. These projects range from international conferences and hackathons, such as ETHPrague and the inaugural ETHiopia event, to region-specific developer boot camps like the Arabic Blockchain Developer Bootcamp.
By empowering these initiatives, the Ethereum Foundation aims to nurture local talent and foster a decentralized community that spans continents. Simultaneously, the grants are set to boost advanced cryptographic research and zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) implementations.
With 16 projects focusing on ZKPs and related cryptographic techniques, the funding helps address challenges in scalability and security while paving the way for post-quantum research. These technical advancements are critical in supporting Ethereum’s long-term vision for a fast, secure, and privacy-enhanced network.
Empowering Global Reach and Future Growth
Beyond education and cryptography, funding has also been channeled into enhancing developer experience and tooling, strengthening Ethereum’s consensus mechanism, and refining execution layer protocols.
With initiatives ranging from innovative analyses of gas metering to the development of more efficient client software, the grants reflect a clear strategy to improve both the user and developer experience on the Ethereum network. This multifaceted approach underscores the Ethereum Foundation’s goal to address immediate technical challenges while building a sustainable foundation for future growth.
A Vision for Tomorrow
This record allocation not only boosts current projects but also catalyzes wider innovation across the blockchain space. By strategically investing in education, technology, and community development, the Ethereum Foundation is setting the stage for exponential growth and continued leadership in the digital world.
