Ethereum Foundation Funding Program undergoes major transformation: focusing on strategic tracks, mentor programs support founders

Author: Zen, PANews

For Ethereum ecosystem projects, receiving funding from the foundation is undoubtedly a recognition and endorsement of the project. Since launching the Ethereum Foundation (EF) funding program in 2018, EF has continuously provided financial support for open-source projects, educational initiatives, developer tools, and other public goods within the Ethereum ecosystem through mechanisms such as the “Ecosystem Support Program (ESP).”

Early funding models primarily consisted of open application grant programs, focusing on developer tools, core infrastructure, research, community building, and open standards. During this phase, EF achieved significant results through open funding, supporting hundreds of projects. In 2024 alone, ESP provided nearly $3 million to 105 projects and initiatives via open application platforms. This approach accelerated the development of key Ethereum components and cultivated a global Ethereum developer community. The flow of funds and talent together propelled the prosperity of the Ethereum ecosystem.

However, as the ecosystem expanded, this passive, application-based funding model revealed limitations. EF’s funding team was lean, while ecosystem needs were broad, making it impossible to fully handle the surge in applications. This resulted in most of EF’s time, energy, and resources being consumed, limiting its ability to pursue strategic opportunities.

As the Ethereum ecosystem grew in scale and complexity, support methods needed to evolve accordingly. Therefore, EF began to consider how to continue supporting public goods while more strategically planning resource allocation.

( ESP Transformation: Wishlist + Request for Proposals (RFP) Driven

By 2025, these issues prompted the Ethereum Foundation to make significant adjustments to its funding strategy. At the end of August 2025, EF announced that its Ecosystem Support Program (ESP) would temporarily suspend accepting open funding applications to reassess funding priorities and improve support methods.

This adjustment aimed to shift focus toward strategic initiatives, moving from a reactive response mode to a more proactive approach, more closely aligning support with key directions of the Ethereum ecosystem, and coordinating with EF’s internal teams’ overall strategies. In simple terms, resources would be directed toward projects that are most critical and impactful for the ecosystem.

After months of preparation, on November 3, 2025, EF officially launched a new funding mechanism for ESP, centered on replacing fully open applications with two pathways: “Wishlist” and “Request for Proposals (RFP).” Under this new model, funding remains open to all, but applications must align with EF’s pre-listed priority areas or specific problems. Specifically:

The Wishlist describes significant gaps or opportunities within the Ethereum ecosystem but does not specify particular implementation paths. EF teams, based on observations of the current ecosystem, propose high-priority broad directions or goals, serving as EF’s “wish list” and guidance. This model allows considerable flexibility, encouraging applicants to creatively address these priorities by proposing independent ideas and solutions. Developers and teams can submit proposals around these directions, and EF evaluates whether the projects align with these broad themes and can positively impact the ecosystem.

The RFP mode is more specific and targeted. EF will publish clear problem statements or opportunity descriptions, inviting applicants to submit solutions for these issues. This mode emphasizes measurable deliverables and time constraints, suitable for urgent problems identified by EF that require targeted investment. Each RFP typically includes predefined project scope, requirements, and expected outcomes, with fixed application windows and project durations. It’s akin to EF setting “exam questions,” with applicants providing “answers.” Only proposals that meet specific needs and can deliver within deadlines will be selected.

The new Wishlist and RFP lists cover key areas such as cryptography, privacy, application layer, security, and community growth, representing current pain points and opportunities in Ethereum development.

) Founders Lab: Founder Support Program Focused on Execution

Alongside the shift to proactive planning, in 2025 EF launched a new initiative aimed at enhancing project execution—Founders Lab. This is a mentorship-based acceleration program for founders of early-stage projects within the Ethereum ecosystem, emphasizing that transforming innovative ideas into reality requires strong execution and resource integration capabilities.

From November 17–22, 2025, Devconnect Argentina will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is positioned as the first Ethereum World’s Fair. During this event, Founders Lab will debut on November 18–19, offering 1:1 mentorship to selected Ethereum startup teams.

Initial mentors include notable entrepreneurs such as Jesse Pollak, head of Coinbase L2 network Base, and Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder of Polygon. Participating teams will have the opportunity to directly consult these “unicorn” mentors, gaining guidance on strategy, technology, and operations to avoid detours.

According to EF’s official information and the mentors’ backgrounds, the core topics of Founders Lab mentorship include:

• GTM (Go-To-Market Strategy): Helping teams clarify product positioning and market strategies, including target user identification, promotion planning, and competitive advantages.
• Fundraising: Mentors include successful fundraisers and operators of large projects, offering valuable guidance on refining business plans, engaging investors, and timing and terms of fundraising.
• Product and Scaling: Hands-on coaching on product refinement, user experience optimization, user base expansion, and technical scaling.
• Network Resources and Industry Insights: “Connections are resources.” Access to the right partners, community resources, and industry networks can determine project success or failure. Founders Lab leverages EF’s extensive ecosystem to connect new founders with potential partners, communities, and investors.

Through these empowerment efforts, Founders Lab aims to address previous gaps in EF’s support model: whereas EF mainly provided funding or a stage for display, it now emphasizes imparting methods, expanding networks, and focusing on results. This shift signifies that EF now considers founders’ execution capability itself as a valuable “public good.” As EF emphasized in the new funding announcement, beyond funding, EF will provide continuous strong support to grantees.