Ethereum Foundation ESP Grants
Check your eligibility
Sign up and we'll tell you whether your startup qualifies for this grant.
Quick Answer
Non-dilutive grants, paid in ETH by milestone, for open-source work that strengthens Ethereum's infrastructure, tools, research and builder community. Rolling, no deadline.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Grant
- Provider
- Ethereum Foundation
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Location
- International
About this grant
The Ecosystem Support Program (ESP) is the grants programme of the Ethereum Foundation. It gives money and other support to projects that make Ethereum stronger and help the next generation of builders. The programme is open on a rolling basis, so there is no application deadline, and grants are non-dilutive: you give up no ownership. The source does not restrict applicants by country, so Indian developers and teams can apply, but they must be able to receive payment in ETH.
What the program offers
ESP has no fixed grant size. The amount depends on the scope and complexity of your proposal and is agreed with the Foundation's Grant Management team. Some posted items, especially RFPs, include budget guidance. Because the money is non-dilutive, ESP expects budgets to be cost-effective and says it looks for some flexibility below normal market rates.
Grants are paid in ETH by default, on-chain and in milestones. That means the rupee value of what you receive moves with the ETH price. Exceptions are considered only in limited cases where legal or operational limits stop a recipient from receiving ETH. Besides money, funded projects are paired with a Grant Evaluator who runs check-ins and milestone reviews.
Who can apply
ESP supports work that strengthens Ethereum and is open source, non-commercial and aligned with the CROPS principles: Censorship Resistance, Open Source, Privacy and Security. The focus is on builders rather than end users, for example infrastructure, developer tools, cryptography research, and education or community work that grows the developer ecosystem.
For-profit companies may apply. The catch is that the specific work the grant pays for must be open source and available to the community. The page does not explain how "non-commercial" applies to a company, so a startup should be clear about which part of its work would be open sourced.
For an applicant in India, there is no stated country restriction. All recipients complete an onboarding process that includes identity verification and a formal grant letter, and you need a safe way to receive and manage ETH. This programme suits open-source developers, researchers and community builders. It does not suit a team whose main product is closed source, or one that wants funding for a commercial feature that will not be shared.
How to apply
You apply against a posted item, not with a free-form pitch.
- Browse the open Wishlist and RFP items on the ESP site. Wishlist items name gaps in the ecosystem and invite your own approach. RFP items describe a specific problem with a clearer, time-bound deliverable.
- Submit an application for the item describing your approach, timeline and deliverables. You get a confirmation email.
- You can apply to more than one item, but each needs its own application.
A practical tip: say exactly what will be open sourced, what the milestones are and why your budget is reasonable, since budget, experience and open-source output are all judging points.
How applications are judged and what happens next
The Grant Management team reviews each application together with the relevant Ethereum Foundation team. The review can include an interview, a request to rescope the work, or a budget negotiation. The criteria named on the page are technical approach, ecosystem impact, open-source outputs, budget, experience, and alignment with Ethereum's values.
Most applications are reviewed in 3 to 6 weeks, depending on complexity. You are told the decision by email. Selected projects get a milestone-based grant structure and complete onboarding. You are paired with a Grant Evaluator for check-ins and milestone reviews, and at the end you share the results publicly in a report or post. The source does not give a timeline for the rest of the grant after the decision.
About the Ethereum Foundation
The Ethereum Foundation runs ESP through its Grant Management team. The page describes ESP as offering financial and non-financial support to eligible projects that improve Ethereum, mainly by strengthening its foundations and enabling future builders. New Wishlist and RFP items are announced on ESP's social accounts, which the page lists as X, Farcaster, Lens and Bluesky.
Things to check before you apply
- ETH payments. Make sure you can receive and manage ETH securely, and think about how the price moves between approval and the day you convert it.
- Tax and legal treatment. Indian recipients of crypto payments should check the tax and foreign-exchange treatment with an adviser before applying; this page does not cover it.
- Open-source requirement. Everything the grant pays for must be open source or freely available.
- Public reporting. You are expected to publish your results at the end.
- Fit. If no posted item matches your idea, wait for one that does, since applications are made against posted items.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayment
- Non-repayable
What You Get
There is no fixed grant size: the amount follows the scope and complexity of your proposal, unless a Wishlist or RFP item says otherwise, and RFPs may give budget guidance. The grant is paid in milestones and on-chain in ETH by default. Grantees are paired with a Grant Evaluator for regular check-ins and milestone reviews.
- Disbursement
- Milestone Based
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Applications
Rolling basis
Selection Process
The Grant Management team reviews each application with the Ethereum Foundation team that owns the item, looking at technical approach, ecosystem impact, open-source outputs, budget, experience and alignment with Ethereum's values. The review may include an interview, rescoping or budget negotiation. Most applications are reviewed in 3 to 6 weeks and the decision comes by email.
Application Process
- 1
Pick an item
Choose an open Wishlist or RFP item.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the Ethereum Foundation ESP grants?
Anyone whose work strengthens Ethereum and is open source, non-commercial and aligned with the CROPS principles. For-profit companies may also apply as long as the grant-funded work is open source and available to the community. You must apply against an open Wishlist or RFP item.
Can Indian developers and startups apply for ESP grants?
The page states no country restriction, so Indian applicants can apply. You must be able to receive and manage ETH, and selected recipients complete identity verification and sign a grant letter. Check the tax treatment of crypto payments with an adviser, as the source does not cover it.
How much funding does ESP give?
There is no fixed range. The amount depends on the scope and complexity of your proposal and is agreed with the Grant Management team, unless a Wishlist or RFP item sets budget guidance. ESP expects cost-effective budgets with some flexibility below market rates.
How is the ESP grant paid, and is it in crypto?
Yes, grants are paid on-chain in ETH by default, in milestones. The rupee value therefore changes with the ETH price. Exceptions are considered only where legal or operational limits stop you from receiving ETH.
Is there a deadline for ESP grants?
The source gives no deadline. Applications are taken against open Wishlist and RFP items, and RFP items are described as time-bound, so check the date on the specific item you want. If an item has closed, watch for new ones announced on ESP's social accounts.
Is an ESP grant equity or free money?
It is a grant, described as non-dilutive, so you give up no ownership. The source does not mention any equity or repayment. It does expect the funded work to be open source and results to be shared publicly.
What do I need to submit to apply for an ESP grant?
You submit an application describing your approach, timeline and deliverables for a specific item. If selected, you complete onboarding with identity verification and a formal grant letter. The source does not list other documents.
Do I have to travel or relocate for an ESP grant?
The source does not mention any travel or relocation requirement. Work is managed through check-ins and milestone reviews with a Grant Evaluator.
Does it cost anything to apply to ESP?
The source does not mention any application fee. Applying means submitting your proposal for an item and receiving a confirmation email.
How long does ESP take to respond to an application?
Most applications are reviewed within 3 to 6 weeks, depending on complexity. You are told the decision by email. The review may include an interview, rescoping or budget negotiation.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
