grants/overview-ethereum-esp

Ethereum Foundation ESP Application Guide

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v1.0.0·Updated 3/20/2026

What is ESP?

EF ESP is the Ethereum Foundation's grant program for ecosystem builders, with no funding cap, focusing on public goods and infrastructure.

Funding Priority Areas

  • Protocol Research: EIP implementation, L2 scaling, consensus mechanisms
  • Developer Tools: Toolchains like Hardhat/Foundry, debugging tools, testing frameworks
  • Education & Documentation: High-quality tutorials, localized content
  • Security: Formal verification, auditing tools, vulnerability research
  • Privacy: ZK technology, mixers, privacy protocols
  • Layer 2: Rollup infrastructure, cross-chain bridges

Application Types

TypeAmountTimeline
Small Grants$500 - $30KFast track approval (2 weeks)
Project Grants$30K+Full evaluation (6-8 weeks)
Academic GrantsUnlimitedAcademic research specific

Application Portal

https://esp.ethereum.foundation/

Application Process

  1. Submit application form (describing project/impact/budget/team)
  2. ESP team preliminary assessment
  3. Technical/domain expert review
  4. Decision and notification

Example Success Cases

  • Ethereum clients (Geth, Prysm, Lighthouse all received support)
  • Developer tools (Remix IDE, eth-tester)
  • Research papers (EIP proposal supporting research)
  • Local developer community events

Application Tips

  • Public goods first: ESP does not fund commercial projects; must have clear public value
  • Ethereum first: Project must directly contribute to the Ethereum ecosystem
  • Team credibility: GitHub contribution history, community involvement
  • Quantify impact: Clearly state how many people will benefit

Reference Resources