- Ethereum Foundation grants $32.65M to 30+ projects for L2 scaling, ZKPs, and global developer education.
- Funds back ETHPrague, ETHiopia events, and regional bootcamps to diversify network contributors and skills.
The Ethereum Foundation distributed $32.65 million in grants during the first quarter of 2025, targeting improvements to the network’s scalability, security, and accessibility. The funds, dispersed through its Ecosystem Support Program, will support over 30 projects, including technical upgrades, educational programs, and community events.
A portion of the grants will finance international conferences like ETHPrague and ETHiopia, alongside regional training initiatives such as the Arabic Blockchain Developer Bootcamp. These efforts aim to equip developers with skills to contribute to Ethereum’s infrastructure while broadening participation across underrepresented regions. The focus on education aligns with Ethereum’s broader objective to decentralize expertise and foster grassroots engagement.
Technical Upgrades: Zero-Knowledge Proofs
Approximately 16 projects will advance cryptographic research, including zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs), a tool for enhancing transaction privacy and efficiency. Funding in this area addresses scalability challenges and prepares the network for potential quantum computing threats. Additional grants will refine Ethereum’s consensus mechanism and execution layer protocols, targeting faster transaction processing and lower costs.
The allocation also prioritizes upgrades to developer tooling, such as gas metering analysis and client software optimizations. These changes aim to simplify the creation of decentralized applications (dApps) and improve user experiences. By streamlining workflows, Ethereum seeks to retain developer interest amid competing blockchain platforms.
The grants reflect a dual focus: resolving immediate technical bottlenecks while investing in long-term network resilience. Layer 2 scalability solutions, bolstered by ZKPs, could reduce congestion on Ethereum’s mainnet, a persistent issue during peak usage. Educational initiatives, meanwhile, may widen the pool of contributors, decentralizing innovation across geographies.
While the full impact of these grants will unfold over years, the allocation underscores Ethereum’s structured approach to growth. By balancing technical upgrades with community-building, the foundation aims to maintain its position as a leading blockchain platform.
Ethereum is currently trading at $2,309.40, up +4.57% on the day, continuing a powerful rebound from recent lows near $1,400. Over the past month, ETH has surged +56.82%, with a +25.61% gain over the last week, signaling a return of bullish conviction.
Despite this strong short-term trend, ETH is still down -26.18% over six months and -30.68% year-to-date, reflecting lingering macro and regulatory uncertainty earlier in the year.
The rally has been significantly fueled by the successful rollout of the Pectra upgrade, which brought scalability enhancements and broader wallet functionalities. This includes the upcoming EIP-7702, enabling smart contract capabilities within externally owned accounts—paving the way for gas fee sponsorship and multi-token payments.
Technically, ETH is breaking out of an ascending triangle, with the next key resistance near $2,500, while support rests at $2,150–$2,180. If Ethereum clears $2,500 convincingly, it opens the door for a run toward $2,770–$3,000 in the short to mid term. Volume remains strong at $54 billion over 24 hours, and the RSI suggests room to run before overbought conditions appear.
