The thriving client ecosystem of Ethereum is fundamental to our collaborative endeavors. This encompasses both execution-layer and consensus-layer clients, which are vital components of Ethereum’s future following the merge.
Continuing support for execution-layer (formerly “Eth1”) clients stands as a prime priority for the Ethereum Foundation. These client teams have been instrumental in Ethereum’s expansion over the years and will keep providing essential infrastructure for the network after the merge, as Ethereum shifts to a Proof of Stake consensus mechanism. Since January 2020, the EF has invested over $10M in execution-layer client R&D. Our unwavering support will persist as these teams evolve and scale with the broader ecosystem.
We also advocate for a healthy distribution of funding and backing for Ethereum clients from a wider array of community stakeholders, mirroring the growth and diversification of the ecosystem.
Collaborative initiatives, particularly those aimed at bolstering teams and builders that uphold a varied range of Ethereum clients, provide a sustainable and impactful strategy for supporting Ethereum in the long run.
Building together
Today, we’re delighted to reveal that Compound Grants, Kraken, Lido, Synthetix, The Graph and Uniswap Grants are each contributing $250K to support Ethereum execution-layer client teams. This initiative has resulted from several months of collaborative efforts and will augment the substantial funding provided by the Ethereum Foundation this year. This fundraising endeavor will not affect the continued financial backing from the EF for these teams.
The support from accomplished and leading organizations across various industries will bolster and advance the innovations unfolding on Ethereum.
This initiative aims to secure Ethereum’s long-term growth, health, and decentralization. These objectives are exemplified through client diversity, the strength of the teams involved, and our belief that Ethereum will thrive as they do.
Why begin with this approach?
Our aim in this initial round is to reduce reliance on any singular team or entity, as we collectively strive to maintain high-quality open-source products in a diverse, decentralized, and sustainable manner.
We are making progress toward more decentralized funding mechanisms for Ethereum’s public goods, and this represents another step that empowers a larger group of stakeholders to directly support client development and maintenance.
Recipients
Aligned with our goal of client diversity and the network’s success, we are thrilled to present the recipients of this round: Besu, Erigon, Geth, Nethermind, and Nimbus.
As a public good, Ethereum thrives on shared accountability. This concept is true not only for client diversity but also for the breadth and depth of the ecosystem’s capacity to support itself.
Ethereum is a transformative project with the potential to enhance the fundamental nature of human, social, and market interactions on a global scale. Through pioneering applications and innovations within the network, coupled with ever-increasing adoption, the Ethereum community is constantly pushing the limits of what is technically and technologically achievable. We are eager to advance this growth and invite you to join us in our mission to strengthen Ethereum, ensuring it remains a diverse and sustainable project, maintained by many for years to come. 🚀
