Deciphr Academy
Track 6 · Module 28 · Lesson 3 of 7 · 8 min read

How do you apply for a crypto ecosystem grant?

Short answer

You often send a written proposal covering the problem, your plan and timeline, milestones, budget and team, and why the work suits that network; reviewers may then interview you or ask you to change the scope or budget.1,2 If you're chosen, you often sign a grant agreement and pass identity checks before any money is paid.1,2,3

What most applications ask forSummaryPlan, timelineMilestonesBudgetTeamOpen sourceReviewinterview, rescopingAgreementand identity checksPaidmilestone by milestoneRules differ by programme,and change often:read the current page
Fig. 3. Most applications cover the same six things. Then come review, an agreement and identity checks.

Find the right programme first

Programmes open, close and change their rules often. ESP paused open applications in August 2025, then reopened in November 2025 with its Wishlist and RFPs.4,5 The Arbitrum DAO's grant programme, Season 3, was approved to run until March 2026, or until its funds ran out.6 In October 2026 the Arbitrum Foundation's grants page listed that programme as inactive.7

So start with the programme's current page. ESP asks for a separate application for each Wishlist or RFP item.8 If you are not sure your idea fits, its Office Hours offer a short call to check.9

Grant sizes vary a lot. In the Arbitrum DAO's Season 3, you could ask for up to 25,000 USDC with one reviewer, or up to 50,000 USDC with two.6 Its November 2024 proposal said Arbitrum Foundation grants usually started at $50,000 and went up to $150,000. In October 2026 the Arbitrum Foundation's grants page listed that programme as complete too.10,7

What applications ask for

The forms differ, but most ask about the same things.1,2,11

  • A summary. Gitcoin's tips say many readers only read the start, so open with a short summary that says how you will use the money.11
  • The plan. ESP asks for clear information on your "methodology, timeline, and deliverables".1
  • Milestones. The Solana Foundation asks you to "include thoughtful milestones".2
  • A budget. Solana asks for "a well structured budget proposal".2 ESP judges cost-effectiveness, and generally anticipates budgets with "some flexibility below standard market rates".12
  • The team. ESP looks at relevant background and past work. Gitcoin's tips suggest listing key members and their qualifications.12,11
  • Fit with the network. Solana asks "Why Solana?". ESP looks for understanding of Ethereum's values and needs.2,12
  • Open source. ESP says all outputs must be open source or freely available. For-profit companies may apply, but the funded work itself must be open source.12 Solana says the usable parts of a project should be available to all.2

Other programmes ask for similar things. The Arbitrum Security Program's form collects details about "the project, team, audit scope, and budget".13

How reviewers decide

ESP lists its selection criteria.12

  1. Technical approach: is the plan sound, doable and clear?12
  2. Ecosystem impact: how much could it help the Ethereum community?12
  3. Open source: will the outputs be freely available?12
  4. Budget: is it cost-effective?12
  5. Experience: has the team done similar work?12
  6. Alignment: does the team understand Ethereum's values and needs?12

The Solana Foundation looks for a public good, open source, a reason to build on Solana, and a clear use of funds.2,14

After you apply

At ESP, you get a confirmation email. ESP says most applications are reviewed within 3-6 weeks. The review may include an interview, a change of scope or a budget negotiation.8,1

The Solana Foundation lists about one week for review and about three weeks to a decision. Approved teams then finalise a grant agreement with its legal team.2

Some programmes review in public. The Arbitrum DAO's grant programme said all applications and decisions could be read by anyone in its online portal.10

Agreements and identity checks

Before money moves, many programmes check who you are and ask you to sign an agreement.3 KYC, short for "know your customer", is a set of standards for checking identity to prevent crime and fraud.15

  • ESP: every grantee completes onboarding, with identity verification and a formal grant letter.1
  • Optimism (policies last edited May 2025): after the Grants Council's decisions were posted, recipients had 90 days to complete KYC and collect their grant. The council was dissolved in July 2026.16,17
  • Arbitrum DAO (Season 3): grantees had six months to finish their work, counted from completing "KYC/KYB".18

Gitcoin's KYC page, written for its 15th round, shows what such checks can ask for. It asked individual grantees who won more than $15,000 in matching funds for a government ID and proof of address, and companies for proof of incorporation.15 Gitcoin said its matching partners wanted to be sure their funds went to "legitimate grantees".15

Say who helped you

Some people help teams write proposals in return for part of the grant. Optimism calls this "grants-as-a-service". It is allowed, but its policies say it "must be disclosed prominently" in the proposal.16

One programme's rule is that programme's rule

Everything in this lesson is what a named programme published, as of October 2026 or the date we give. Rules change, so read the programme's current page before you apply.4,6

Our viewA good application makes the reviewer's job easy: what will exist, by when, and how anyone can check that it does.
Sources
  1. How to Apply: process. Ethereum Foundation, Ecosystem Support Program (read 22 October 2026).
  2. Grants and Funding: how to apply and guidelines for evaluation. Solana Foundation (read 22 October 2026).
  3. Direct Grants. Gitcoin, mechanisms library (read 22 October 2026).
  4. The Ecosystem Support Program's Next Chapter. Ethereum Foundation blog, Ecosystem Support Program Team, 29 August 2025.
  5. Unveiling ESP's New Grants Program. Ethereum Foundation blog, Ecosystem Support Program Team, 3 November 2025.
  6. Arbitrum D.A.O. Grant Program Season 3 - Official thread. Arbitrum DAO governance forum (opening post last edited 13 January 2026; thread read to its report of 22 July 2026), 19 March 2025.
  7. Arbitrum Grants. Arbitrum Foundation (read 22 October 2026).
  8. How to Apply: FAQ. Ethereum Foundation, Ecosystem Support Program (read 22 October 2026).
  9. Office Hours. Ethereum Foundation, Ecosystem Support Program (read 22 October 2026).
  10. [RFC] Arbitrum D.A.O. Grant Program - Season 3: Season 1 and 2 recap. Arbitrum DAO governance forum (post last edited 15 July 2025), 19 November 2024.
  11. Tips for Grant Success. Gitcoin support knowledge base (read 22 October 2026).
  12. How to Apply: mission, scope and selection criteria. Ethereum Foundation, Ecosystem Support Program (read 22 October 2026).
  13. Introducing the Arbitrum Security Program: Apply to Secure Your Smart Contracts. Arbitrum Foundation blog, 28 September 2026.
  14. Grants and Funding. Solana Foundation (read 22 October 2026).
  15. Gitcoin's KYC. Gitcoin support knowledge base, written for its 15th grants round, GR15 (read 22 October 2026).
  16. Collective Grant Policies. Optimism Collective governance forum (post last edited 8 May 2025; read 22 October 2026), first posted 6 April 2023.
  17. Grants Council Dissolution Proposal. Optimism Agora, Token House vote page (read 22 October 2026).
  18. [RFC] Arbitrum D.A.O. (Domain Allocator Offerings) Grant Program - Season 3. Arbitrum DAO governance forum (post last edited 15 July 2025), 19 November 2024.
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General education built from the publicly available sources listed above. Not financial, legal, tax or investment advice. Naming a company, project or regulator is not an endorsement either way. Last checked 2026-10-22. Terms and disclaimer.