OpenGrants funding guide

Crypto and Web3 Grants for Builders

The ecosystem grants, retroactive and quadratic-funding rounds, hackathon prize pools, fellowships, audit subsidies and accelerators that keep coming back, with what each pays, what is attached (tokens, vesting, milestones, KYC), and the next window for each, so builders anywhere can plan the next 12 months of applications.

Data refreshed: November 8, 2026 · Editorial verified: October 24, 2026 · 189 programs

114Grants

31Prizes

9Fellowships

22In-kind / lab access

13Other

180Equity-free

How to use this page

Start small, then apply where your users are. A common path: a hackathon, bounty or microgrant → a milestone grant from the chain or protocol you build on → a retroactive or quadratic-funding round once the work is live and used. Foundations fund what grows their own network, so the strongest application is to the ecosystem whose users, contracts and tooling you already depend on.
Tokens are not equity, but they are not cash either. Almost everything here takes no equity. Many programs pay in the network's own token, often in milestone tranches and sometimes with a lockup or vesting schedule, so the dollar value moves with the market between award and payout. Every card's catch says how you get paid. A few accelerators invest through a SAFE or take equity; they are included because builders ask about them, and each is labeled Equity: see terms. Tick "Equity-free only" to hide them.
Expect KYC, and plan around rounds. Nearly every foundation verifies identity before it pays, and most cannot pay people or companies in sanctioned countries; cards state the country limits a program publishes. Recurring programs are plannable: when a round or event has passed, the card shows the next expected window from the program's own cycle, so you can put it on a calendar now. For how non-dilutive money fits a startup's funding plan, see Non-Dilutive Capital for Startups.

What's included: Standing programs and recurring rounds that crypto and web3 builders anywhere can apply to (or labeled when they cannot), with activity in 2025 or 2026 on the official page. What's left out: Programs dormant since 2024, one-off campaigns, invite-only programs with no public path, investment programs presented as grants, airdrops, and liquidity-mining or staking incentives.

SearchSectionFunding typeEcosystemWork fundedNext deadline Equity-free only

Showing 189 of 189 programs

1. Paid fellowships and learning programs

These programs pay you, as an individual, to learn by doing: a stipend or salary for a fixed term while you contribute to real open-source code under a mentor. They fit people early in a protocol career, such as students, engineers switching from closed-source jobs and PhD researchers, rather than teams with a product. Pay runs from $250–$500 a month (Bitshala) and $1,000–$6,600 for a summer or semester (Summer of Bitcoin, LF Decentralized Trust) up to a full engineering salary (Brink's London fellowship). Most run once a year: Summer of Bitcoin opens in February, LF Decentralized Trust in March, the Ethereum Protocol Fellowship in April–May and Solana's ambassador program in late August; a few take applications year-round. Money usually arrives in installments after each evaluation, often in BTC or USDC, and several require KYC. The mistake applicants make is treating the form as the start. Selection almost everywhere rests on public proof of work done before you apply: merged pull requests, challenge solutions, or contributions to the project you name. Free courses and unpaid ambassador roles are not listed.

10 programs

Ethereum Protocol Fellowship (EPF)

Ethereum Foundation

Varies — check official page (monthly stipend for selected fellows during the 5-month cohort; the amount is set individually with each fellow and not published)

FellowshipEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Only some fellows get a stipend, and it is subject to KYC and sanctions screening (paid in crypto or fiat). Fellows publish weekly development updates, join two weekly calls and present at the end; the FAQ says success is hard below about 20 hours a week. No equity or token lockup.

Next deadline: Expected: May 2027 · Annual (applications April–May; cohort runs June–November)

Builder tip: Selection favours a visible signal, so work through the epf.wiki study material and draft a project proposal against the cohort's proposed-projects list before you apply. The Foundation says retroactive stipends have gone to standout permissionless participants in every cohort, so contributing in the open still pays if you are not selected.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Developers and researchers anywhere who want to work on Ethereum's core protocol: clients, specifications, testing and protocol research (not smart contracts or dapps). There are no hard requirements; selection weighs open-source history and prior Ethereum contributions. Stipends require KYC and cannot be paid to sanctioned individuals or to people in sanctioned countries (the FAQ names North Korea and Iran).
How to apply: Direct application: apply through the form linked from the Ethereum Foundation blog announcement during the April–May window; shortlisted applicants are interviewed. Anyone can also take part without a stipend through the cohort's public GitHub repository.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, research, public goods
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Summer of Bitcoin

USD 3,000–6,600 stipend per student, set by location with a purchasing-power table (for example India $3,000, Germany $5,400, United States $6,000, Australia $6,600), paid in BTC

FellowshipEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Paid only after passing evaluations: 40% after the mid-term and 60% after the final evaluation, in BTC at that day's price (local currency only by exception). Students on a joint project split one stipend, and the program expects full-time work with no major other commitments.

Next deadline: Expected: February 2027 · Annual (applications in February; challenge round February–March; proposals in April; project period May–August)

Builder tip: Selection rests on the quality of your proposal, your challenge-round solutions and contributions you have already made to the project you apply to, so start opening issues or pull requests with your target organization before proposals are due in April.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Students enrolled in a university or high school program anywhere, with strong programming or design skills, open-source experience and clear written English, who can work full time through the 12-week summer project period. Developer and Designer tracks. The stipend level depends on the country of your university or where you live during the program.
How to apply: Direct application: apply at summerofbitcoin.org during the February window, pass the challenge-round bootcamp, then submit a project proposal on the Summer of Bitcoin portal (2026 deadline April 20).
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, public goods
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 2026: 50 students selected from 3,272 applicants in 51 countries, placed with 26 open-source bitcoin organizations.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Btrust Builders Open Source Fellowship (via Builders Pathways)

Btrust

Varies — check official page (monthly stipend during the Open Source Fellowship; amount not published; the learning pathways that lead to it are free)

FellowshipEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: There is no direct application to the paid part: seats go only to invited pathway performers, and registering interest does not guarantee selection. Fellows work on pre-approved projects with weekly standups, peer reviews, technical writing and a public demo day (the 2026 fellowship ran 12 weeks part-time, August 24–November 13). No equity or token lockup.

Next deadline: Expected: January 2027 · Annual calendar (pathway cohorts start in January, March, May, June and October; invitation-only Open Source Fellowship from August)

Builder tip: Invitations depend on the quality and consistency of your public work in a live cohort, so pick a live pathway over self-paced and get pull requests in during it; strong fellows are positioned for Btrust's starter developer grants.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Experienced software developers in Africa (the fellowship page also says the Global South) with at least one year of production development experience, an active GitHub or GitLab account and consistent weekly time. The paid fellowship is invitation-only and draws on top performers from live pathway cohorts or the BOSS Challenge.
How to apply: Invite-only: apply to a Builders pathway (live cohort or self-paced) at builders.btrust.tech/apply; developers in or after a live cohort can submit the fellowship interest form, and invitations are based on their pathway work.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, education/community, public goods
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 2025 Open Source Bootcamp: 38 developers from seven countries; seven Builders moved straight into Btrust developer grants the same year.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Bitshala Fellowship

Bitshala

$500/month (INR 40,000) for the Development and Design Fellowship; $250/month (INR 20,000) for the Education Fellowship; typically 6 months, extendable to 12

FellowshipEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Fellows submit monthly logs for review, hold regular calls with a mentor and work in public on GitHub or Figma; extension beyond six months depends on performance. No equity or token lockup.

Next deadline: Rolling (no deadline posted) · Rolling

Builder tip: Joining a Bitshala cohort first (the app lists Bitcoin Protocol Development and Learning Bitcoin from the Command Line) gives reviewers a record of your work; the fellowship page names Silent Payments, Coinswap, BDK, LDK and Bitcoin Core among projects where fellows have contributed.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Developers, designers and educators who already understand Bitcoin basics and have some open-source or self-driven work behind them, based in India (the page also mentions South-East Asia and the Global South). Fellows can work part-time or full-time.
How to apply: Direct application: apply through the fellowship form at app.bitshala.org/fellowship/applications, choosing the developer, designer or education track; you either join an existing project with a matched mentor or propose your own.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, education/community
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Brink Fellowship

Brink

Varies — check official page (competitive salary with standard software-engineering benefits for one year; figure not published)

FellowshipEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: This is a salaried, in-person year in London alongside Brink's engineers, contributing to Bitcoin Core from day one, so you must relocate. Pay is a salary with benefits rather than a grant. No equity or token lockup.

Next deadline: Rolling (no deadline posted) · Rolling (one-year fellowships; no fixed intake calendar published)

Builder tip: The last fellow arrived after Chaincode's seminars and BOSS program with reviewed Bitcoin Core pull requests and a fuzz-testing focus paired with a named mentor, so apply with a concrete area of the codebase and a review history.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Software engineers from any background who are committed to Bitcoin; there are no educational requirements, and evidence of prior open-source contributions (code review, technical writing) matters most. Fellows must relocate to Brink's London office; Brink may help with travel and visas case by case.
How to apply: Direct application: complete the 'Apply for the Fellowship' form linked on brink.dev/programs.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, security
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Most recent public fellow: Marco De Leon (August 2024–July 2025), who moved on to a full-time Brink grant; Brink also hosted two fuzz-testing research interns in 2025.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Localhost Research Visiting Scholar

Localhost Research

Varies — check official page (weekly stipend plus room and board, a small conference travel budget and visa costs, for at least three months; stipend amount not published)

FellowshipEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: You must be in person in downtown Palo Alto for at least three months, splitting time between shared office projects and your own work; Localhost pays for and helps you obtain a visa. No equity or token lockup.

Next deadline: Rolling (inquiries by email; no deadline posted) · Rolling

Builder tip: Come with a defined plan: the program expects participants to arrive with work they are excited to pursue that overlaps a Localhost unit, and its first announced scholar was introduced through the B4OS residency and contacts at Chaincode and Brink.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Software engineers who want to become full-time contributors to Bitcoin-focused open source, with a good grasp of computer-science fundamentals and a verifiable history of contributing to software projects. Your work must overlap with one of Localhost's units: Bitcoin Core, Mining, or the Post Quantum Cryptography Group. On-site in Palo Alto.
How to apply: Pitch gate: email [email protected] describing the work you want to pursue; the programs page lists no application form or deadline.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, research, security
Equity taken: None
Who wins: October 2025: Pol Espinasa, a PhD student and B4OS residency alumnus, hosted as Visiting Scholar for three months.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

B4OS (Bitcoin 4 Open Source)

Librería de Satoshi

Varies — check official page (training is free; top participants can receive micro-grants for part-time FOSS work or full-time grants, and residency costs are covered; a $300 prize went to the best code by a first-time participant in 2025)

OtherEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Money is not guaranteed: grants go only to top performers chosen on proof of work after months of unpaid training, and all code must be open source. No equity or token lockup.

Next deadline: Per round — see official page (registration closed; the 2025–26 registration ran August 11–October 15, 2025) · Annual program (registration and code challenges August–October; online tracks to February; residency February–March; new grantees assigned in April)

Builder tip: Residency and grant selection are based on proof of work in open-source projects plus course participation, so treat the October–February portfolio phase, not the sign-up form, as the real application.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Spanish-speaking developers aged 18 or older (no geographic restriction; the 2026 call targets Latin America, the Caribbean and Spain) with 2+ years of software experience, solid C++, Rust, Python or JavaScript, English proficiency and 5–10 hours a week.
How to apply: Registration: sign up at b4os.dev when registration opens and complete the asynchronous code challenges; the best performers move on to tracks, the in-person residency and grant consideration.
Work funded fit: education/community, infrastructure, public goods
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 2024 cohort: 120 developers selected, 21 invited to the residency, 7 full-time and 8 part-time or micro-grant grantees.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Solana Scholars

Solana Foundation

Varies — check official page (funded 3-month research internships with a possible extension; compensation not published)

FellowshipEquity-freeSolana

The catch: Internships are scoped so results ship into the live system (code, protocol changes or analysis) as well as producing publishable work. The page does not state the stipend, intellectual-property terms or number of places, so confirm them before accepting. No equity stated.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Pitch a concrete open problem in consensus, networking, cryptography or economics and point to the conference paper that shows you can solve it; the page says topics come from what the system needs next, so tie your idea to Solana's roadmap rather than a general research interest.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Currently enrolled PhD students in distributed systems, networking, cryptography, economics or a neighbouring field who have already published at conferences such as FC, AFT, PODC, SOSP, CCS, CRYPTO or EC. Internships are on-site (for example Zurich or New York) or remote.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the short form linked from solana.com/scholars, pitching your own topic or choosing one of the program's areas; if there is a fit, the internship is scoped with you.
Work funded fit: research, infrastructure
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Solana University Ambassador Program

Solana Foundation

Varies — check official page (semester stipend in USDC paid in milestone installments, plus event funding, merch and a perks bundle; amount not published)

FellowshipEquity-freeSolana

The catch: The stipend is paid in USDC to a wallet you control, in installments as you hit milestones (four workshops a semester, build nights and a demo day). You may not be a formal ambassador for a competing chain or company. No equity.

Next deadline: Expected: August 2027 · Annual (applications in late August; program runs September–December)

Builder tip: The application asks for a 60-second video of something you organized on campus, so lead with evidence that you can run events; you can apply solo and nominate a co-lead later, and the page says strong applications from outside the launch countries are how new countries get added.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Undergraduates aged 18+ graduating after December 2026, available 4–6 hours a week from September to December, and not a formal ambassador for a competing chain or company. Two paid leads per selected campus; graduate students cannot hold the paid roles. Campuses are added country by country, starting with a first launch group.
How to apply: Direct application: apply at solana.com/university during the late-August window with short written answers and two informal videos (about 12 minutes in total).
Work funded fit: education/community, consumer apps
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

LF Decentralized Trust Mentorship Program

LF Decentralized Trust (Linux Foundation)

Tiered stipend by country of residence under the LFX Mentorship table (USD 1,000–6,600, adjusted by purchasing power from a USD 6,000 base), paid in two installments; projects labeled 'Unpaid' carry no stipend

FellowshipEquity-freeany

The catch: The stipend comes in two installments: at midterm only if mentors rate you in good standing, and at the end only after successful completion confirmed by program staff. Expect 12–15 hours a week from June to November. No equity or token lockup.

Next deadline: Expected: March 2027 · Annual (mentee applications March–May; mentorship June–November)

Builder tip: Filter the LFX Mentorship listing for LF Decentralized Trust and check each project's paid or unpaid label before you apply, because unpaid projects stay open longer (to May 22 in 2026) but pay nothing; mentors propose projects in February and March, so you can study the list before applications open.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Aspiring developers, researchers and other contributors anywhere who want to work on LF Decentralized Trust projects (the former Hyperledger family). Mentees are chosen through application review and interviews on LFX Mentorship; the stipend depends on the country you live in during the program.
How to apply: Direct application: apply to individual mentorship projects on the LFX Mentorship portal during the spring window (2026: March 31–May 11), then interview.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, public goods
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 2026: 22 paid mentorship projects (LF Decentralized Trust developer-relations notes, April 2026).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

2. Hackathon prize pools and standing bounties

Hackathon prizes and bounties are the fastest crypto money to win, and usually the smallest. A typical in-person hackathon splits $40,000 to $200,000 across many sponsor tracks, so a single prize is more often $2,000 to $20,000 than the headline number. Online series such as Colosseum, Chainlink and Sui Overflow pay top prizes of $20,000 to $35,000. Standing bounty boards like Superteam Earn and Rootstock Hacktivator pay from $15 to a few thousand dollars per accepted task, all year. Most events keep a fixed calendar (ETHDenver every February, Colosseum every spring and fall), so you can plan a season of them. Expect to be paid in USDC or the host chain's token, often only after KYC or KYB and sometimes in tranches tied to milestones, and budget your own travel for in-person events. The mistake most teams make is building for the overall pool: money is paid per track, and each sponsor's written requirements decide whether you are eligible before judges ever look at quality.

18 programs

ETHGlobal Hackathons

ETHGlobal

Varies by event — partner prize pools of $5,000–$20,000 each (ETHGlobal New York 2026: $175,000 in total; HackMoney 2026, online: $75,000; Mumbai 2026: $175,000); every finalist team member also receives 1,000 USDC and a $500 flight reimbursement for a later ETHGlobal hackathon

PrizeEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Most of the money is partner prizes, each with its own qualification rules and judged by that partner; ETHGlobal itself pays only the finalist perks. Prizes go out in USDC (or equivalent) to a verified wallet under ETHGlobal's eligibility and compliance rules, and some partner tracks are paid at the partner's discretion or are unavailable in some countries. Plan your own travel and lodging for in-person events; the only flight support listed is the finalist reimbursement for a later hackathon.

Next deadline: Closed — next cycle TBD · Events several times a year (in-person hackathons in rotating cities plus online async hackathons) · Set an alert ↗

Builder tip: Read the partner prize pages before you apply: each lists qualification requirements (for example a FEEDBACK.md file or an integration debrief), and several 2026 prizes are open only to Continuity Track teams extending an existing repo. Picking partners whose requirements overlap lets one build qualify for more than one prize.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Individuals and teams of 1–5 from anywhere who are accepted through the event application; in-person events are attended on site and async events are online. Accepted hackers stake to confirm their spot (the stake is returned after the event). From 2026, teams may bring an existing repo instead of starting from an empty one.
How to apply: Registration: apply to attend on the event page at ethglobal.com/events, stake to confirm once accepted, then build and submit before the event's submission deadline, choosing the partner prizes you compete for.
Work funded fit: dev tooling, DeFi, consumer apps, AI
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

ETHDenver #BUIDLathon

SporkDAO

Varies — 2026 pool $130,000: $2,000 for each of five ETHDenver tracks plus 19 sponsor prize tracks from 10 sponsors (largest $25,000)

PrizeEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Most of the pool is sponsor bounties with their own rules; the five organizer track prizes were $2,000 each in 2026. You must be in Denver for the four-day on-site build, and the official pages state no KYC or payout currency, so check each bounty's terms.

Next deadline: Expected: February 2027 · Annual (February, in Denver; BUIDLer applications open in the fall)

Builder tip: In 2026 bounties were announced on February 11, a week before the BUIDLHub opened, and building could start virtually that day; use that week to pick the two or three sponsor bounties whose stacks you already know. Solo builders can register on the team-formation roster linked from the Devfolio page.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Builders from anywhere who apply as BUIDLers and attend in Denver. You need an ETHDenver account and ENS subdomain (for example name.ethdenver.com) to get a ticket and to complete the Devfolio application.
How to apply: Registration: create an ETHDenver account at app.ethdenver.com, apply for a BUIDLer ticket, then submit the #BUIDLathon application and your project on ETHDenver's Devfolio page.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, DeFi, AI, public goods
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

ETHPrague Hackathon

ETHPrague

Varies — 2026 pool $41,150, of which ETHPrague's own awards were $9,000 and the rest sponsor bounties (largest $12,000)

PrizeEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Only confirmed hackers present in Prague can win, and most of the money is sponsor bounties judged against each sponsor's brief. The official pages state no KYC rule or payout currency, so check each bounty's terms.

Next deadline: Expected: May 2027 · Annual (late spring, usually May)

Builder tip: ETHPrague's own awards follow its solarpunk tracks plus bounties for best hardware usage, best UX flow and best privacy by design, so a project that hits one of those and a sponsor bounty has two chances. The 2027 edition centres on Ethereum and AI: formal verification, smarter wallets and agents.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Accepted hackers in teams of 2–6 who attend in Prague; registration is free and the hackathon is offline, so only confirmed on-site hackers can compete for awards and bounties.
How to apply: Registration: apply individually or as a team on ETHPrague's Devfolio page when applications open, then RSVP within 7 days of acceptance to confirm your spot.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, AI, public goods
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Common S3nse Hackathon (formerly ETHDam)

CryptoCanal

Varies — partner bounties (shown as 2k each on the hackathon page); for example, Superteam Netherlands' 2026 Solana side-track paid 2,000 USDG across three places

PrizeEquity-freeany

The catch: Prizes are small partner bounties, each paid by its sponsor on that sponsor's terms (the Solana side-track paid USDG and was limited to Netherlands residents). Only new projects built during hack week are bounty-eligible; the Otter Tank track for existing projects offers stage time and feedback but no bounties.

Next deadline: Expected: 2027 (next edition not yet announced; ETHDam ran each year 2023–2025 and Common S3nse in September 2026) · Annual (2026: online build week from August 31, IRL finals September 5 in Amsterdam)

Builder tip: Hack week runs online before the conference, so join the Discord and the hacker matchmaking sheet before day one and aim at the privacy, security or DeFi themes. The top 10 present on stage, which is the visibility the event offers beyond the bounties.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Builders from anywhere can apply on TAIKAI without a team or a finished idea; approved hackers get a free conference ticket. Final judging is in person in Amsterdam, and some partner bounties are regional (the Superteam Solana side-track was open only to people in the Netherlands).
How to apply: Registration: apply to hack on TAIKAI from commons3nse.cryptocanal.org/hackathon; teams with established projects apply separately to the Otter Tank showcase.
Work funded fit: security, DeFi
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Colosseum Hackathons

Colosseum

Crypto World's Fair (fall 2026): $840,000 in prizes — $30,000 grand prize, $15,000 each for the next 20 projects, $5,000 public good and $5,000 university prizes, plus ecosystem track pools (Solana: 10 × $10,000)

PrizeEquity-freeSolanaany

The catch: Only work done between the start and end dates is judged, pre-existing code must be disclosed, and misrepresenting a project's history can mean disqualification, a ban and revoked prizes. The FAQ does not state payout currency or KYC terms, and the accelerator path that follows a win takes equity.

Next deadline: Expected: April 2027 · Twice a year (April–May and September–October), plus the ongoing Eternal competition

Builder tip: Judging is a startup evaluation (founder-market fit, insight, execution, market size, communication, viability and traction), so arrive with users and a pitch, not just a demo. Between the two main hackathons, Colosseum Eternal runs on-demand four-week sprints for founders seeking investment.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Founders and developers anywhere building a new product that has not raised significant outside capital; solo founders allowed. Open to builders on any blockchain, with dedicated tracks for several ecosystems.
How to apply: Registration: create a Colosseum account, join the running hackathon, add teammates, and have the team leader submit one product before the deadline.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, DeFi, infrastructure
Equity taken: None for prizes; separately, winners accepted into the Colosseum accelerator receive a $250,000 pre-seed investment from Colosseum's venture fund
Who wins: Grand prize winners include Ore (Renaissance), Reflect Protocol (Radar), TAPEDRIVE (Breakout), Unruggable (Cypherpunk) and Crowdbrain (Frontier); 80,000+ builders have competed (Colosseum).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Solana Hackathons (hackathons.solana.com)

Solana Foundation

Varies by hackathon — a main track funded by the Solana Foundation (Perps and Prediction Markets: $100,000, paid $50,000 / $30,000 / $20,000) plus sponsor bounties in USDC (Stocklana, September 2026: $126,000 in total)

PrizeEquity-freeSolana

The catch: Main-track winners are contacted by the Solana Foundation for payout, while sponsor bounties are paid in USDC from on-chain escrow and each sponsor picks its own winner. Build windows are short, late submissions are not accepted, and projects stay private until judging ends.

Next deadline: Dec 5, 2026 · Events several times a year (one hackathon live at a time, with build windows of one to two weeks)

Builder tip: Main-track judges picked by the Solana Foundation score every submission from 1 to 10, and sponsor tracks are extra chances, so pick up to three whose tools you already use. Themes come from community votes, and anyone can propose the next one on the site.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Open to everyone: individual builders and teams register with a wallet or a Google sign-in. The official page lists no country or KYC limits.
How to apply: Registration: sign in at hackathons.solana.com, register for the live hackathon and submit before its deadline, choosing up to three sponsor tracks.
Work funded fit: DeFi, payments, consumer apps
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Stocklana (September 2026): 1,182 registered and 604 submissions; Roster Finance won first place ($35,000).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Chainlink Hackathons

Chainlink Labs

Varies by edition — Convergence (2026): $120K+ in prizes, with track first places of $5,000–$20,000 and $1,500 for each of the top 10 projects; Chromion (2025): $35,000 grand prize

PrizeEquity-freeany

The catch: Winners must pass KYC before payout. Previously built or submitted projects are ineligible unless meaningful onchain updates are made during the event, and in 2026 projects were judged on effective use of the Chainlink Runtime Environment (CRE). Teams keep full ownership of their code and IP.

Next deadline: Expected: 2027 (next Chainlink hackathon not yet announced) · Annual online hackathon (dates vary; 2025 ran May 30 – June 29 and 2026 ran February 6 – March 8)

Builder tip: Judges score technical execution, application of blockchain technology, effective use of CRE and originality, so make the Chainlink workflow the core of the project rather than an add-on. Partner tracks (World ID, Tenderly and thirdweb in 2026) are listed beside the main tracks; check which ones you can enter alongside your main track.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone in the world except people based in U.S.-sanctioned countries; teams of 1–5, with every member registered individually. Prize distribution is subject to standard KYC.
How to apply: Registration: register at chain.link/hackathon while the edition is open, build during the event dates and submit before the deadline.
Work funded fit: DeFi, AI, infrastructure
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Chromion (2025): 3,000+ participants submitted 412+ projects; YieldCoin won the $35,000 grand prize (Chainlink blog).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

BNB Hack (BNB Chain hackathon series)

BNB Chain

Varies by event — 2025–2026 pools ranged from $20,000 (Tokenized Stocks Edition: 1st $6,000 down to 5th $1,000, plus two $2,000 specials) to $160,000 for in-person BNB Hack stops and $700,000 for the year-long 2025 Online Edition; some campaigns pay merchandise only

PrizeEquity-freeBNB Chain

The catch: Restricted-country lists change per event and you must confirm you are not on a sanctions list; recent editions required BSC mainnet demos funded from your own wallet. The $10,000 Set and Earn pool is paid only in physical merchandise, with no cash alternative.

Next deadline: Per event — see official page (the live campaign, The Smart Money Era: Set and Earn, runs to November 5, 2026 and pays merchandise only) · Events several times a year (online editions plus in-person BNB Hack stops)

Builder tip: Read each event's scoring table: the Tokenized Stocks Edition weighted technical implementation 30%, creativity 25%, a written developer-experience report 25% and UX 20%, and AI-generated reports were not accepted. Top placers there also became eligible for BNB Chain's Kickstart Package.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Solo builders and teams; each event sets its own limits. The Tokenized Stocks Edition excluded residents of or people in the US, Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, Japan and sanctioned regions, and campaigns require participants to be 18 or over.
How to apply: Registration: register on the event's page at bnbchain.org/en/hackathons and submit through the form or platform that event names (the Tokenized Stocks Edition used a Google Form).
Work funded fit: DeFi, AI, consumer apps
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Arbitrum Open House (Buildathon and Founder House)

Arbitrum Foundation

Singapore edition (2026): $415K in USDG — Buildathon $115K (General $40K / $20K / $10K; Promising Products $7K / $5K / $3K; $30K in grants) and Founder House $300K (Champions $60K / $40K / $20K; Robinhood Chain awards of $60K and $30K; Promising Products $10K / $6K / $4K; $70K in grants)

PrizeEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Only a percentage of each prize is paid when winners are announced; the rest is released as teams complete milestones (technical development, product roadmap, go-to-market, user growth) agreed with the Arbitrum ecosystem team. Founder House is in person, and the Singapore edition's Robinhood Chain awards are separate prizes inside it.

Next deadline: Per edition — next city not yet announced (Singapore Founder House runs October 23–25, 2026) · Several editions a year in different cities (three-week online Buildathon, then a three-day in-person Founder House)

Builder tip: Treat the Buildathon as the ramp: its winners get a confirmed Founder House seat, where the larger $300K pool sits. Bring a milestone plan, because most of each prize is released only against agreed technical, go-to-market and growth milestones.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Solo builders and teams anywhere for the online Buildathon, which works best with an existing idea or product; Founder House is three days in person for teams with a product, prototype or business concept. Buildathon winners get a confirmed Founder House spot.
How to apply: Registration: apply to either or both phases at openhouse.arbitrum.io, then submit before the Buildathon deadline or pitch live on Founder House day three.
Work funded fit: DeFi, consumer apps, payments
Equity taken: None — paid in USDG, part when winners are announced and the rest against milestones
Who wins: Open House London (June 2026): 775 builders and 278 projects in the Buildathon and 140 builders in Founder House; the Bengaluru 2025 top prize of $40,000 went to Orbital AMM Protocol (Arbitrum Foundation).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

bitcoin++ Hackathons

bitcoin++

Varies by edition — Berlin 2026: 40.65M sats in total prizes (1st 2.5M sats, 2nd 1.75M sats, 3rd 750k sats, plus honorable mentions and stackable sponsor challenges)

PrizeEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Prizes are paid in bitcoin, often over Lightning, and some sponsor challenges set hard conditions (one Berlin 2026 award required entries running in production with real sats; testnet and signet entries were ineligible). The hackathon happens inside an in-person conference, so travel to the host city is yours to arrange.

Next deadline: Expected: November 2026 · Events several times a year (a hackathon at every bitcoin++ conference edition)

Builder tip: Build for the main competition first, then stack the sponsor challenges your project already qualifies for, which the hackathon page says can be combined. Match the edition's theme (payments in Berlin, privacy in Seoul), since the challenges and judges are picked around it.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Developers attending a bitcoin++ edition, in teams of up to four builders. Each edition has a theme (Berlin 2026: payments; Seoul 2026: privacy).
How to apply: Registration: get a place at the bitcoin++ edition you want through btcpp.dev, then join that edition's hackathon and submit your project during the hack window.
Work funded fit: payments, dev tooling, infrastructure
Equity taken: None — prizes paid in sats
Who wins: Berlin 2026: 35 projects and 11 awards; first place (2.5M sats) went to cashu player (btcpp.dev).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

X Layer Build X Hackathon Series

OKX (X Layer)

Varies by season — TapeOut Accelerate (October–December 2026): 100,000 USDT (1st 20,000 USDT; five 2nd prizes of 10,000 USDT; five 3rd prizes of 6,000 USDT)

PrizeEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Prizes are paid in stages as winners work with X Layer and the season partner, on milestone schedules agreed with each team, and winners may need to pass identity checks and confirm the receiving network. You keep ownership of your entry but grant X Layer a licence to showcase it, and costs of taking part, including Demo Day, are yours.

Next deadline: Dec 7, 2026 · Seasons several times a year (themed online hackathons of two to eight weeks)

Builder tip: Judges weigh user value and commercial potential first, so the required description should name target users, how you reach them, the revenue model and why users would keep paying. Early-stage teams can also apply any time to the Super Nova track for mentorship and distribution support (no cash amount is stated).

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Individuals and teams; existing projects qualify only with substantial new development during the event. Restricted Persons under the X Layer Terms of Service are ineligible, and winners may have to complete identity checks.
How to apply: Registration: build on X Layer during the season and submit through the season's Google Form linked from the Build X page; shortlisted teams attend an offline Demo Day.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, dev tooling, AI
Equity taken: None — prizes are paid in stages

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Mezo Hackathon and Buildathon

Mezo (Supernormal Foundation)

Buildathon (October–November 2026): $7,000 in MEZO across two waves ($2,000 Wave 1, $5,000 Wave 2), shared in proportion to judges' points; spring 2026 Hackathon: $30,000 in veMEZO across three tracks ($5,000 / $3,000 / $2,000 per track) plus matching milestone-tied veMEZO grants

PrizeEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Buildathon rewards are paid in MEZO tokens valued at the 14-day TWAP on the day you complete KYB, and hackathon prizes in vote-escrowed veMEZO, so the dollar value moves with the token. No KYB, no payout, and hackathon winners' matching grants are released against milestones.

Next deadline: Nov 15, 2026 · Several editions a year (six-week hackathons and two-wave buildathons)

Builder tip: Buildathon shares are proportional to points rather than a fixed top three, so every qualifying submission can earn; ship a usable Wave 1 build by October 26 and use the feedback for Wave 2, which carries the larger $5,000 pool. Start KYB paperwork early if you submit as a team.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Developers and teams anywhere whose project integrates MUSD and/or MEZO, as a new project or a new integration into an existing product. Winners must complete KYB before any payout.
How to apply: Registration: register on the edition's host page linked from mezo.org/blog (AKINDO for the 2026 Buildathon, Encode Club for the spring Hackathon) and submit a working deployment.
Work funded fit: DeFi, payments, consumer apps
Equity taken: None — paid in MEZO or veMEZO tokens

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Rootstock Hacktivator

RootstockLabs

$15 per approved idea; claimed work paid within ranges — code $50–$1,000 (four levels), written guides $50–$200, technical documentation $150–$400, video tutorials $150–$500

PrizeEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: The Rootstock team sets each reward within the range by quality, complexity and impact, so meeting only the minimum earns the minimum. Tutorials need a GitHub repo and README and are paid only after publication on the Rootstock blog; documentation goes in as a PR to the DevPortal repo.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (approved rewards paid on the 15th of the following month)

Builder tip: You can submit an idea, get it approved for $15, then claim it yourself. For code, the Level 4 band ($710–$1,000) is reserved for large features or integrations across components, and tests and documentation are part of the scoring.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone contributing original work that benefits the Rootstock developer community; teams are allowed but rewards go to a single wallet. Contributor profiles are private.
How to apply: Registration: create a profile on the Hacktivator Marketplace, then submit a new idea or claim a published one and submit the finished work for review.
Work funded fit: dev tooling, education/community
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 300+ submissions, 125+ approvals and 95+ contributors from 21+ countries (rootstock.io/hacktivator).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Tether Grant and Bounty Program

Tether

Varies — bounties carry a fixed reward (the bounty listed in 2026 pays 5,000 USD₮); grant amounts are not published

PrizeEquity-freeany

The catch: Applications are not treated as confidential and Tether aims to release funded work open source; you keep ownership but grant Tether a broad, perpetual licence to your application materials. KYC and wallet sanctions screening apply, disputes go to binding arbitration, and Tether can change or cancel the program at any time.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: The program targets peer-to-peer, AI, digital wallet and Bitcoin mining infrastructure, and the 2026 bounty was a llama.cpp CoreML backend with QVAC integration, so proposals built on Tether's own open stacks fit best. Answer follow-up identity questions quickly, since the terms say delays can lead to rejection.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Individuals aged 18 or over (or the local age of majority) and duly organized entities. Residents and officials of embargoed jurisdictions (including Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Syria and occupied regions of Ukraine) and FATF high-risk jurisdictions are excluded, and applicants must pass Tether's KYC, AML and sanctions checks.
How to apply: Direct application: apply for a grant or a listed bounty at tether.dev/grants; accepted applicants sign a written grant and bounty agreement.
Work funded fit: AI, infrastructure, payments
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Superteam Earn Bounties and Projects

Superteam

Varies — each listing sets its own reward, usually in USDC (for example, a 2025 Superteam Pakistan bounty paid 1,000 USDC across three places)

PrizeEquity-freeSolana

The catch: Bounties are contests: everyone does the work and only the best submissions are paid, with sponsors picking winners. Superteam and Solana listings pay within about seven days of KYC and a payment form, while external sponsors pay to the wallet on your Earn account and may ask for their own KYC or invoices.

Next deadline: Rolling (each listing has its own deadline) · Rolling (each listing has its own deadline)

Builder tip: Filter for Dev listings and check the regional tag before you start, since many bounties are open to one country only. In a team, only the lead should submit; the reward goes to that person's wallet and the team splits it.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone with a verified-email talent profile; many listings are regional and open only to people in one country. Winners of Superteam- or Solana-sponsored listings must complete KYC.
How to apply: Registration: create a Superteam Earn profile, then submit work to a bounty or apply to a project listing before its deadline.
Work funded fit: dev tooling, education/community, consumer apps
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Sui Overflow

Sui Foundation

2026: $500K+ in prizes and rewards; core tracks (Agentic Web, DeFi & Payments) paid $30,000 / $15,000 / $10,000 / $7,500, plus sponsor-funded tracks (Walrus, DeepBook), ten $2,500 University Awards and $250,000+ in non-cash support

PrizeEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Track prizes are fixed in USD, but much of the headline value is non-cash support such as audit credits, and sponsor-funded tracks are set by the sponsor. The official page states no KYC or country limits; check the rules when registration opens.

Next deadline: Expected: 2027 (Sui Overflow 2027 not yet announced) · Annual (online; the 2026 edition ran May–August)

Builder tip: Walrus was the most-entered track in 2026, so a DeepBook or core-track entry may face fewer rivals. The 2026 winners built for software agents and money movement (spending limits, transaction dry-runs, stablecoin terminals) rather than more apps to click.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Open to anyone, with no experience requirement; each project enters one track. University student teams can also compete for the University Award.
How to apply: Registration: register at overflow.sui.io when the edition opens, then submit one project to the track that fits best.
Work funded fit: AI, DeFi, payments, dev tooling
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Sui Overflow 2026: 747 projects from 58 countries and 26 winning teams, including 10 University Awards (sui.io); the 2024 and 2025 editions distributed over $1M in prizes.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

EasyA Hackathons (incl. EasyA Consensus Hackathons)

EasyA

Varies by event — EasyA Consensus Miami 2026: $200,000 in total prizes (main placings $15,000 / $7,500 / $5,000 / $2,500 USDC); Consensus Hong Kong 2026: $58,000; 2025 events $20,000–$35,000

PrizeEquity-freeany

The catch: Finalist projects must use a sponsor's technology and be open source and stay open source, and you grant the organizers rights to use your entry. Travel, lodging and any taxes on winnings are the entrant's responsibility, and winners who do not confirm within three days can be replaced.

Next deadline: Per event — no upcoming EasyA hackathon posted as of 2026-10-24 (2026 Consensus hackathons ran February 10–12 in Hong Kong and May 5–7 in Miami) · Events several times a year (including hackathons at CoinDesk's Consensus conferences)

Builder tip: Consensus judging weighs execution, usefulness, learning and deployment equally, so have the project deployed on testnet or mainnet before the judging table. Finalists then present on stage, so prepare the required slides, including a team slide, early.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Approved applicants: individual developers and teams building on a sponsor's protocol. For the Consensus hackathons, at least one project lead must be 18+ and resident in an eligible country, and sanctioned persons and excluded countries (including Russia, Belarus, Iran, Cuba, North Korea and Sudan) are out.
How to apply: Registration: apply on the event page at easya.io/events; developers accepted to a Consensus hackathon receive a free conference pass.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, DeFi
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Encode Club Hackathons

Encode Club

Varies — prizes are set per hackathon by the partner ecosystem (for example, the spring 2026 Mezo Hackathon run with Encode offered $30,000 in veMEZO across three tracks); check each programme page

PrizeEquity-freeany

The catch: Each hackathon is built around one partner's stack, so prize money, currency and payout rules come from that partner (Mezo's were paid in vote-escrowed tokens after KYB). Not every Encode hackathon is crypto-focused or cash-paying: some London events pay in API credits.

Next deadline: Dec 9, 2026 · Events several times a year (online programmes of several weeks and weekend in-person hackathons)

Builder tip: Online programmes start with live workshops before the build window opens (the Concordium hackathon runs three weeks of workshops, then three of building), so use the learning weeks to form a team and lock in the partner components judges look for. The Concordium brief is judged on depth of integration and a credible path to mainnet, not transaction counts.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Free programmes open to developers anywhere, many with no blockchain experience required; online hackathons run four to eight weeks and in-person ones run over a weekend at Encode Hub in London or partner cities.
How to apply: Registration: sign in at encodeclub.com/programmes, apply to the programme, then submit from your project page by the deadline.
Work funded fit: AI, payments, DeFi
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

3. Bitcoin, Lightning and Nostr open-source grants

Bitcoin has no foundation treasury or token to pay for its engineering, so its open-source work runs on grants from nonprofits and companies. The money goes to people: maintainers, reviewers, wallet and Lightning developers, nostr and ecash builders, designers and educators, usually as monthly payments over 6 to 12 months and often in bitcoin. Published sizes are rare. Maelstrom states $50,000–$150,000 per developer a year, while OpenSats, Spiral, Brink and the Human Rights Foundation set amounts case by case. Most programs take applications year-round (OpenSats closes in March, June, September and December) and announce grantees in quarterly or periodic rounds. None of these grants takes equity. Expect to publish all work under an open-source licence, write public progress reports every month or quarter, and hand over tax details. The usual mistake is applying before doing the work: reviewers look first at your public pull requests, code review and references from people who have worked with you, so contribute unpaid to the project you want funded. One common form at grants.bitcoindevs.xyz reaches five of these funders at once.

13 programs

OpenSats General Grants (General Fund and Nostr Fund)

OpenSats

Varies — check official page (you propose a budget in USD; amounts are private by default; 3–12 months, full-time or part-time)

GrantEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Paid only in bitcoin to on-chain addresses, so the value moves with BTC. All code and educational material must be published under a free and open-source licence and developed in public, with a progress report every 90 days, and tax forms are required. No equity or token lockup.

Next deadline: Rolling (accepted in the first two months of each quarter; the FAQ says applications are closed in March, June, September and December) · Quarterly windows: applications open January–February, April–May, July–August and October–November; closed in March, June, September and December

Builder tip: Videos of the wrong length or fully AI-generated are discarded with the application, and generic reference letters do not help. OpenSats names a focus area each spring and fall (spring 2026: base-layer privacy such as Silent Payments and Payjoin), so a proposal that fits it stands out.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Developers, designers, researchers, educators and reviewers anywhere working on free and open-source Bitcoin, nostr or related freedom tech; pseudonymous (nym-friendly) applicants are accepted, and grants can go to an individual or an entity. No altcoin or closed-source projects. Approved grantees must provide tax information (OpenSats is a US 501(c)(3)).
How to apply: Direct application: submit the form at opensats.org/apply with two written references (including their emails) and a link to a video of exactly two minutes; the board routes nostr work to the Nostr Fund.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, public goods, education/community
Equity taken: None — denominated in USD, paid in bitcoin
Who wins: 2026 rounds on the OpenSats blog include five Bitcoin Core grants (March) and four new Bitcoin Core grants plus one renewal (October), alongside nostr and other grant waves.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

OpenSats Long-Term Support (LTS) Grants

OpenSats

Varies — check official page (a limited number of long-term grants that can run longer than 12 months; amounts private by default)

GrantEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Paid in bitcoin, with the same open-licence, work-in-public and 90-day progress-report duties as general grants, plus tax information. Slots are limited, so the bar is a sustained maintenance record. No equity or token lockup.

Builder tip: LTS is for maintainers the project depends on, so point to review volume, merged work and maintenance duties rather than a new feature plan; if your track record is still short, a general grant is the better first application.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Established developers and maintainers of Bitcoin Core and similar projects critical to the ecosystem (the Nostr Fund also pays long-term stipends to senior nostr protocol developers). Reference letters are not required but are welcome. Open worldwide and nym-friendly.
How to apply: Direct application: use the same opensats.org/apply form, select the Long-Term Support program and include the two-minute video.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, security, public goods
Equity taken: None — denominated in USD, paid in bitcoin
Who wins: October 2026: l0rinc welcomed as an LTS grantee for Bitcoin work.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Spiral FOSS Bitcoin Grants

Spiral (Block)

Varies — check official page (no amounts published)

GrantEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Work must be free and open source. The grants page does not publish amounts, payment currency, duration or reporting terms, so confirm them in the grant agreement. No equity.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Spiral now funds open-source AI as well as bitcoin, and its grantee list (Bitcoin Core, LDK, BTCPay Server, Bitcoin Design, BTC Map) shows the range; a short, specific emailed proposal is the whole application. Spiral is also a partner on the Bitcoin Grants Common Application at grants.bitcoindevs.xyz.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Independent developers, designers and others with a big idea for improving bitcoin or open-source AI; Spiral says its grantees span more than a dozen countries. No country limit is stated.
How to apply: Direct application: email a detailed proposal to [email protected] or use the apply button on spiral.xyz/grants.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, AI, public goods
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Spiral says it has made hundreds of grants; its grantee list shows new grantees in most months of 2026, most recently four in September 2026.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Btrust Developer Grants (Starter Grants and Open-Source Cohort)

Btrust

Varies — check official page (monthly pay in BTC: six-month full-time Starter Grants; one-year Open-Source Cohort contracts, renewable for a second year, with hardware and travel stipends)

GrantEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Both tracks are full-time. Cohort members work inside a team structure with an assigned mentor and a manager, daily standups and team events. Pay is in BTC, so its value moves with the market. No equity or token lockup.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (recipients announced quarterly)

Builder tip: In Q2 2026 all but one recipient had been through Btrust Builders, and Q1 included two promotions from starter to long-term grants, so build a public contribution record first (Builders pathways, BOSS or BitDevs) and treat the Starter Grant as the step toward the cohort.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Open-source Bitcoin developers in Africa, India, Latin America, MENA and Southeast Asia; applicants from other Global South regions are considered on proof of work. Starter Grants suit engineers ready to start contributing full-time; the Open-Source Cohort is for developers with sustained contributions.
How to apply: Direct application: apply year-round through the form on btrust.tech/grants/developer (Btrust is also a partner on the Bitcoin Grants Common Application); recipients are announced quarterly.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, public goods
Equity taken: None — paid monthly in BTC
Who wins: 2026: 10 grantees in Q1, 7 in Q2 and 10 in Q3 (five starter, five long-term), including Btrust's first direct grants outside Africa (Brazil and India).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Btrust Education Grants

Btrust

Varies — check official page (first 2026 round: $904,000 across five programs)

GrantEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Only developer-focused, Bitcoin-only technical education qualifies, and you must show proof of work from earlier programs. The page does not publish payment or reporting terms. No equity or token lockup.

Next deadline: Rolling (the program must start at least 16 weeks after you apply) · Rolling (awards announced in rounds)

Builder tip: Btrust says it backs programs that become pipelines, from learner to contributor to grantee, so show what past participants went on to merge or get funded for, not attendance numbers, and apply at least four months ahead.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Educators and organizations with a track record of running Bitcoin developer education (programs, bootcamps or workshops) for software developers in Africa or the Global South, with clear outcomes for onboarding them into Bitcoin open source. First-time educators and new programs without a track record are not accepted.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the Homerun education-grant form linked from btrust.tech/grants/education at least 16 weeks before the program starts.
Work funded fit: education/community
Equity taken: None
Who wins: First 2026 round (July 2026): $904,000 to Hack4Freedom, Summer of Bitcoin, Bitshala, Vinteum, and Librería de Satoshi with B4OS; B4OS was also approved for long-term support.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Btrust Event Grants

Btrust

Varies — check official page (amounts not published)

GrantEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Bitcoin-only and developer-focused: general crypto or business events do not qualify, and you must prove you have run a similar event. The page does not publish payment or reporting terms. No equity or token lockup.

Next deadline: Rolling (the event must be at least 16 weeks after you apply) · Rolling

Builder tip: Btrust describes its events as a wide net to find people starting a Bitcoin open-source journey, so build in hands-on workshops and a next step for attendees (for example into Btrust Builders pathways), and apply four months out.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Organizers who have run or contributed to a similar event before, for Bitcoin-only, developer-focused events (BitDevs meetups, bootcamps, hackathons, technical conferences) held in Africa or the Global South and aimed at developers there. First-time events are not accepted.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the Homerun event-grant form linked from btrust.tech/grants/event at least 16 weeks before the event.
Work funded fit: education/community
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Past recipients include the Africa Bitcoin Conference (Ghana and Kenya), Adopting Bitcoin Cape Town (2024 and 2025), Lightning development bootcamps in seven cities and BitDevs meetups in 13 cities.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Bitcoin Development Fund (BDF)

Human Rights Foundation

Varies — check official page (sized case by case; paid in bitcoin)

GrantEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Paid in bitcoin, so the value moves with BTC, and grantees are named in HRF press releases. Fit with HRF's mission of supporting people under repression is the deciding test. No equity or token lockup.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (grantees announced in periodic rounds, roughly quarterly)

Builder tip: Say who in a repressive environment uses your tool and how; the 2026 rounds favoured privacy, nostr messaging, mobile-money-to-bitcoin bridges in Africa and wallet security. Rejected applicants can reapply in later rounds.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Software developers, educators, community builders, translators, UX designers and human rights defenders anywhere working on Bitcoin and related freedom tech (Bitcoin Core, nostr, ecash, utility apps), with priority to work that helps people under authoritarian regimes. Projects based on other cryptocurrencies are not funded.
How to apply: Direct application: submit a brief project description through the online application form on hrf.org; applicants hear back within 4–6 weeks.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, payments, education/community, public goods
Equity taken: None — grants delivered in bitcoin
Who wins: Since 2020 the BDF has granted $12.2 million in BTC to 383 projects in 70 countries; 2026 rounds funded 22 projects (January, 1.3 billion sats), 26 (April, 1.5 billion sats) and 16 (August, 500 million+ sats).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Brink Grants

Brink

Varies — check official page (year-long, full-time grants; amounts not published)

GrantEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Grantees publicly commit to deliverables and give regular public progress updates, and they work independently with no management. Brink is a publicly funded 501(c)(3). No equity or token lockup.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Brink's primary focus is the security and stability of the base protocol, so frame review, testing and fuzzing work around that; its grant committee includes active Bitcoin Core contributors (Sebastian Falbesoner, Niklas Gögge), who will read your review history.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Established Bitcoin protocol developers anywhere in the world with a track record of high-quality, security-first contributions to Bitcoin or related projects; Lightning and other layer-two work is also considered. Newer developers are pointed to the Brink Fellowship instead.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the 'Apply for a Grant' form linked on brink.dev/programs (Brink is also a partner on the Bitcoin Grants Common Application).
Work funded fit: infrastructure, security, research
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Brink funded eight engineers in 2025 and added new grantees in 2026 (conduition in June, Martin Zumsande in July).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Maelstrom Bitcoin Grant Program

Maelstrom

$50,000–$150,000 per developer for 12 months; stacking with other grants is allowed up to $400,000 a year

GrantEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Twelve-month contracts paid monthly in BTC, USDC or USDT. If you stack grants, your total from all funders is capped at $400,000 a year. The program publishes an annual report on its grantees. No equity or token lockup.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Maelstrom explicitly allows stacking, so it can top up an OpenSats, Brink or Spiral grant; its current grants lean toward Bitcoin Core review and on-chain privacy (Payjoin, Silent Payments).

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Bitcoin developers who will contribute to Bitcoin's technical development, for example pull requests or review for Bitcoin Core, or work on resilience, scalability, censorship resistance and privacy. Applications must include at least one reference. No country limit is stated.
How to apply: Pitch gate: apply through maelstrom.fund/bitcoin-grant-program (or the Bitcoin Grants Common Application); expect at least one interview with the review committee, which includes Arthur Hayes and Jonathan Bier, before a grant is issued.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, security, public goods
Equity taken: None — paid monthly in BTC, USDC or USDT
Who wins: The annual report for the period ending June 2026 lists four full-time grants: Bitcoin Core, Payjoin, Silent Payments, and securing Bitcoin against a break in elliptic-curve cryptography.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Bitcoin Design Foundation Grants

Bitcoin Design Foundation

Varies — check official page (tailored per grantee: Starter often part-time for 3–6 months, Contributor often part-time for 6 months, Champion part- or full-time for 6–12 months)

GrantEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Open design is a condition: grantees are expected to work in public, share their progress and mentor other contributors. Payouts are donations through the foundation's Open Collective Europe entity. No equity or token lockup.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Ask about fit in the #foundation channel of the Bitcoin Design Discord before sending a proposal, since the admins iterate on drafts; the Bitcoin Design Community's 2026 Impact Initiatives list several projects still looking for a lead.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Motivated, vetted individuals doing open-source bitcoin design, UX research, content and related work; no country limit is stated. Priority areas include UX for BOLT12, silent payments and async payments, merchant interactions, ecash (Fedimint, Cashu), accessibility and key community projects.
How to apply: Direct application: email a 1–2 page proposal to [email protected], using the Project Fit Assessment and Proposal Worksheet; drafts are welcome for feedback.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, research, public goods
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Bitcoin Dev Kit Foundation Grants

Bitcoin Dev Kit Foundation

Varies — check official page (full-time grants, or project grants of at least three months; amounts not published)

GrantEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Narrow scope: the work must improve BDK or a supporting project, and grantees are expected to mentor others and help with non-code work such as user support, docs, CI and releases. No equity or token lockup.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Project grants should be finishable in one quarter, and the foundation lists coming 'from a geographical region not currently represented on the team' as a plus, so say where you are; partner funders such as Btrust and Vinteum also fund BDK contributors.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Developers and other contributors (testing, docs, research) working on the Bitcoin Dev Kit libraries and supporting projects; full-time grantees need strong Rust or mobile and language-binding (Swift, Kotlin, Python) skills. Work from training programs such as Chaincode or Base58 counts. No country limit is stated.
How to apply: Direct application: email a full-time or project-grant proposal to [email protected].
Work funded fit: dev tooling, infrastructure
Equity taken: None
Who wins: The foundation's Q2 2026 update reports two new grantees joining the team (both funded by Btrust) alongside its foundation-funded maintainers.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Galaxy Bitcoin Quantum Readiness Initiative Developer Grants

Galaxy Digital

Varies — check official page (up to $5 million committed across the program; per-grant amounts not published; paid by milestone)

GrantEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Grants are disbursed on a milestone basis, so payment follows delivery. The funder is a for-profit digital-asset company that invites co-funders, and terms are set grant by grant. No equity stated.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Map your proposal to one of the four named priorities and define milestones up front, because payouts follow them; the advisory council (Barry Sanders, Damien Bérubé, Eran Tromer) evaluates proposals, so expect a cryptography-level review.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Developers and researchers working on post-quantum solutions for Bitcoin: implementing and reviewing quantum-resistant transaction proposals, integrating post-quantum signature schemes, wallet and custodian migration tooling, and formal security audits of proposed code. No location or entity limits are stated.
How to apply: Direct application: email a proposal to [email protected]; each proposal is evaluated individually with input from Galaxy's Quantum Advisory Council.
Work funded fit: security, research
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Build On L2 Lugano Research Hub Sponsorship

Blockstream

CHF 10,000 sponsorship plus a dedicated workspace in Lugano (Blockstream's July 2025 release also cites CHF 100,000 monetary grants for startups relocating to Lugano to build on its technology)

GrantEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Relocation is the catch: the sponsorship is for living and working in Lugano alongside Blockstream's team, and projects are expected to build on Blockstream's stack (Liquid, Core Lightning). No equity stated.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Pitch a product that uses Liquid or Lightning features the Build On L2 site highlights (Confidential Transactions, BOLT12, Simplicity, Greenlight), since Blockstream's stated aim is products on Liquid and Lightning; its Liquid developer bootcamps also connect graduates with Liquid Federation members.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: A founder or small startup team with a passion project on Liquid or Lightning (Bitcoin layer-two technology) who will live in Lugano, Switzerland and work on-site with Blockstream; submissions are judged by a panel.
How to apply: Direct application: apply through the form linked from buildonl2.com ('Have a passion project? Apply now').
Work funded fit: infrastructure, payments
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

4. Ethereum Foundation and Ethereum L2 ecosystem grants

Ethereum and its layer 2 networks fund builders through foundation programs that want more usage, tooling and research on their own chain. The Ethereum Foundation's Ecosystem Support Program pays for open-source public goods against posted wishlist items and RFPs, in ETH, by milestone. Layer 2 foundations such as Starknet, Taiko, Base, Ink and Celo's Prezenti run rolling programs for apps and tools: small grants of $500 to $25,000 for working products, and $25,000 to $1 million for live products with real onchain traction. Most pay in the network's own token or a stablecoin, often in tranches tied to milestones, after KYC or KYB and a signed grant agreement. Several L2 programs paused or closed in 2026, including Optimism's Grants Council, Arbitrum's domain allocator season, Lisk DAO and Polygon's community grants, so check a card's status before you plan around it. The most common mistake is pitching an idea: nearly every program here now asks for a deployed product and verifiable usage, and scores you on it.

8 programs

Ecosystem Support Program (Wishlist and RFP grants)

Ethereum Foundation

Varies — check official page (set by scope and complexity; RFPs may carry budget guidance; paid in ETH)

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Paid on-chain in ETH by default, in milestone-based tranches after identity verification and a formal grant letter, so the dollar value moves with ETH. Selection criteria tell applicants to expect some flexibility below standard market rates, and the funded work must be released open source.

Next deadline: Per item — see the Wishlist and RFP pages (neither page listed an active item when checked on 24 October 2026) · Rolling, per posted Wishlist and RFP item (open-ended applications were replaced by this model in November 2025)

Builder tip: Every application must map to a specific Wishlist or RFP item: Wishlist items let you propose your own approach to a named gap, while RFPs are prescriptive and time-bound, so explain your methodology, timeline and deliverables against that item's stated outcome.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Individuals, teams, companies and nonprofits worldwide. The funded work must be open source, non-commercial and aligned with the EF's CROPS principles (censorship resistance, open source, privacy, security); for-profits may apply if the grant-funded work is open source. Identity verification is required before payment.
How to apply: Direct application: pick an active Wishlist or RFP item on esp.ethereum.foundation/applicants and apply against it; book free Office Hours first if you are unsure about fit.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, research, public goods
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 388 projects funded in 2025, totaling $29.1 million (ESP homepage).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Base Builder Grants

Base (Coinbase)

Up to $5,000, plus go-to-market and product support

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Grants are given very selectively, and the page does not publish payout currency, tranches or tax-form requirements. Acceptance also unlocks Base's Builder Stack credits (LLM inference, cloud), so part of the value comes as credits rather than cash.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling cohorts

Builder tip: Ship the Builder Codes integration before you apply, since it is the stated prerequisite and lets Base attribute your app's transactions; the listed focus areas are all transaction-growth plays, so lead with onchain activity rather than a roadmap.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Teams actively building on Base. Integrating Base Builder Codes (transaction attribution) is the stated first step to eligibility. Focus areas are prediction markets, token launchpads, DeFi, agents, new asset creation and consumer apps that drive transactions. No country limits are published.
How to apply: Direct application: integrate Builder Codes, then submit the grant form linked from docs.base.org/get-started/builders to be included in the next cohort.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, DeFi, AI
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Starknet Seed Grants

Starknet Foundation

Up to $25,000 in STRK

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Paid in STRK, so the dollar value moves with the token. KYC/KYB and a signed grant agreement come before funds; the Foundation checks results after three months and expects regular public updates such as blog posts, videos or AMAs.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (reviewed in rounds)

Builder tip: Prior Starknet involvement (a hackathon, builder program or existing Starknet tooling you use) is an explicit criterion, so cite it, and bring a concrete three-month plan; decisions come in about four weeks, and rejected teams can reapply if they show how the project evolved.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Early-stage teams with an MVP or proof of concept that is not yet on the market, building on Starknet and ideally already active in its community (hackathon, builder program or similar). Mature projects already live on Starknet are directed to Growth Grants. KYC/KYB is mandatory; teams unwilling to complete it are ineligible.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the grants form on starknet.io/grants/seed-grants with a plan for using the grant within the next three months.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, DeFi, dev tooling
Equity taken: None — paid in STRK

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Starknet Growth Grants

Starknet Foundation

$25,000 to $1,000,000 in STRK

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Paid in STRK, so the dollar value floats with the token. KYC and a signed grant agreement precede disbursement, followed by a three-month check-in and regular public updates; the Foundation can modify or discontinue the program at any time without notice.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (reviewed in rounds)

Builder tip: Lead with onchain traction, since 'significant traction measured by onchain usage' is the core bar, and pick the track that matches your use case; the Bitcoin Builder track is for Starknet–Bitcoin cross-chain apps and infrastructure.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Later-stage teams with a live, reliable, production-grade product on Starknet that shows significant onchain usage and strategic value to the ecosystem. Six tracks: Innovation, Ecosystem Integration, Content & Creator, The Next Billion, Bitcoin Builder and Other. KYC is required.
How to apply: Direct application: apply through the Growth Grants form on starknet.io under one of the six tracks; shortlisted teams go through interviews before a decision in about one month.
Work funded fit: DeFi, consumer apps, infrastructure, education/community
Equity taken: None — paid in STRK

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Taiko Grant Program (2025 Grant Fund)

Taiko Labs

Varies — check official page ($25 million total 2025 Grant Fund; no per-grant amounts published)

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Smart contract and frontend code must be open source from inception unless agreed otherwise, dApps must launch on Taiko among their first chains, and grantees may not disclose the award or token details until Taiko announces it. KYC/KYB and a signed legal agreement apply.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Spell out what you use from Taiko's design, since Taiko-tailored projects are favored, and include as much detail as possible in the form; the page notes grantees may also be eligible for the separate Taiko Takeoff initiative.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Developers, researchers and builders worldwide working on DeFi, AI, RWA, SocialFi, gaming or other projects for Taiko. dApps must choose Taiko as one of their first platforms, and projects using Taiko's design (Ethereum-equivalence, based rollup) are favored. KYC/KYB and a formal legal agreement are required.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the form on taiko.xyz/grant-program under one of the six tracks; the Grants Council reviews on a rolling basis and contacts applicants.
Work funded fit: DeFi, AI, consumer apps
Equity taken: None stated on the program page

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Prezenti Grants for Celo (Anchor and Frontier pools)

Prezenti

Anchor: about $25,000 (10K–100K daily transactions) or about $50,000 (100K–500K); 500K+ case by case. Frontier: $15,000+. Paid in USDm

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Anchor grants pay 20% upfront and 80% on completion, conditional on hitting milestones for the traction stage you selected; milestones are measured in TVL, transactions and monthly chain revenue. Paid in USDm to a Celo address.

Next deadline: Per round — see official page (prezenti.xyz lists a round open 12 Aug–29 Dec 2026 but also shows a 'closed for applications' banner) · Seasonal rounds

Builder tip: Choose your stage conservatively: the 80% completion payment depends on hitting milestones matched to the daily-transaction stage you claim, and counts are checked as a two-week moving average with evidence. A third pool, Boost, is invite-only for proven projects from other ecosystems.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Teams with live products and verifiable usage on Celo. Anchor applicants must show at least 5,000 daily transactions (two-week moving average) and a path to revenue; Frontier requires a working Celo mainnet deployment of AI or agent infrastructure that complies with ERC-8004 and Self Agent ID. Applicants disclose Celo funding from the past 12 months and their company's country of registration.
How to apply: Direct application: apply through the Anchor or Frontier form linked from prezenti.xyz, stating your traction stage, five milestones (TVL, transactions, chain revenue) and a Celo address for payment.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, payments, AI, DeFi
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 575+ applications received, 120+ grant contracts signed and $2M USDm granted (prezenti.xyz).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Ink Builder Program: Spark grants

Ink Foundation

500–20,000 USDC per project

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Typically paid in USDC after approval and confirmation of a working build or live deployment, subject to program compliance checks. Ink's larger Forge track (milestone grants up to 200,000 USDC) is closed and has been superseded by the Inkworks cohort program.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (reviewed in batches)

Builder tip: Reviewers score six criteria, including Proof of Live Utility and Measurable Traction, so link a mainnet contract or live app and back every usage claim with onchain data; outcomes are Approved, Revise & resubmit, or Not a fit.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Indie builders and small teams with a live product, integration or usable feature on Ink, the Kraken-incubated OP Stack layer 2, and verifiable usage. Deck-only ideas, marketing-only proposals, testnet-only projects and requests for salaries or operating costs are unlikely to be funded.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the Spark form at forms.inkonchain.com/spark-builder-program with proof the product works, the amount requested and how it will be used, and verifiable traction data.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, dev tooling, infrastructure
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

ArbiFuel gas sponsorship

Arbitrum Foundation

Up to 1,000,000 sponsored transactions in the first year, capped at $10,000 in credits per team

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Gas is sponsored through a paymaster (initially Pimlico's ERC-20 paymasters), not paid as cash, and lasts one year from the start of sponsorship. The application asks for co-marketing: posts about Arbitrum, a bio update and an in-app sticky banner.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Prepare the marketing pieces before applying, because the form asks for links to your Arbitrum posts, the updated bio and a banner demo; it suits apps that want gasless onboarding for new users rather than teams seeking cash.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Early-stage teams on Arbitrum building simplified-UX apps, wallets and stablecoin products, or payment applications. No country limits are published.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the ArbiFuel form linked from arbitrum.foundation/grants with links to your X posts about Arbitrum, your updated social bio, a demo of an in-app banner and any other marketing plans.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, payments
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

5. Ecosystem grants on other chains

Chain foundations outside Ethereum fund builders to grow their own networks: more apps, users and tooling on their chain. Most programs are rolling. You submit a milestone plan, take a call, sign a grant agreement and get paid in stages as each milestone is accepted. Early grants usually run $5,000 to $50,000 (Aptos, Stacks, IOTA), with larger tracks of $150,000 to $200,000 at Stellar, BNB Chain and Ripple's XRPL Grants. Many pay in the chain's own token, such as XLM, STX, MPC, CFX, RON, DOT or CC, so the dollar value moves between approval and payout, and some add lockups (Aptos, up to 12 months) or no-sale rules (Conflux, one year). Expect KYC or KYB before the first payment and an expectation that you deploy on that chain. Several large programs closed in 2025 and 2026, including the Web3 Foundation Grants Program, Polkadot Fast-Grants, DFINITY developer grants and Avalanche Retro9000. The most common mistake is pitching an idea: most of these foundations now want a live product and on-chain targets in every milestone.

31 programs

Solana Foundation Grants (standard and convertible grants, RFPs)

Solana Foundation

Varies — check official page (milestone-based; no per-grant range published; the Foundation reports $100M+ to 500+ projects)

GrantEquity-freeSolana

The catch: Paid against milestones under a grant agreement finalized with the Foundation's legal team. A convertible grant can turn into an investment if you raise a priced round or hit growth milestones, and the usable parts of the work are expected to be open to everyone.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: State plainly why the project is only possible on Solana and tie each milestone to community impact; the page says mainly commercial projects rarely get a standard grant, so ask for a convertible grant if you plan to sell the product. Emerging-market builders after a quick microgrant (about $10k) are pointed to Superteam instead.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone: individuals, independent teams, companies, nonprofits, governments, universities and academics. Standard grants are for public goods (a significant open-source contribution or a meaningful free offering); primarily commercial projects are steered to convertible grants. KYC terms are not stated on the page.
How to apply: Direct application: complete the Solana Foundation funding application linked from solana.org/grants-funding with a project overview, the public-good case and a budget split into milestones (choose the AI category for AI work).
Work funded fit: public goods, dev tooling, infrastructure, AI
Equity taken: None for standard grants; convertible grants convert to a Foundation investment only if agreed milestones, such as a priced round, are hit
Who wins: 500+ projects funded and $100M+ in funding across 6 continents, per solana.org/grants-funding.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Solana Mobile Builder Grants

Solana Mobile

Varies — check official page (milestone-based; no amounts published)

GrantEquity-freeSolana

The catch: Milestone-based grant, sometimes with co-marketing and launch support. The dApp must show a mobile-first Android UX with core Solana Mobile Stack integration (Mobile Wallet Adapter and Seed Vault); no response time is promised and the payout asset is not stated.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Reviewers score mobile optimization, Solana Mobile Stack integration, technical depth and ecosystem impact, so show a working Android build that uses Mobile Wallet Adapter and Seed Vault rather than a web wrapper. The page also flags Colosseum hackathon grant rounds as coming soon.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Any individual, team or organization building a mobile-first Android dApp on the Solana Mobile Stack; tooling, content and research that advance the mobile ecosystem are also considered. Applicants need a realistic milestone scope, a detailed budget and a commitment to open source and community benefit.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the Airtable form linked on solanamobile.com/grants at any time with your grant idea.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, dev tooling, research
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Decentralized JAM implementation prize

Web3 Foundation

Validating node path up to 500,000 DOT + 5,000 KSM; non-PVM validating node path up to 350,000 DOT + 3,500 KSM; light-node path up to 250,000 DOT + 2,500 KSM (first milestone 100,000 DOT + 1,000 KSM on every path)

PrizeEquity-freePolkadot

The catch: Paid in DOT and KSM per accepted milestone, so the dollar value moves with the market. Later milestones require passing performance tests on standard hardware and a full audit, and acceptance rests on the Polkadot Fellowship's judgment.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (milestones submitted as each is reached)

Builder tip: M1 (IMPORTER: conformance tests pass and blocks import) pays the same 100,000 DOT + 1,000 KSM on every path, so scope M1 first; after M4 a validating-node implementation may apply for a professional external audit at no cost.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Teams building an independent JAM client implementation; third-party libraries for low-level primitives not specific to JAM (cryptography, codecs, databases, networking) are allowed. Submissions are judged by members of the Polkadot Fellowship under the published rules.
How to apply: Registration: read the full submission rules on jam.web3.foundation, build an implementation, then submit each milestone delivery (tracked in the w3f jam-milestone-delivery GitHub repository) for Fellowship judging.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, research, security
Equity taken: None — paid in DOT and KSM

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Moonbeam Foundation Grants (Community Committee Grants)

Moonbeam Foundation

Varies — check official page (milestone installments; no range published)

GrantEquity-freePolkadot

The catch: Approval needs at least 3 Aye votes from the committee, including 1 from a Foundation member, and each installment is released only after its milestone is reviewed. Expect a screening call, committee diligence and milestone reporting through a form.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Approved Season 5 teams set milestones like deployed contracts, user adoption and agreed transaction volume, and showed funding and monetization plans beyond the grant, so build on-chain KPIs into every milestone. Larger Ecosystem Grant drafts are posted publicly in the Moonbeam forum's Grant Proposals category for feedback.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Startups and teams deploying on Moonbeam, the EVM-compatible Polkadot parachain. The committee favors projects with a clear benefit to the network, prior traction and fit with focus areas such as gaming, real-world assets, cross-chain connectivity and emerging markets.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the Airtable grant application linked from moonbeam.foundation/build/grants; screened applicants present to the Community Grants Committee.
Work funded fit: DeFi, infrastructure, consumer apps
Equity taken: None — grant funding released in milestone installments
Who wins: Season 5 (ended March 31, 2025): about 41 screened applicants reached the committee; 13 were approved, 17 declined and 11 had other outcomes (Moonbeam forum wrap-up).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Aptos Foundation Ecosystem Grants

Aptos Foundation

Typically $5,000–$50,000, milestone-based

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Funds are released in stages as milestones are met, and token portions may be locked up for 40 days to 12 months from vesting. Identity verification and a signed grant agreement are required, and you may be asked to open-source Aptos-related parts such as smart contracts.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: This track wants teams with traction; earlier-stage teams are pointed to hackathons and Aptos Assembly first. The separate Payments Grant track (up to $150,000, launched July 2025) showed 'not accepting applications' on 2026-10-24, so payments teams should use this track unless it reopens.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Small teams, enterprises, academic and research groups and nonprofits with a live product and evidence of traction; projects should be Aptos-native or open source, or plan to open-source. Restricted persons under the Aptos Foundation Terms of Use are ineligible, and identity verification is required before the grant agreement.
How to apply: Direct application: submit your roadmap, milestones and budget through the form on aptosnetwork.com/grants/ecosystem; some applicants are invited to a short call.
Work funded fit: dev tooling, infrastructure, consumer apps, payments
Equity taken: None — milestone-based; token portions may be locked up
Who wins: 350+ teams funded, per aptosnetwork.com/grants.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Walrus Foundation Grants and RFPs

Walrus Foundation

Varies — check official page (budget set in each RFP agreement; no amounts published)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Payment timing follows agreed milestones, and selected teams pass KYC/KYB and sign an agreement. Usually only one proposal is accepted per RFP, and grants are judged on KPIs such as developer usage, integrations and real activity on Walrus storage.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (RFPs posted periodically; each stays open until a team is selected)

Builder tip: Reviewers look for teams with their own momentum (other funding, resources or a path to sustainability), so show existing users or prior builds; Walrus hackathon entrants (such as Haulout, November 2025) are funneled toward grants and RFPs.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: RFPs are open to any individual, team, organization or entity; ecosystem grants go mainly to builders already active in the Walrus community, usually after ongoing conversations or a referral from someone on the team. Selected teams complete KYC/KYB checks.
How to apply: Direct application: choose an open RFP on walrus.xyz/rfp and submit a proposal; review starts about two weeks after each RFP opens. General grants have no open form, so start by joining Discord and events.
Work funded fit: dev tooling, infrastructure, consumer apps
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Stellar Community Fund (SCF) Build Award

Stellar Development Foundation

Up to $150,000 in XLM per project (Open, Integration and RFP tracks)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Paid in XLM in four tranches of 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% of budget against deliverables; each tranche must be submitted within 90 days of the last payment or remaining funds are forfeited. KYC/KYB is required and can be demanded again mid-award, and Open-track projects also face a community vote.

Next deadline: Rolling (interest form; invited teams receive the round deadline by email) · Rounds several times a year; interest forms reviewed on a rolling basis

Builder tip: SCF relies heavily on referrer signals, so get a Stellar community referrer to confirm your interest form; Open-track projects go to a community vote, while Integration and RFP tracks are decided by the review panel. An Audit Bank covers audits for eligible projects.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Teams ready to ship on Stellar Mainnet in 3–5 months; the Integration track suits teams with existing traction on Stellar, another chain or offchain. Every individual contributor must complete SDF KYC/KYB before funds are issued, and some jurisdictions face extra restrictions (for example testnet-only deployment).
How to apply: Pitch gate: submit the interest form on communityfund.stellar.org; eligible teams are invited by email to submit a full Build proposal to a specific SCF round.
Work funded fit: dev tooling, infrastructure, DeFi, payments
Equity taken: None — paid in XLM in milestone tranches

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

SDF Marketing Grants

Stellar Development Foundation

Up to $500,000 per grant

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Funds marketing only: paid media, offline events, PR, in-app incentives and agencies or tools. It will not fund speculation, wash trading or promotion of token prices or investment returns; payout asset, schedule and KYC terms are not stated on the page.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Applications are judged on traction, mission, impact, feasibility, capability and detail, so bring benchmarks from past campaigns; the Stellar Community Fund presents this as a growth step after a Build Award and Mainnet launch.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: New and existing projects built on the Stellar network with clear use cases and concrete timelines, run by a team that can set budgets and benchmarks, run campaigns and deliver results.
How to apply: Direct application: complete every field of the online form on stellar.org/grants-and-funding/marketing-grants; questions go to [email protected].
Work funded fit: consumer apps, payments, education/community
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Tezos Foundation Grant Program

Tezos Foundation

Varies — check official page (no range published; the Foundation approved $3.1 million for 20 new initiatives in July–December 2025)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Payments follow milestones, each released after a report is reviewed, and the Foundation keeps checking in after the project ends. Successful proposals take about four weeks of review plus four weeks of paperwork, and DeFi grantees must pay for a reputable third-party audit.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: The proposal guidance asks for measures that keep the solution alive beyond the grant, so include a maintenance and funding plan; smaller well-defined tasks go through the Foundation's separate Bounty program.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Teams and organizations building on Tezos or Etherlink (its Smart Rollup layer 2) in core development, infrastructure and tooling, DeFi, gaming, arts and culture or business development. DeFi projects must complete a third-party security audit of all smart contracts.
How to apply: Direct application: submit a grant proposal (solution, roadmap, team, Tezos familiarity, value to the ecosystem and longevity plan) through the Apply now call-for-proposals link on tezos.foundation/grants; questions go to [email protected].
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, DeFi, consumer apps
Equity taken: None — milestone payments under a grant agreement
Who wins: 20 new initiatives funded for a total of $3.1 million between July and December 2025, per the Foundation's biannual report (January 2026).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Thrive Hedera: Build on Hedera (Launch and Boost programs)

Thrive Protocol

Up to $50K in HBAR per program (Launch for new deployments; Boost for projects already on Hedera)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Milestone-based payouts tied to verified results, reviewed through Thrive, and paid in HBAR, so value moves with the market. Hedera Foundation said in January 2026 that it is narrowing its own focus to market efficiency, integrations and market infrastructure while honoring existing grants.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (seasonal programs; Season 2 live)

Builder tip: Choose Launch if you are not yet live on Hedera and Boost if you are, and define verifiable on-chain results for each milestone, since Thrive pays for verified value. Larger infrastructure or integration work can still go to Hedera Foundation directly via hedera.foundation/submit-a-proposal.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Launch Program: projects deploying natively on Hedera. Boost Program: projects already deployed on Hedera. Applicants go through Thrive's portal; KYC terms are not stated on the page.
How to apply: Direct application: apply on hedera.thrive.xyz; feedback on acceptance comes in as soon as 7 days, followed by onboarding and milestone setup.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, DeFi, infrastructure
Equity taken: None — paid in HBAR against verified milestones

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

IOTA Grants

IOTA Ecosystem DLT Foundation

Tier 1 up to $10,000 (no KYC); Tier 2 up to $50,000; Tier 3 $50,000 and beyond

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: The bar rises with the amount: 2 committee members and an average score of 12 for Tier 1, 3 and 14 for Tier 2, 5 and 16 for Tier 3. KYC applies from Tier 2 up, conflicts of interest must be disclosed, and the payout currency is not stated on the page.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Requests up to $10,000 skip KYC and need only two committee votes, so a large idea can start as a Tier 1 first phase; budgets are checked against fair market value for comparable work.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Builders of open-source utilities, tooling, libraries, wallets, frameworks and public goods, plus researchers, educators and event organizers advancing the IOTA network. KYC is required for requests above $10,000, and the same work cannot be funded twice.
How to apply: Direct application: fill out the application form on iotadlt.foundation/grants; applicants who fit the guidelines get a personal IOTA Builders channel on Discord, then an interview and committee vote.
Work funded fit: dev tooling, research, education/community, public goods
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Season 1: 144 applications, 32 grants and $3,479,000 granted; Season 2 opened in January 2025 with a $10M pool (IOTA grants announcement and IOTA Foundation Q1 2025 report).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

XRPL Commons Grants (Glow retroactive funding and Early Stage Grants)

XRPL Commons

Glow: Small, Medium or Large retroactive rewards in XRP (sizes not published); Early Stage Grants: varies — check official page (milestone-based)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Glow pays individuals, not companies, in XRP after KYC through Kudos, and failing KYC forfeits the reward to the next wave. Early Stage Grants release funds against technical integration and growth milestones, and XRPL Commons does not fund ideas without a working product.

Next deadline: Per wave — see official page (Glow runs quarterly through December 2026) · Quarterly waves (Glow) through December; Early Stage Grant windows announced by XRPL Commons

Builder tip: Glow only counts contributions from the last six months, so apply soon after shipping; alumni of the 9-week Aquarium incubator get priority for Early Stage Grants.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Glow: individual contributors aged 18+, not in a restricted region or on a sanctions list, for work done in the last 6 months on free, eligible XRPL projects (one reward per wave). Early Stage Grants: projects with a working product on XRPL testnet or mainnet and a path to XRPL volume; currently focused on EMEA.
How to apply: Direct application: submit your project on glow.xrpl-commons.org (or be nominated by a Scout) during an open wave; Early Stage Grant applications open through XRPL Commons, with priority for hackathon winners and Aquarium alumni.
Work funded fit: dev tooling, infrastructure, public goods, payments
Equity taken: None — Glow rewards paid in XRP
Who wins: Glow funded 11 projects from October 2025 to July 2026 and was 60% disbursed (XRPL Commons, July 2026).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

XRPL Grants and XRPL Accelerator

Ripple

$10,000–$200,000 per project (grants); accelerator programs up to $200,000 in non-dilutive funding

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: About 30% of an award is tied to product and integration milestones and about 70% to growth milestones such as on-chain XRPL metrics. Budgets cannot cover general infrastructure such as validators, and you carry your own tax and conversion costs.

Next deadline: Per program — see official page (fall 2026 accelerator applications open; new programming announced October 2026) · Per program (accelerator cohorts and regional funds announced through the year)

Builder tip: Current priorities are DeFi, real-world asset tokenization, payments and trade finance, and one unified form puts you in front of every program, including partner accelerators run with Brinc and Tenity.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Small teams, pre-incorporation teams, individuals and companies building on the XRP Ledger with at least an MVP; applicants must be 18+ and not citizens of, or located in, OFAC-sanctioned territories. Ripple employees are ineligible, and post-program venture funding is only for incorporated entities.
How to apply: Pitch gate: submit the single unified application on xrplgrants.org; qualified projects are invited to a full application, then finalist interviews.
Work funded fit: DeFi, payments, infrastructure
Equity taken: None by default; after the accelerator, investors including Ripple may offer a term sheet, which teams can decline
Who wins: Ripple says XRPL Grants, the XRPL Accelerator, hackathons and bounties have supported nearly 200 projects since 2021 (February 2026).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Flow Foundation Ecosystem Grants

Flow Foundation

Varies — check official page (you propose the amount per milestone)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Top-down review by the Flow Foundation business development team, with no published timeline or amounts; funding is requested and tracked milestone by milestone. The payout asset is not stated.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Define how you will measure success for each milestone, as the page asks. The GrantDAO track (at least 50,000 FLOW per round, community MACI voting) closed Round 1 on August 16, 2025, and no next round was posted on 2026-10-24.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Startup projects building on Flow that need funding to grow; pre-startup and post-hackathon projects are pointed to the community-voted Flow GrantDAO rounds instead. KYC terms are not stated on the page.
How to apply: Direct application: email a milestone-based proposal (roadmap, timeline per milestone, amount per milestone, use of funds and success metrics) to [email protected].
Work funded fit: consumer apps, DeFi, dev tooling, public goods
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Flare Grants

Flare Foundation

Varies — check official page (token grants; plus help accessing Google Cloud credits up to $200k, or $350k for AI projects)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Paid in tokens, one installment per completed milestone, under a signed grant agreement with regular check-ins. Integration of Flare's FTSO or FDC oracles is a selection criterion, so projects that ignore them start behind.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Name the exact FTSO feeds or FDC attestations you will use, since oracle integration is one of five selection criteria, and attach a video walkthrough of your MVP. Flare also runs smaller rounds such as the Community Growth Grant (up to $10,000; first recipients announced September 2025).

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Independent builders and teams whose products align with Flare's goals and ideally integrate its enshrined data oracles: FTSO for time-series data or FDC for data from other blockchains and the internet.
How to apply: Direct application: fill out the online application on flare.network/grants with methodology, architecture map, roadmap, budget and impact; short-listed teams get an intro call with the Grants Committee.
Work funded fit: DeFi, infrastructure, dev tooling, AI
Equity taken: None — token grants paid per milestone
Who wins: 100 grants awarded across 21 countries, per flare.network/grants.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Partisia Blockchain Grants (Fast Track and Standard)

Partisia Blockchain Foundation

Fast Track: 500–25,000 MPC; Standard: 25,000–250,000 MPC

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Paid in $MPC, so the dollar value moves with the token, and funding advances through staged milestone reviews with measurable KPIs. You must disclose any other grants or accelerators you are in.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: The template asks how transaction costs are covered and how the project pays for itself, so include a business model even for a Fast Track proof of concept.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Builders of privacy-first applications and infrastructure using Partisia's MPC confidential computation: Fast Track for early experiments, tools and proofs of concept; Standard for startups and teams with production-ready applications. KYC terms are not stated on the page.
How to apply: Direct application: submit a proposal via partisiablockchain.com/grants covering problem, solution, Partisia fit, business model, growth plan, milestones with KPIs, team and other commitments.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, security, DeFi
Equity taken: None — paid in MPC tokens

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Canton Protocol Development Fund

Canton Foundation

Varies — check official page (CC-denominated; 42 projects approved for 290.0 million CC in total commitments by August 2026)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Paid in CC as milestones are accepted; projects longer than six months may be re-evaluated for price volatility, and funding can be paused if milestones slip. Proposals and milestones are public, and Development Fund 2.0 directs about 80% of the budget to roadmap RFP areas.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (proposals any time; funding allocated quarterly)

Builder tip: Line up a Champion at a member organization before opening the PR, and map the proposal to the 2026–2028 roadmap RFP areas, which get about 80% of Dev Fund 2.0 budget; the committee reviews at most three proposals a week per organization.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Canton Foundation members, contributor organizations, and external teams or individuals; external contributors need a Canton Foundation member to act as Champion. The work must deliver a shared benefit: core R&D, tools and SDKs, security and audits, reference implementations, critical infrastructure or DeFi liquidity seeding.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: fork the canton-dev-fund GitHub repository, write the proposal from the PR template and open a pull request; the Tech & Ops Committee reviews and the Voting Group gives final approval.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, security, research
Equity taken: None — paid in Canton Coin (CC)
Who wins: 42 projects approved, 290.0 million CC committed and 62.2 million CC paid or minted to date (first report, August 24, 2026).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

ZetaChain Ecosystem Grants

ZetaChain Foundation

Varies — check official page (milestone-based; no range published)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Milestone-based disbursement under a grant agreement, with evidence required for each milestone before payment. Funds may only be spent on the project, and the agreement sets the consequences of missed milestones.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: The screening call expects goals, methodology, budget, timeline and impact metrics up front. ZetaChain hackathons feed the program: outstanding projects from the November–December 2025 Universal AI Hackathon could be invited to incubation and ecosystem grants of up to $200,000.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Legal entities or individuals who agree to ZetaChain's Terms of Use and build Universal Apps on ZetaChain, in verticals such as DeFi, NFTs, gaming, AI, social, DePIN, DeSci and infrastructure.
How to apply: Pitch gate: apply via zetachain.com/grants, present your proposal on a screening call, and if shortlisted interview with the grants committee.
Work funded fit: DeFi, consumer apps, AI, infrastructure
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 40+ projects funded, per zetachain.com/grants.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Build On Cronos (Ignition and Apex programs)

Cronos Labs

Ignition: up to $200K in support, including micro-grants of $2,000 a month for a year and a 50% gas-fee revenue share; Apex: up to $500K in support

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: The headline figures are total support packages, not cash grants: Ignition pays micro-grants monthly and shares gas fees, and Apex bundles a success manager, co-marketing and integrations. Detailed grant terms are not published.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Cronos hackathons map onto Ignition: the x402 PayTech Hackathon (December 2025–January 2026) paid its top prize as $6,000 plus $2,000 a month for nine months, so a hackathon win is a direct route in.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Native founders (Ignition), projects with traction (Apex) and institutions (Institutional Leap) building on Cronos in one of four domains: tokenization, AI agents, DeFi or payments.
How to apply: Direct application: submit a proposal in one of the four domains through the Build On Cronos form (tally.so/r/nGW69e).
Work funded fit: DeFi, payments, AI, consumer apps
Equity taken: None for the support packages; Apex teams may pitch Crypto.com Capital for a separate investment

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

TRON Builders League (TBL)

TRON DAO

Varies — check official page (the program advertises up to $5,000,000 in total funding, released in milestone stages)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Funding is staged by milestone and wholly at TRON's discretion, and the program can be paused at any time. You must keep a public forum thread updated with progress and milestone reports or risk delays or disqualification, and funds may only go to development, audits, growth and TRON expansion.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: 2026 TBL threads typically request $50,000–$350,000 split into 3–5 milestones with KPIs; mirror that structure and show a live TRON integration, with USDT (TRC-20) volume a common metric.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Projects building on TRON and BTTC, including past HackaTRON participants and established community projects; participants accept the program rules of the sponsor, Tron Tech Limited.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: apply via trondao.org/tron-builders-league and post a project thread in the TBL category of the TRON DAO Forum for public community review before funding decisions.
Work funded fit: payments, DeFi, infrastructure, AI
Equity taken: None for milestone funding; TRON may separately offer discretionary investment to high-potential projects

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Ronin Ecosystem Grants (Lightning Grants and Forge Innovation Grant)

Sky Mavis (Ronin)

Lightning Grants: up to $20K in RON per project; Forge Innovation Grant: $300K in RON in total for selected teams

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Paid in RON, so the value moves with the token, and grants are not guaranteed even for Builder Wishlist ideas. Successful teams also get audit and tooling discounts and access to the Ronin Builders Discord.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Pick an open idea from the Builder Wishlist on GitHub and reference it in your application; once live, register your contracts in Proof of Distribution to earn monthly RON on top of a grant.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Indie devs, solo builders and small teams testing ideas or shipping MVPs (Lightning); games and apps with a live product or clear MVP, a Web3 shipping record and the ability to deploy on Ronin within 30–60 days (Forge).
How to apply: Direct application: read the Ronin Ecosystem Grants Notion page and submit the grants form; Lightning Grant reviews take about 2–3 weeks and all applicants are notified.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, DeFi, dev tooling
Equity taken: None — paid in RON

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Ronin Proof of Distribution (PoD)

Sky Mavis (Ronin)

Share of about 410,000–416,000 RON per 30-day season, split by Builder Score

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Rewards are formula-driven, not proposal-based: scores weight gas spend, active and new users holding more than 10 RON, NFT and DEX volume and contract volume, with a RON Conviction multiplier added on September 10, 2026. Ronin reviews for botting, sybil attacks and wash trading before payouts, and only registered contracts count.

Next deadline: Rolling · Monthly (30-day seasons)

Builder tip: Register every contract your app deploys, because unregistered contracts are invisible to PoD; deployer-wallet verification registers immediately, while owner, role or Safe verification waits for Sky Mavis review.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Games, dApps, DeFi protocols and other applications with at least one smart contract deployed on Ronin; one builder profile per wallet, and contract ownership must be verified.
How to apply: Registration: register your project and contracts in the Proof of Distribution builder registry, verify contract ownership and submit the on-chain activation transaction.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, DeFi
Equity taken: None — RON rewards paid per season
Who wins: Season 1 (May–June 2026) paid more than 410,000 RON to builders; Axie Infinity led with over 97,000 RON (Ronin newsletter, July 2026).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Interledger Foundation Grants (Local Impact Mini-Grants and other open-payments grants)

Interledger Foundation

Local Impact Mini-Grants: $500–$3,000; other programs (innovation, education, research, policy, fellowships): varies — check official page

GrantEquity-freeany

The catch: The work must advance open payments and digital financial access (Interledger, Open Payments, Web Monetization) rather than a particular blockchain. Mini-grant projects must finish within 6 months, and funds cannot pay general operating costs or capital expenditures.

Next deadline: Nov 11, 2026 · Program windows through the year (Local Impact Mini-Grants run July to November)

Builder tip: Applications are reviewed as they arrive with a reply within two weeks, and priority goes to projects completing before December 31, 2026, so submit early in the window rather than at the deadline.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Worldwide. Local Impact Mini-Grants are open to community organizations, nonprofits, cooperatives, civil society groups, local fintech startups, social enterprises and individuals with a concrete project plan; projects serving the Global South and rural or peri-urban areas are prioritized this cycle.
How to apply: Direct application: apply through Submittable from interledger.org/grants with a two-page concept note, budget and timeline (Local Impact); other programs open their own windows.
Work funded fit: payments, education/community, public goods, research
Equity taken: None
Who wins: $21M+ in grants to more than 300 projects, per interledger.org/grants.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Aleo Network Foundation Developer Grants

Aleo Network Foundation

Up to $100,000 per project, milestone-based

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Funding is released as development milestones are reached, and open-source code is a requirement. Payout asset and KYC terms are not stated on the page.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Lead with how your app uses Aleo's selective disclosure to protect users while meeting compliance needs; the Foundation highlighted zPass identity integrations for implementation grants in February 2025.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Teams and solo developers building privacy-first applications on Aleo in areas such as payments, identity, gaming and DeFi; open-source code is required.
How to apply: Direct application: submit project details, team background and a development roadmap through the application on aleo.org/grants; initial feedback comes within one week.
Work funded fit: payments, consumer apps, DeFi, dev tooling
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 50+ projects funded and $1,000,000+ in grants deployed, per aleo.org/grants.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

BNB Chain Builder Grants

BNB Chain

Up to USD 200K per project; larger amounts take longer to evaluate

GrantEquity-freeBNB Chain

The catch: Milestones and the grant amount are confirmed only in round two, after a plan presentation and Q&A calls, and a grant project manager then handles legal documents, milestone checkpoints and payment requests. KYC is not mentioned on the page.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (winners announced every 2 months)

Builder tip: Map your proposal to an item on the GitHub grant wishlist; teams that already meet its conditions can apply straight to the MVB accelerator linked from the same page instead.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Developers, entrepreneurs, researchers and enthusiasts building open-source or public-goods work on BNB Chain in developer tools and infrastructure, DeFi, GameFi, AI/DePIN or DeSoc. Eligible third-party projects may have to accept additional terms and conditions.
How to apply: Pitch gate: apply on bnbchain.org/en/grants after checking the grant wishlist; a first-round relevance and technical review decides who presents a full plan in round two.
Work funded fit: dev tooling, infrastructure, DeFi, AI
Equity taken: None
Who wins: The page lists 36 granted projects, including Ginco, DappRadar, Cakepie and Stake DAO.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Stacks Ecosystem Grants (Getting Started and Builder Grants)

Stacks Endowment

Getting Started: $2,500–$10,000 in STX (average $5,000); Builder: typically $10,000–$50,000 STX equivalent

GrantEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Paid in STX: Getting Started grants in two tranches (halfway and completion), Builder grants 20% upfront then 30%, 30% and 20% by milestone, with monthly check-ins and funding paused if progress stalls. Builder grantees need KYB, monthly updates and quarterly performance reports.

Next deadline: Next quarterly window not yet posted (Q3 2026 closed 2026-09-23) · Quarterly application windows (the Q3 2026 window ran Aug 31–Sep 23)

Builder tip: Each cycle has its own themes and reviewers check the public grants tracker for duplicates, so explain what is different from projects already funded; most first-time builders come in through Getting Started after a hackathon or DevRel program.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Getting Started: pre-product-market-fit founders and small teams with a prototype, technical spec, user research or real traction. Builder: projects live on Stacks for at least 6 months with public dashboards and no unremediated major security breaches; KYB through the Endowment is required.
How to apply: Direct application: during a quarterly window, apply on portal.stacksendowment.co under that cycle's themes (Q3 2026: Bitcoin Staking and sBTC utility; distribution and integrations; market efficiency and risk).
Work funded fit: DeFi, infrastructure, dev tooling, security
Equity taken: None — paid in STX

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

RootstockCollective Grants

RootstockCollective DAO

Up to $35,000 per grant, milestone-gated

GrantEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Submitting on-chain needs 1,000 stRIF staked and about $5 of rBTC for gas, and every later tranche needs a new on-chain proposal with proof of the last milestone. Only 20–30% arrives upfront depending on tier, and 2026 proposals under the current guidelines hold back the final 30% until a post-completion impact review.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Use the [YYMM Grant] title prefix on the forum and request only the first tranche on-chain; delegates now assess delivery risk in public, so link a working demo and GitHub repository.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Builders whose projects are deployed or deployment-ready on Rootstock mainnet with measurable outcomes (new wallets, transaction volume, TVL or SDK usage); KYB through Persona is required.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: complete KYB, post an off-chain proposal on gov.rootstockcollective.xyz for 1–3 weeks of feedback, hold a public AMA with delegates, then submit on-chain for a 7-day stRIF vote.
Work funded fit: DeFi, dev tooling, payments, infrastructure
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Ignite on Kaia (IOK)

Kaia DLT Foundation

Varies — check official page (IOK funds cover part of go-to-market costs and partner services)

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Support flows through IOK partner services and toward marketing costs, not cash for development. The form asks for every founder's LinkedIn profile, achievements in the last 6 months and, if live, your Kaia token contract.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Name the specific IOK partners you need (for example a wallet integration or oracle) in the form, since support is matched to listed partner services.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: dApp developers launching on, or onboarding to, Kaia who need go-to-market and partner services such as wallets, marketing, security tools, API nodes, NFT marketplaces, oracles and development outsourcing.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the IOK form on kaia.io (iok-submission) with project details, the partners you need and recent achievements; the team says it replies within 48 hours.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, infrastructure, DeFi
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Conflux Integration Grants

Conflux Foundation

Varies — check official page (amount set per application; paid in CFX)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: A no-sale rule applies: CFX from Integration Grants should not be sold for one year unless otherwise agreed (using it for user incentives is allowed). Payments follow agreed milestones and KPIs, with public progress reporting in your awardee thread.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: 2026 applicants budget in USD and note that payment is in CFX; the committee assigns growth KPIs such as TVL, transactions and user engagement, so propose measurable targets yourself.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Any project that wants to deploy on Conflux eSpace, the network's EVM-compatible environment, and needs support to launch; past focus areas include lending, DEXs, yield vaults, derivatives and real-world assets.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: post an application from the Integration Grants template in the Grant Proposals category of forum.conflux.fun; an assigned committee member evaluates it before a committee majority vote.
Work funded fit: DeFi, dev tooling, infrastructure, payments
Equity taken: None — paid in CFX

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

NEAR Protocol Rewards

NEAR Foundation

$100 to $10,000 per reward period by score tier (Explorer $100, Contributor $500, Bronze $1,000, Silver $3,000, Gold $6,000, Diamond $10,000)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Rewards are computed from tracked metrics, 80% GitHub activity (commits, pull requests, reviews, issues) and 20% on-chain activity (volume, contract calls, unique wallets), and weekly deliverables are required to unlock them. NEAR describes it as not a grant and not an accelerator.

Next deadline: Per cohort — see official page · Cohorts (dates announced per cohort)

Builder tip: Since 80 of 100 points come from GitHub, keep meaningful commits, merged PRs and closed issues flowing in the tracked repo; 100 commits, 25 merged PRs, 30 reviews and 30 closed issues max out the off-chain score.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Builders on NEAR with a post-MVP project starting to gain traction, or recent NEAR hackathon participants; enrollment is by cohort.
How to apply: Direct application: apply for the next cohort at nearprotocolrewards.com and connect your GitHub repository and NEAR contracts for automated tracking.
Work funded fit: dev tooling, consumer apps, AI
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 30+ teams through the first two cohorts and over $200,000 distributed (NEAR blog, June 2025).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

U2U Foundation Grant Program

U2U Foundation

Fast Track: up to $30K; Growth and Nest tracks: varies — check official page

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Every milestone must include at least one on-chain commercial metric (users, wallets, transactions or TVL) and one product goal, and copies of existing projects are not funded. KYC/KYB is required before a decision.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Write milestones in the page's template (description, goals, expected completion date) with one on-chain commercial goal in each, or the application will not be considered.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Early-stage projects building on U2U Network, a DAG-based layer 1, with interest in DePIN, compliance, privacy and scalability work; a KYC/KYB background check is required even for publicly anonymous teams.
How to apply: Direct application: apply through the form on u2u.xyz/grant with a cost breakdown and a milestone roadmap using the page's template.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, DeFi, consumer apps
Equity taken: None for grants; the 2025 U2U x Cicada program paired support with market-making services

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

6. Protocol, DeFi and infrastructure grant programs

Protocol grants come from the foundation, DAO committee or developer program behind one protocol, such as Uniswap, Lido, CoW Protocol, Rocket Pool, dYdX, Filecoin or Safe. They pay for work that makes that protocol more useful, so reviewers ask what your project does for their users, liquidity or developers, not how good it is in general. Sizes run from $1,000 to $10,000 micro-grants (Lido's lower tiers, Rocket Pool's monthly rounds, Aurora's community grants) to $25,000 to $100,000 for milestone-based builds. Most programs review on a rolling basis; a few run monthly rounds or open RFP calls. Payment is often in the protocol's own token (COW, MPLX, ATLAS, PYTH, EIGEN), sometimes locked for a year, and almost always tied to milestones and KYC. Corporate programs such as Coinbase's and Aethir's pay mostly in credits. The common mistake is a generic pitch: several committees now reject proposals that show no usage of their protocol or read as AI-generated.

23 programs

Uniswap Foundation Open Grants

Uniswap Foundation

Varies — check official page (funding is set by project scope; no range published)

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Funding is tied to concrete, checkable milestones with line-item budgets. Traction must be proven with onchain data, public dashboards or GitHub activity; registrations, pool counts, self-priced TVL and attendance do not count, and tools meant for other teams need evidence of use by several independent teams. Fabricated or overstated claims disqualify an application.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Name one of the five categories (Ecosystem, Governance, Community & Events, Security, Research & Implementation) and show who benefits beyond your own product; UF routes commercial products seeking a subsidy to a partnership conversation instead. Hook builders without third-party use are sent to the UFSF audit subsidy, not Open Grants.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Teams and individuals doing work that expands, strengthens or advances the Uniswap ecosystem; first-time builders are welcome if scope matches their track record. Consulting, liquidity mining, standalone audits, token launches and launchpads, and Unichain-specific builder grants are not funded here.
How to apply: Direct application: read the UF Open Grants eligibility criteria (linked from uniswapfoundation.org/build), then submit the grants form with milestones mapped to deliverables, line-item costs and impact metrics.
Work funded fit: DeFi, dev tooling, research, education/community
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Unichain Grants

Uniswap Foundation

Up to $7,500 in grant funding, plus product and go-to-market support

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: The $250K+ TVL bar for DeFi apps means this is for teams already live with liquidity, not idea-stage builders. The cash portion is small (up to $7.5K); most of the support is product and GTM help from the Foundation. No equity or token lockup is stated.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Apply once onchain TVL clears the $250K threshold; UF's developer docs say a live deployment on Unichain or Uniswap v4, setup docs, demo material and usage metrics strengthen any UF application.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: DeFi projects live on Unichain with $250K+ TVL, and infrastructure projects serving Unichain. Separate from UF Open Grants, which does not fund Unichain-specific builder grants.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the Unichain grants form linked under Get funded on uniswapfoundation.org/build.
Work funded fit: DeFi, infrastructure
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Lido Ecosystem Grants Organization (LEGO)

Lido DAO

Sandgrain up to $1,000; Pebble up to $10,000; Boulder up to $100,000 (LEGO Council vote); Mountain above $100,000 (Lido DAO vote)

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Terms, deliverables and timeline are negotiated with the LEGO member sponsoring you, and the proposal is published on research.lido.fi. Grantees present results to the LEGO committee on completion, and LEGO publishes quarterly reports on all grants. Budgets are held in LDO equivalents.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (LEGO budgets refresh quarterly)

Builder tip: Size the first ask to a tier: up to $10,000 needs only one or two LEGO members to approve, while larger grants go to a Council vote. Pick the member whose listed domain (tech, community, governance and DeFi, liquid staking, node tech) matches your work on lido.fi/lego.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Individuals, projects and initiatives whose work benefits the Lido protocol or the broader blockchain space, including work that raises awareness of Ethereum, proof of stake or DeFi.
How to apply: Pitch gate: message the LEGO member for your area on Telegram with a short pitch (title, authors, purpose, a 3–4 sentence summary, timeline and cost estimate); once terms are agreed the proposal is shared on research.lido.fi for review.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, research, education/community
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Lido Community Lifeguards Initiative (CLI)

Lido DAO

Up to $10,000 per grant (larger requests go through LEGO); $50,000 per quarter in total

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: The pot is small ($50,000 a quarter, unused funds do not roll over), and spending is reported publicly every quarter on research.lido.fi. Work must be primarily community-facing and cannot duplicate another Lido budget.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (quarterly budget, no rollover)

Builder tip: Use CLI for Community Staking Module operator tooling or local staking meetups under $10,000; anything larger or not mainly community-facing should be pitched to LEGO instead.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Community operators, home stakers and grassroots groups running initiatives whose primary purpose is community impact (workshops, meetups, operator support, tooling and content for community stakers) that are not already funded from another Lido budget.
How to apply: Direct application: bring a short proposal to the five-member CLI committee through the Community Lifeguards thread on research.lido.fi; the committee pays approved grants from a 3-of-5 Safe.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, education/community
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Q2 2026: $5,100 across 3 grants; Q3 2026: $1,000 on one grant (CLI quarterly updates on research.lido.fi).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Rocket Pool GMC Grants, Bounties and Retrospective Awards

Rocket Pool Protocol DAO

Varies — check official page (applicants request a USD amount; Round 40 approved $680 of $101,680 requested)

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: The GMC pays only to a recipient address you name (no invoices), on a payment schedule and acceptance criteria you propose. Anyone can dispute an award by RPIP within 14 days of the results post. The treasury is small (about $49K in Round 40) and is funded from RPL the GMC swaps to USDC.

Next deadline: Expected: next monthly round · Monthly (applications close on the 7th of each month; awards announced about three weeks later) · Set an alert ↗

Builder tip: The rubric weighs benefit against cost, so request the minimum, list the cheaper alternatives you considered, and answer questions in the round's community discussion thread; in Round 40 nine requests between $4,800 and $30,000 were declined.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone proposing work that makes it easier or more attractive to become or operate a Rocket Pool node, mint, hold or use rETH, or that improves quality of life for the protocol and its community; conflicts of interest with GMC members must be disclosed.
How to apply: Direct application: post the GMC template as a reply in the current 'Round N – GMC Call for Grant Applications' thread on dao.rocketpool.net, timestamped before 23:59 UTC on the 7th.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, education/community
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Round 40 (Aug 7 – Sep 7, 2026): 10 grant applications, 1 approved ($680 for Rescue Node), per the GMC results post.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

CoW DAO Grants Program

CoW DAO

Varies — check official page (budget set per milestone in each proposal; program budget 500,000 xDAI and about 6.55M COW under CIP-82)

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Paid in xDAI or COW on Gnosis Chain only, after each milestone is reviewed, in an end-of-month payout cycle with a 30-day payment term. The Snapshot proposal must link the CoW DAO Grant Agreement, and grants should not exceed six months unless justified. The current mandate (CIP-82) runs through January 31, 2027.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: A proposal that reaches Snapshot without an assigned reviewer is unlikely to pass, so get a steward engaged in your forum thread first; completed milestones are paid even if the last one is not, so weight funding toward the final milestone if completion matters.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Developers and teams building for CoW Protocol: developer onboarding (docs, SDKs, support), integrations where batch auctions and MEV protection add value, and novel apps such as programmatic orders, CoW AMM and cross-chain work.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: post the grant application template as a new topic in the CoW Grants Program forum category; after committee review (typically within two weeks) and assignment of a steward and reviewer, submit it to the Grants DAO Snapshot for a three-day vote.
Work funded fit: DeFi, dev tooling, research
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Aurora Community Grants

Aurora DAO

Up to $10,000 per proposal (requested in USD, paid in AURORA)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Paid in AURORA tokens only after KYC/KYB and paperwork, and payment can take four weeks or more. One negative decision from a grants team member rejects a proposal, and unanswered information requests close it after five days. Grantees must post a [Report] with KPIs.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: This is marketing and community money, not development funding: frame the proposal around reach and measurable KPIs for the Aurora community, and choose a funding scheme (monthly, quarterly, KPI-based or one-time) up front as the template asks.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Guilds, communities, regional influencers and projects running marketing and community activity for the Aurora ecosystem (social media, articles and guides, hackathons, events, workshops, AMAs). Recipients must pass KYC/KYB and sign the required paperwork.
How to apply: Direct application: open a new topic titled '[Proposal] …' with the 'proposals' tag in the Aurora Community category on forum.aurora.dev; two approvals from grants team members pass it.
Work funded fit: education/community
Equity taken: None
Who wins: The Q3 2026 Aurora Community Grants Report lists two grants: community moderator operations ($10,530) and ecosystem design ($9,000).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Metaplex DAO Community Grants

Metaplex Foundation

Varies — check official page (amount set in each proposal; paid in MPLX)

GrantEquity-freeSolana

The catch: All MPLX delivered through DAO grants is locked for one year, and beneficiaries sign customary contract terms before the DAO Council transfers funds directly or through a vesting contract. A proposal passes only with more than 50% Yes and Yes votes above the quorum the Foundation sets. KYC is mandatory.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Because grants arrive as MPLX locked for a year, budget as if you cannot sell during the build; proposals tied to a specific need voiced by Metaplex creators or app developers match the stated criteria best.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Holders who can prove ownership of 200 MPLX and pass KYC, proposing work that advances the Metaplex protocol and ecosystem (creators, collectors and app developers that rely on Metaplex).
How to apply: Proposal and vote: complete the Community Grant form on mip.metaplex.foundation, connect a wallet holding 200 MPLX and finish KYC (ideally within 3 days); after Foundation screening (aim: within 2 weeks) the proposal goes to a 14-day MPLX-weighted DAO vote.
Work funded fit: dev tooling, consumer apps, education/community
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Polymarket Builders Program grants

Polymarket

Varies — check official page (over $2.5M in grants available program-wide; no per-grant amounts published)

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Grants go to teams with product innovation and traction and are subject to approval; weekly USDC rewards are paid on attributed order volume. Builders must tell Polymarket before any token launch, and tokens launched without transparency or for pump-and-dump purposes cost the builder badge.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Traction is measured as volume attributed to your builder code, so attach the code to every order from day one and get onto the public leaderboard before asking for a grant; volume can take up to 24 hours to appear.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone building apps, trading terminals, analytics or AI agents that route orders to Polymarket; grants and weekly rewards come with the Verified tier, which needs manual approval.
How to apply: Direct application: create a builder profile at polymarket.com/settings, attach your builder code to orders, apply on builders.polymarket.com, then email [email protected] with your API key, use case and expected volume to get verified.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, DeFi, AI
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

DIA Oracle Grants

DIA

Oracle deployment and update costs covered for up to 12 months (no cash amount published)

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany

The catch: Covers oracle infrastructure costs only, not development, and is funded from each partner chain's DIA staking vault, so availability depends on your chain participating. Tokens go to your wallet after the vote passes.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Confirm your target chain is a participating partner before writing the OGR, and name the exact DIA product (Market, Real, Value or Random feeds) and assets you need.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Developers of oracle-dependent dApps (DeFi, stablecoin, RWA, gaming, infrastructure) on a participating chain with a product live on testnet or mainnet; new DIA integrators are welcome. Launch partners included Arbitrum, Avalanche, BNB Chain, Linea, Polygon, Stacks and Sonic.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: post an Oracle Grant Request (OGR) using the template in the DIA Forum; it passes a Snapshot vote with more than 50% Yes and at least 10,000 DIA voting power.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, DeFi
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Star Atlas DAO Ecosystem Fund

Star Atlas DAO

Up to 5% of the fund's balance after its last refill per proposal (13,576,392 ATLAS in mid-2026); budgets requested in USDC, paid in ATLAS

GrantEquity-freeSolana

The catch: Paid only in ATLAS: proposals must budget in USDC, which is converted to ATLAS, so the value moves with the token. No PIP may run longer than 12 months, milestones and deliverables are required, and KYC of everyone involved is required before disbursement.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (fund refilled quarterly around March 31, June 20, September 30 and December 31)

Builder tip: 2026 proposals split payment across dated milestones (for example 25% on passing, 50% on delivery, 25% on the results report); copy that structure and keep the ask under the current 5% cap.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Star Atlas community members and teams proposing tools, content, events or other work that develops the Star Atlas ecosystem; everyone involved must pass KYC before payment.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: draft a PIP following PIP-1 and the Star Atlas DAO knowledge-base guidelines on govern.staratlas.com, then win the DAO vote.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, education/community
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Pyth Community Hackathon

Pyth DAO Community Council

Round 1: about 200,000 PYTH prize pool; Round 2 budget at least 500,000 PYTH (to be confirmed)

PrizeEquity-freeany

The catch: Prizes are paid in PYTH, and Round 1 winners had to pass KYC through Sumsub before rewards went out. Round 1 submissions were Apache-2.0 open source. Each round's budget is approved through a public forum budget request.

Next deadline: Expected: November 2026 · Events twice a year (one per six-month Community Council budget cycle; Round 1 ran four weeks in March)

Builder tip: Round 1 was built around AI-assisted building with the Pyth MCP server as a starter kit, and two council-funded products (PythFeeds, PythScan) came out of it; combining more than one Pyth product, such as Price Feeds with Entropy, is what the council highlighted.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Builders using Pyth data (Price Feeds, Entropy, Pyth Pro, Benchmarks) on any supported chain; Round 1 projects shipped on Solana, Base, Ethereum, FOGO and Optimism. Winners must complete KYC before payout.
How to apply: Registration: join the next Community Hackathon announced by the Pyth Community Council on forum.pyth.network and the Pyth Discord; Round 2 launches 2 November 2026.
Work funded fit: DeFi, AI, consumer apps
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Round 1 (March 4 – April 1, 2026): 36 projects submitted for a pool of about 200,000 PYTH, per the Community Council post-mortem.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Aethir Ecosystem Fund

Aethir

$5,000 to $500,000 per project in compute credits, subsidies (up to 35% of platform base service costs) and ATH token grants

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany

The catch: Most of the value is compute: subsidies require a compute contract of six months or more, and ATH token grants are paid against milestones the committee can reassess if they are missed. Recipients must support Aethir marketing with logos, testimonials, announcements and case studies.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (grantees announced in batches)

Builder tip: This fits teams that will buy GPU compute anyway; choose the partner track for your chain or sector, since partners add their own support (for example XAI covers gas fees) on top of Aethir compute.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: AI and gaming companies using Aethir as a compute provider: gaming studios, pre-launch projects (stealth to TGE), AI-integrated enterprises and cloud gaming platforms. Primarily for new compute customers; one grant per compute buyer unless approved.
How to apply: Direct application: use the Apply Now form on aethir.com/ecosystem-fund (partner tracks such as XAI, XPLA, WeatherXM and Polyhedra have their own forms); the Grant Committee decides.
Work funded fit: AI, infrastructure, consumer apps
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Six batches of grantees announced by April 2025 (25+ AI agent projects, then RWA projects), per the Aethir blog.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Golem Ecosystem Fund

Golem Foundation

Varies — check official page (published allocations range from 5 ETH to 600 ETH)

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Funding is released incrementally at milestones. The fund is financed by the yield on 40,000 staked ETH, with 75% of rewards going to beneficiaries, so available money depends on staking returns.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Projects that use Golem compute as part of their infrastructure or extend Golem tooling fit best, but broader Ethereum work also qualifies, as the Web3 Pi node project and Ethereum hackathon allocations show.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Developers working on open-source projects in the Golem or Ethereum ecosystems, researchers whose work relates to decentralized computing, and startups building market-ready solutions on decentralized compute.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the application on golem.network/ecosystem with a written proposal, budget, timeline, applicant profiles and track record, or answer an open RFP in the golemfactory request-for-proposals GitHub repo.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, research, security
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Published allocations include Clan (600 ETH), Numtide (440 ETH), Web3 Pi (150 ETH) and ETH Warsaw 2025 (25 ETH).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

WeatherXM BuildersXM grants

WeatherXM

Varies — check official page (micro-grants to larger pilots; joint Aethir track: up to $10,000 WeatherXM milestone-based support plus up to $10,000 Aethir compute credits)

GrantEquity-freeany

The catch: Funding follows a milestone-based roadmap, and in the joint programs WeatherXM's share is largely certified hardware, datasets and API access rather than cash. The Aethir track favours projects with active deployments and identifiable users or clients.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (joint partner tracks run as rolling cohorts)

Builder tip: Lead with who already uses your weather product: the Aethir joint track prioritizes live deployments with clients and high-impact use cases in the Global South.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Builders and ventures whose product uses WeatherXM weather data, hardware or APIs in climate, energy, insurance, logistics, agriculture, IoT, research or DePIN; using WeatherXM's data or solutions is a hard requirement.
How to apply: Direct application: apply on builders.weatherxm.com (GrantsXM form at grants.weatherxm.com); applications are reviewed within 48 hours.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, AI, consumer apps
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

GnosisDAO funding proposals (GIPs)

GnosisDAO

Varies — check official page (amount set in each GIP; for example GIP-149 requested $20,000 for 12 months)

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Fully public: delegates question budgets and usage metrics in the forum thread before the GNO vote, and governance overhead is high for small asks. Recent funded requests are mostly maintenance and infrastructure for Gnosis Chain.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Delegates ask for Gnosis-Chain-specific usage (monthly users, transactions) and a monthly cost breakdown, as the GIP-149 Revoke.cash thread shows; bring those numbers in the first post.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone proposing work for Gnosis Chain or the wider Gnosis ecosystem (infrastructure, tooling, security, research) through public governance.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: post a Funding-type GIP in the GIPs category on forum.gnosis.io, take it through Phase 2 discussion, then to a Snapshot vote of GNO holders.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, public goods
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Render Network Foundation Grants

Render Network Foundation

Varies — check official page (Year 3 budget of 1.5M RENDER for artist and AI grants, December 2025 – December 2026)

GrantEquity-freeSolana

The catch: Grants largely support use of the network, such as rendering credits for real 3D projects, and are funded from RENDER emissions set each year by RNP. Grantees are featured in Render showcases and promotion.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: RNP-022 names the 2026 grant priorities: outreach to design, VFX and production studios, large multi-part projects, and emerging AI builders who accelerate compute use, so frame the pitch in those terms.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Artists, studios, developers and AI builders whose projects use or improve the Render Network: creative projects rendered on the network, development, resources, community events and educational material.
How to apply: Pitch gate: submit the quick pitch form on renderfoundation.com/grants (artists can also use rendernetwork.com/grants); aligned pitches are invited to a formal proposal, then timeline and funding are agreed.
Work funded fit: AI, consumer apps, infrastructure, education/community
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 276 grants issued in 2025 from 223 applications (377 grants since inception), per RNP-022.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Resolv Grants Program

Resolv Labs

Community Grants: educational content up to $3,000; influencers up to $5,000; developer contributions up to $10,000; research up to $30,000. Strategic Grants: set individually. Paid in RESOLV.

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Paid in RESOLV tokens, so dollar caps convert to a token amount that moves with the market. Grants fund clear public outputs, and recipients and results are listed publicly on the grants page.

Next deadline: Per round — see official page · Waves (rolling review within each wave)

Builder tip: Analytics was the first developer work Resolv funded (a 69-chart Dune dashboard), so a monitoring tool for USR, stUSR or RLP is the clearest developer path; integrations of Resolv's core product belong in the Strategic track.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Builders, analysts, educators, researchers and creators contributing to the Resolv stablecoin ecosystem; the influencer track needs 1,000+ followers, and research grants target agencies or researchers with proven experience and distribution.
How to apply: Direct application: use the apply form on resolv.xyz/grants and choose the Strategic or Community track.
Work funded fit: DeFi, dev tooling, research, education/community
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Confirmed grants listed include Outputlayer (15,000 RESOLV, Dune dashboard) and Alea Research (35,000 RESOLV, research deck).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

dYdX Grants Program

dYdX Grants Ltd. (dYdX Foundation)

Varies — check official page (no per-grant cap published; Q4 2025 grants included $6,000-a-month infrastructure contracts)

GrantEquity-freeCosmos

The catch: Milestone-based with progress reporting, and the program actively renews or terminates grants on impact and cost. Applications are scored on relevance, benefit, feasibility, execution, qualification, originality and cost.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: The program saved about $220,000 a month in Q4 2025 by renegotiating or ending grants, so bring a lean, cost-justified budget; its update highlighted moving a service from about $35,000 to $6,000 a month.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Contributors whose work relates to dYdX and grows the protocol: infrastructure, developer tooling, research and integrations; 2026 priorities add AI agents, yield products and prediction markets.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the application form on dydxgrants.com; the Grants Lead contacts applicants who are being considered.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, research, DeFi
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Q4 2025: 10 new grants approved, 34 agreements executed and 26 grantees onboarded; 50+ contracts since the August 2025 relaunch (dYdX Foundation, January 2026).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Filecoin Open Grants (devgrants)

Filecoin Foundation

Up to $50,000 per Open Grant; RFP grants set their own limits

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Accepted teams sign an Open Source Software Grant Agreement with the work plan and funding milestones, and no work should begin until both parties sign. Proposals and reviewer comments are public on GitHub.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Expect preliminary feedback within about two weeks as comments on your GitHub issue and a final decision within about four weeks, so watch the issue and answer questions fast; RFPs appear in the same repo when open.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Individuals and teams with novel ideas that advance the Filecoin ecosystem, bring significant new usage or advance its mission: developer and data tooling, integrations, research and protocols, storage, retrieval and FVM. IPFS-only or libp2p-only projects are de-emphasized.
How to apply: Direct application: open a GitHub issue with the Open Grants proposal template in the filecoin-project/devgrants repository.
Work funded fit: dev tooling, infrastructure, research
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

CDP Founders Fuel

Coinbase Developer Platform

Up to $15,000 in CDP and Paymaster credits plus $5,000 in AWS Activate credits

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany

The catch: No cash: the package is infrastructure credits, 1:1 time with CDP product leads, a launch spotlight and GTM help, and it requires building on Coinbase developer tools. Selection is discretionary.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Apply when you are within three months of a public launch and already integrated; CDP's seasonal cash Builder Grants ($30,000 pools, mostly $3,000–$10,000 each) last ran in Summer 2025, so watch the launches page for a new round.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Technical founders, teams and solo builders with a functioning product that integrates one or more CDP tools (Onramp, CDP Wallets, x402) and plans to launch publicly within three months.
How to apply: Direct application: apply through the Founders Fuel post on the CDP launches page with a live product link, a 1–2 paragraph launch plan and the credits or tools you want; responses take 30–60 days.
Work funded fit: payments, consumer apps, AI
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Safe Ecosystem Foundation Grants (RFPs)

Safe Ecosystem Foundation

Set per call (example: the 2026 Safenet staking-interface RFP paid tiers of 100,000, 60,000 and 40,000 SAFE per operator)

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Paid against milestones agreed with each team: in the 2026 staking RFP, 60% at a month-3 production launch with the frontend open-sourced under MIT and 40% after a 12-month operational review, with a 12-month commitment to run the service. Outcome-based OBRA funding is temporarily paused.

Next deadline: Per round — see official page · Per RFP (calls published on the Safe forum)

Builder tip: Open-ended grant applications are not being taken (Wave 2 is on hold and OBRA is paused), so watch the Proposals category on the Safe forum for RFPs, which spell out scope, compensation and how to apply.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Any team or individual answering an open call published on the Safe forum; the 2026 staking RFP required applicants able to pass SEF AML and compliance checks.
How to apply: Direct application: answer an open RFP on forum.safefoundation.org following the scope, compensation and application route in the call (the 2026 staking RFP took applications by email).
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, security, research
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Safenet Beta staking-interface RFP (April–May 2026): 10 submissions, 6 operators awarded 500,000 SAFE in total.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

IPFS Data Utilities Grants

IPFS Foundation

$5,000–$25,000 per project, plus a maintenance grant of 10% of the award for 12 months

GrantEquity-freeany

The catch: Projects run 1–3 months, must be open source under MIT and/or Apache-2.0, and grantees publish a write-up and present at a virtual event. Improving someone else's project needs documented maintainer support before you apply.

Next deadline: Per round — next RFP round opens late 2026 · RFP rounds (three cycles in the first year; spring and winter calls)

Builder tip: The Foundation favours teams already accountable to existing users and proposals with several projects lined up to adopt the result; RFPs often come from needs raised at the monthly CID Congress calls, so attending previews the next round.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Qualified individuals or teams building utilities, libraries and tooling for content addressing (IPFS and DASL) that answer the round's RFPs; projects must be licensed MIT and/or Apache-2.0.
How to apply: Direct application: submit a proposal of up to two pages (overview, technical design, adoption plan, schedule and budget, team) to the open RFP on ipfsgrants.io/utility-grants before the round deadline.
Work funded fit: dev tooling, infrastructure, public goods
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Year one: three cycles, 9 grants, $200,000 (IPFS Foundation, April 2026).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

7. On-chain treasuries: propose, then win a vote

Many chains keep a treasury that no foundation controls: a share of block rewards or fees flows into an on-chain pool, and token holders, delegates or an elected committee vote on who gets paid. You post a public proposal with scope, budget and milestones, it is debated in the open, and if the vote passes the chain pays you, often in the native token. This fits teams already known in an ecosystem: client and tooling maintainers, infrastructure operators, educators and event organizers. Sizes range from a few hundred dollars in tips to six- and seven-figure spends on Polkadot, Cardano or Cosmos. Most treasuries accept proposals at any time. Zcash's coinholder program and Cardano's Intersect process run on fixed calendars. Expect a deposit or fee to submit (1 DASH, 100 LPT or a Polkadot decision deposit), KYC above set thresholds on some programs, and payment in milestone tranches. What applicants most often get wrong is the order of steps: they go on-chain before winning support on the forum, and the vote fails or never reaches quorum.

20 programs

Polkadot OpenGov Treasury (spend referenda)

Polkadot OpenGov

Per referendum, capped by track: Small Tipper up to 250 DOT, Big Tipper up to 1,000 DOT, Small Spender up to 10,000 DOT, Medium Spender up to 100,000 DOT, Big Spender up to 1,000,000 DOT, Treasurer up to 10M DOT

GrantEquity-freePolkadot

The catch: Every line of the budget is debated in public by DOT holders and delegates, and asks without concrete deliverables are often rejected. Payouts are in DOT (or approved assets like USDT) at the end of a spend period, so the dollar value moves with the market.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Pick the smallest track that fits the ask, since lower tracks carry smaller decision deposits and shorter tipper decision periods, and consider a milestone or retroactive structure so delegates can judge delivered work. The Polkadot Wiki's step-by-step submission guide uses Subsquare.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone with a Polkadot account can propose; there is no entity, country or KYC screen on-chain. You need DOT for the decision deposit (1 DOT on Small Tipper up to 1,000 DOT on Treasurer) and enough voter support to pass.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: post a discussion on Subsquare or the Polkadot Forum, then create the preimage and referendum on the matching spender track through Subsquare and place the decision deposit; DOT holders vote over a 28-day decision period (7 days on the tipper tracks).
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, education/community
Equity taken: None — paid in DOT or an OpenGov-approved Asset Hub asset such as USDT
Who wins: Spends executed in 2026 include Polkadot Mexico's university pilot (referendum 1952, September 2026) and 12 months of ParaSpell XCM tools maintenance (referendum 1916, June 2026).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

OG Rust Bounties (Polkadot Bounty #64)

Polkadot OpenGov (OG Rust curators)

Up to $150,000 per project, paid in DOT priced on a 7-day EMA

GrantEquity-freePolkadot

The catch: Projects longer than two weeks must be split into milestones with verifiable deliverables, and complex tasks may need a technical RFC as milestone 1. Payment is in DOT at a 7-day EMA price, and the curators state decisions are subjective: a sound application can still be rejected if it adds too little value to Polkadot.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Secure the endorsement first and link it: work not requested by the Technical Fellowship or an OpenGov Wish-for-Change is out of scope. Budget milestones of two weeks or less so each can be verified and paid on its own.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Individuals or teams whose task is already endorsed by a reputable Polkadot authority, such as the Technical Fellowship or an OpenGov Wish-for-Change referendum, and who can describe the issue and technical implementation in detail.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: submit the Apply for Funding form at ogrust.com; the five-member curator body decides and pays approved work as child bounties of OpenGov bounty #64 (occasional Calls for Proposals are also announced there).
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling
Equity taken: None — paid in DOT
Who wins: Subsquare lists 46 child-bounty payouts from bounty #64, the most recent in April 2026.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Kusama Treasury (OpenGov) and Kusama Vision bounties

Kusama OpenGov

Per referendum, capped by track: Small Tipper up to 8.25 KSM, Big Tipper up to 33.33 KSM, Small Spender up to 333.33 KSM, Medium Spender up to 3,333.33 KSM, Big Spender up to 33,333.33 KSM, Treasurer up to 333,333.33 KSM

GrantEquity-freePolkadot

The catch: Votes and budgets are public and payouts are in KSM or approved assets, so the value moves with the KSM price. In October 2026 governance was voting to close several inactive Kusama bounties and reject others, so confirm a bounty is active before applying to it.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: If the work fits zero-knowledge proofs, proof of personhood or art and social experiments, apply to the matching Kusama Vision bounty: curators pay child bounties directly, without a separate referendum.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone with a Kusama account; KSM is needed for the decision deposit (0.033 KSM on Small Tipper up to 33.33 KSM on Treasurer). The Kusama Vision bounties take submissions from builders, researchers and artists through their own forms.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: discuss on Kusama Subsquare, then submit a referendum on the right spender track with a decision deposit; KSM holders decide within a 14-day decision period (7 days for tips). For the Kusama Vision bounties, use the submission forms on kusama.network/vision.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, research, education/community
Equity taken: None — paid in KSM or approved Asset Hub assets
Who wins: 2026 executed spends include the Kusama Shield Audit (Big Spender, September 2026), Kusama public RPC funding (May 2026) and the three Kusama Vision multi-asset bounties set up in May 2026.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Project Catalyst

Project Catalyst (Cardano)

Fund15: ₳15,000–60,000 (Cardano Open), ₳15,000–200,000 (Use Cases), ₳250,000–750,000 (Partners), 2,500–10,000 USDM (Midnight); Catalyst Pilot 2026: 2.5M ada fund, 50–200k per project

GrantEquity-freeCardano

The catch: Funding is paid in milestone tranches in ada, so the dollar value moves with the ADA price, and proposals and progress are public. The 2026 Pilot paid 40% upfront, up to 40% on hitting usage targets and 20% if usage held two months later, with usage measured in network fees.

Next deadline: Per round — see official page (no Fund16 window posted; the Pilot selected 12 teams on September 24, 2026) · Funding rounds every few months (Fund14 launched June 2025, Fund15 November 2025, Catalyst Pilot August 2026)

Builder tip: Read your category brief and the Fund Rules before drafting: incomplete or non-compliant proposals are removed at the deadline, and each category has its own minimum and maximum ask. Votes are Yes/Abstain only with cube-root weighting of stake, so broad support beats one large holder.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone can submit to open Fund rounds (up to 2 proposals per applicant in Fund15); the 2026 Pilot was open only to product teams able to go live on Cardano within three months. Awarded teams complete onboarding before the first tranche is paid.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: draft and submit a proposal in the Catalyst App during a fund's submission window; community reviewers assess it and ada holders vote (Fund15 voting ran January 13–27, 2026), and proposals are funded in rank order until each category's budget runs out.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, DeFi, infrastructure, education/community
Equity taken: None — paid in ada (USDM for the Midnight category)
Who wins: Fund14 funded 131 of 1,280 proposals; projectcatalyst.io reports 2,221 proposals funded and $150M+ in total funding.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Cardano Treasury budget process and treasury withdrawals

Cardano on-chain governance (Intersect-facilitated budget process)

Minimum request ₳100,000 in the Intersect budget process; no published maximum (bounded by the Net Change Limit DReps approve)

GrantEquity-freeCardano

The catch: Expect deep public review: DReps compare work packages, KPIs and cost breakdowns, and approved proposals still need an on-chain Treasury Withdrawal vote within the Net Change Limit. Intersect only submits withdrawals for proposals that ask it to administer them, and the 1,000 ada donation is not refunded.

Next deadline: Expected: May 2027 · Annual (proposal intake April–May, DRep voting late May–June)

Builder tip: Structure the budget as work packages tied to a named Cardano 2030 strategy pillar and specific ecosystem KPIs, because the template is built for side-by-side comparison. Treasury withdrawals can also be submitted directly on-chain outside the Intersect process.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Individuals or legal entities that provide verifiable details (registration number, country of incorporation) and pay a non-refundable 1,000 ada treasury donation per proposal from the wallet they submit with.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: submit on Intersect's budget platform during the annual intake, refine it with DRep feedback, and win an off-chain DRep poll with at least 67% support; Intersect then bundles approved proposals into on-chain Treasury Withdrawal governance actions.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, research, dev tooling, education/community
Equity taken: None — treasury withdrawals pay ada

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Algorand xGov Retroactive Grants

Algorand Foundation (xGov)

2,500–300,000 ALGO per proposal

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Retroactive only: what you describe must already be built and working, and the code must be open source when you apply (a post-approval open-sourcing route was being trialled from February 2026). The 3% deposit is slashed if the proposal breaks the terms, and the 100 ALGO account and proposal creation fees are non-refundable.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Fill in the adoption metrics field with real usage numbers such as downloads, since xGovs fund demonstrated use. Each proposer can have only one active proposal at a time, so bundle related work into one request.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: KYC-approved individuals or teams with a fully built, working open-source application whose repo is open and submitted to Electric Capital at the time of application.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: connect a wallet at xgov.algorand.co, pay the 100 ALGO account fee and complete KYC, create the proposal (posting a 3% anti-spam deposit) and its Algorand Forum thread; after at least three weeks of discussion xGovs vote and the xGov Council reviews.
Work funded fit: dev tooling, infrastructure, public goods
Equity taken: None — paid in ALGO

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Cosmos Hub Community Pool spend proposals

Cosmos Hub governance

Varies — check official page (any ATOM or USDC amount the vote approves; e.g. 300,740 USDC to Paxos passed as Proposal 1054 in September 2026)

GrantEquity-freeCosmos

The catch: If the vote passes, the full amount is transferred to the recipient address as soon as voting ends, so price risk and accountability sit with you. Hub write-ups in October 2026 ask future mandates to include offboarding provisions, a clear governance hierarchy and documented custody.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: The Hub docs suggest applying to the Interchain Foundation in parallel and withdrawing that application if the on-chain vote passes. Spell out milestones, custody and what happens to unused funds, since the Hub's 2026 review named missing offboarding terms as the main failure of past mandates.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone; there is no applicant screening, but you need ATOM for the proposal deposit and enough staker and validator support to meet quorum.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: post a draft in the Community Spend category of forum.cosmos.network, revise on feedback, then submit an on-chain community pool spend proposal for ATOM stakers to vote on.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, education/community
Equity taken: None — paid in ATOM or other Community Pool assets on passage
Who wins: Proposal 1054 (ATOM integration on Paxos' brokerage, 300,740 USDC) passed in September 2026.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Akash Community Pool proposals and Community Contributions

Akash Network community

Varies — check official page (no published caps; community pool spends and community contributions are paid in AKT)

GrantEquity-freeCosmos

The catch: Funds are released only if the on-chain vote passes and are paid in AKT, so recipients carry the price risk; the October 2026 funding proposals added an AKT volatility buffer for this. Hourly rates and line items are scrutinized in public.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Use the Community Contributions track for small, well-scoped work such as docs, testnets or Console bug fixes; a full community pool proposal needs staker attention and quorum.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Any individual or team: Community Pool Proposals are permissionless at any scale, and smaller tasks such as docs, testnet management, Console bug fixes or content go through the Community Contributions track.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: discuss the request in Akash's GitHub Discussions (governance best practices, discussion #170), then submit an on-chain community pool spend proposal for AKT stakers to vote on; smaller work follows the contribution guide (discussion #811).
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, AI
Equity taken: None — paid in AKT
Who wins: Three Q3 2026 engineering and support funding proposals (#343–#345) passed in October 2026.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Decentralized Hive Fund (DHF)

Hive blockchain community

Varies — you set a daily HBD amount and duration (funded proposals on PeakD in October 2026 paid 100–540 HBD a day)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Payments stream hourly in HBD only while your proposal's supporting stake stays above the benchmark return proposal; if support drops, payments stop. The fund is fed by 10% of Hive's new supply, and proposals are public and continuously re-voted.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Ask for a modest daily amount over a defined period and line up large stakeholders before launch: funding unlocks only once total supporting stake passes the return proposal, and voters can back as many proposals as they like.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Any Hive account holder can create a proposal; whether it is paid depends entirely on stake-weighted votes.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: publish a post describing the work, create an on-chain proposal through a proposal UI such as peakd.com/proposals or wallet.hive.blog, and gather Hive Power votes until it ranks above the return proposal.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, consumer apps
Equity taken: None — paid in HBD (Hive Backed Dollars)
Who wins: Active proposals in October 2026 include Hive Keychain development (540 HBD a day) and core development year 7.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Dash DAO Treasury (budget proposals)

Dash masternode network

Varies — you set a fixed DASH payment per monthly cycle; the whole budget is 20% of the block subsidy over each cycle

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: The 1 DASH fee is burned and the amount cannot be changed after submission. You need net yes votes of at least 10% of eligible masternode votes, and when passing proposals exceed the budget the least-supported ones get nothing (no partial funding).

Next deadline: Rolling · Monthly (superblock about every 30.29 days)

Builder tip: Votes are counted about three days (1,662 blocks) before each superblock, so set your first payment at least one cycle ahead to leave time to win votes; many proposals also ask for the 1 DASH fee back.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone who can pay the 1 DASH proposal fee, which is burned on submission.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: post a pre-proposal on the Dash Forum, then create the governance object with the generator at proposal.dash.org and the Dash Core wallet (burning 1 DASH); masternodes vote yes, no or abstain.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, payments, education/community
Equity taken: None — paid in DASH directly from the blockchain

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

CKB Community Fund DAO

Nervos community (CKB Community Fund DAO)

Varies — check official page (budgets are requested in CKB; the DAO started with 276,000,000 CKB)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Budgets above $10,000 are paid in stages: the first payment is capped at 20% of the budget and $10,000, with later tranches released against milestone reports posted as [Status Update] threads. Votes are weighted by Nervos DAO deposits, so large CKB holders decide.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Under the published rules a budget vote passes with at least 51% yes and total votes of at least three times the CKB you request, so size the ask to the turnout you can realistically draw. Write in English or Chinese and attach a translation into the other language.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Community members, teams and individuals doing work around the CKB ecosystem (code, events, content); under the published rules the account opening the vote must hold at least 100,000 CKB in the Nervos DAO.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: post a [DIS] proposal in the CKB Community Fund DAO category on Nervos Talk for community review, then move it to a Metaforo vote weighted by Nervos DAO deposits.
Work funded fit: dev tooling, infrastructure, education/community
Equity taken: None — paid in CKB

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Zcash Community Grants (ZCG)

Zcash Community Grants Committee

Varies — check official page (no published cap; about 100,000 ZEC available to the committee)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Applications are reviewed in public on the forum, and milestone payouts depend on completed documentation and forum updates on your grant thread. Larger requests draw more diligence and more milestones, and KYC applies above $50,000.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Post on the forum early and answer questions there: the committee treats the week-plus community review as crowdsourced due diligence and also weighs your previous grant outcomes.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Independent teams and individuals worldwide doing Zcash ecosystem work; the Financial Privacy Foundation checks eligibility, and fiduciaries of grants above $50,000 must complete KYC (they can stay pseudonymous to the public).
How to apply: Proposal and vote: file the ZCG grant application as a GitHub issue and post its link on the Zcash Community Forum; after at least a week of community review the five-member committee decides in its bi-weekly meeting, with approval needing 3 of 5 votes.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, education/community, research
Equity taken: None — grants requested in USD

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Zcash Coinholder-Directed Retroactive Grants Program

Zcash coinholders (administered by the Financial Privacy Foundation)

Varies — check official page (requests in USD from the Coinholder-Controlled Fund; partial funding possible)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Strictly retroactive: the program pays for finished work, not plans. A vote only counts if at least 420,000 ZEC participates (ZIP 1016), and FPF contacts funded grantees about KYC and the disbursement schedule after results.

Next deadline: Nov 13, 2026 · Quarterly rounds (two-week call for proposals, one-month review, two-week vote)

Builder tip: Do not file before the call opens (FPF asks applicants to wait for the announcement), and link the shipped work so coinholders can verify it themselves during the review month.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone with completed, publicly verifiable work for the Zcash ecosystem; the Financial Privacy Foundation runs KYC for grants above $50,000 before disbursement.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: during the call for proposals, submit the proposal template as an issue in FPF's ZcashCoinholderGrantsProgram GitHub repo and post it in the Retroactive Grants forum category; after a month-long review, ZEC holders vote on each proposal.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, security, research, education/community
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Q3 2026: 17 of 37 proposals funded (FPF results post, September 29, 2026).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Nouns DAO proposals

Nouns DAO

Varies — check official page (whatever the proposal's on-chain transactions request from the treasury)

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Proposals pass by simple majority only if they clear a dynamic quorum that rises with each against vote (108 up to 162 votes), and take at least 9 days from proposal to execution. Everything, including the payment transactions, is public on-chain.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Choose sponsors whose voting power will hold: if the combined votes of proposer and sponsors fall below the threshold, anyone can cancel the proposal, and each account can have only one active proposal at a time.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone can post a proposal candidate; it becomes a proposal once sponsor signatures from Noun voters meet the proposal threshold (3 votes per the Nouns docs).
How to apply: Proposal and vote: publish a proposal candidate on nouns.wtf, gather feedback and sponsor signatures from Noun holders to reach the threshold, then Nouns vote during a 4-day voting period.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, education/community, public goods
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Livepeer community treasury (proposals, direct and retroactive grants)

Livepeer community treasury

Retroactive grants up to $5,000 per application; larger treasury proposals request LPT with no published cap

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Payment is in LPT released by the governor contract after a passing vote, and recipients are expected to deliver the scope and report progress publicly. The docs warn that proposals not worked through forum feedback are unlikely to reach quorum.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: For shipped work under $5,000, use the Retroactive Grant Applications category: there is no upfront approval, but the network must already be using what you built. For bigger asks the docs say line-item budgets, a delivery record and ongoing reporting are what tend to pass.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone; on-chain treasury proposals need 100 LPT to submit to LivepeerGovernor (returned if the proposal passes) and some ETH on Arbitrum One for gas. Retroactive grants are for contributors whose work the network already uses.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: post a Request for Feedback in the LIPs category of forum.livepeer.org, lock scope, recipient and LPT amount, then submit to LivepeerGovernor; bonded LPT votes over about nine days with a 33% quorum. Small shipped work can go to the forum's Retroactive Grant Applications category instead.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, AI, dev tooling
Equity taken: None — paid in LPT

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Hydration OpenGov treasury spends and tips

Hydration

Varies — check official page (HDX tips and treasury spends on governance tracks with their own limits)

GrantEquity-freePolkadot

The catch: Tip requests must state the hours spent, the HDX amount and the contribution period, and the beneficiary must be the account that opened the Subsquare thread. Funding is not guaranteed and all votes are public.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: For work already shipped, a treasury tip is the lightest path: link the PR, log the hours, and if you hold no HDX someone else can submit the tip on-chain for you.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Contributors with an HDX account; a tip request needs only a Subsquare thread linked to the receiving account, while a treasury referendum needs a decision deposit in HDX.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: publish a Discussion on hydration.subsquare.io (Treasury tab), then submit a tip request on-chain or create a treasury spend referendum on the matching track and pay the decision deposit for HDX holders to vote.
Work funded fit: DeFi, infrastructure, dev tooling
Equity taken: None — paid in HDX or other treasury assets
Who wins: Treasurer-track spends executed in October 2026 include Dwellir's Q3 2026 public RPC service and a DIA oracle services tip.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Monero Community Crowdfunding System (CCS)

Monero Project

Varies — you set the XMR target (proposals in Funding Required in 2026 asked for 25–85 XMR)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Funding is crowdfunded and not guaranteed, and you must promote your own proposal. Donations sit with the Core Team in escrow and are released per completed milestone with a written report; overfunded or unclaimed XMR goes to the Monero General Fund.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Never put your own donation address in the proposal, which the rules forbid, and split the work into milestones you can report on, because payouts happen only milestone by milestone.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Any individual or team with an idea that improves the Monero ecosystem; all work must be permissively licensed at every stage.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: open a merge request with your proposal in the CCS Proposals repository on Monero's GitLab; once the community reaches loose consensus the Core Team merges it and community donors fund it.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, security
Equity taken: None — paid in XMR

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Decred Treasury (Politeia proposals)

Decred stakeholders

Varies — budgets set in USD and paid in DCR at the payout exchange rate; total treasury spending capped at 4% of the treasury per month (DCP-0013)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Amounts are fixed in USD but paid in DCR, so the coin amount varies with price, and claims are paid as deliverables are completed (handled by Decred Holdings Group for now). Every proposal and vote is public.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Price the work in USD with milestones and a draw schedule in the When section, as the guidelines require, and show prior work: stakeholders vote on whether you can deliver.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone with a Politeia account (0.1 DCR registration) can submit; funding proposals must include a total budget, duration, deliverables and a reporting commitment, and ongoing services need an end date.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: submit a proposal on proposals.decred.org (0.1 DCR fee) using the What/Why/How/Who/When template, revise it during community discussion, then authorize a one-week ticket vote that needs 20% quorum and 60% yes.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, security, education/community
Equity taken: None — paid in DCR
Who wins: Approved proposals for 2026 include the Bug Bounty Program 2026 (92% approval) and Decred Vanguard 2026 (91%), per the Politeia listing on Decred's dcrdata explorer.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Firo Funding System

Firo community (Community Fund Committee)

Varies — you set the FIRO target (proposals created in 2026 ranged from 333 to 11,000 FIRO)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Funding is not guaranteed: a proposal has to raise its FIRO target, and funds are paid out as milestones are met before it moves to Completed. Proposals and progress are tracked in public on the funding site.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Start as an Idea and let discussion settle the scope before asking for money; only approved ideas that a developer has taken on move to the fundraising stage.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone with a funding.firo.org account can create a funding proposal.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: pitch the work as an Idea on funding.firo.org for community discussion; approved ideas picked up by a developer or team move to Funding Required for community fundraising and then to Work in Progress.
Work funded fit: dev tooling, infrastructure, consumer apps
Equity taken: None — paid in FIRO

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Deep Funding (SingularityNET DEEP Projects)

SingularityNET Foundation

Varies by round and pool (e.g. BGI Nexus 1 in 2025: $500,000 pool; 2025 RFPs: $140,000–$350,000 total per RFP)

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Payments are released only as each milestone in your proposal is approved, after KYC and a signed contract. Round proposals are public and community-voted, while RFP proposals stay confidential until submissions close.

Next deadline: Per round — see official page · Seasons twice a year (funding rounds), plus RFPs with their own deadlines

Builder tip: Check the RFP list before an open round: each RFP publishes its budget, timeline and number of awards, which gives a clearer target than a general round.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone who submits a proposal aligned with SingularityNET's beneficial-AI mission that grows its decentralized AI platform or the OpenCog Hyperon framework; awardees complete KYC and sign a contract.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: submit a proposal on deep-projects.ai during a funding round, where proposals are community-reviewed and voted, or respond to an open RFP, where the RFP team and community experts select.
Work funded fit: AI, dev tooling, research
Equity taken: None — milestone payments
Who wins: BGI Nexus 1 (February–April 2025) awarded 10 projects from a $500,000 pool.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

8. Public goods: retroactive and quadratic funding

Public-goods funding pays for open-source work that everyone uses and no one sells: clients, libraries, indexers, docs, privacy tools and local communities. The money comes in three shapes. Quadratic-funding rounds match small donations from a pool, so a hundred $5 donors can outweigh one whale. Retroactive rounds reward impact you have already shipped and can measure. Ongoing mechanisms such as Protocol Guild, monthly Drips Waves and Filecoin's ProPGF batches pay maintainers continuously or per milestone. Awards range from a few hundred dollars of QF matching to $300K ProPGF grants, and are usually paid in ETH, FIL or stablecoins after KYC. Rounds come and go: Optimism paused Retro Funding in 2026, ENS closed its public-goods grants in July, and Gitcoin is rethinking its rounds. Check that a round is live before you plan around it. Most applicants get one thing wrong: they treat a QF round as an application to be judged, when the result depends on how many distinct people they bring to donate.

9 programs

Gitcoin Grants (quadratic funding rounds)

Gitcoin DAO

Varies — check official page (GG24 in October 2025 distributed $1.8M across six domains; GG23 in April 2025 distributed $1.4M)

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Matching depends on how many unique, sybil-checked donors back you, and payouts take a few weeks after a round while donations are checked. In 2026 Gitcoin proposed sunsetting the Gitcoin Grants name and refocusing its rounds, so the format and focus of the next round are not settled.

Next deadline: Per round — see official page (no Ethereum open-source round announced since GG24; in 2026 Gitcoin is moving its matching pool toward local, real-world public goods) · Rounds once or twice a year (GG23 April 2025, GG24 October 2025)

Builder tip: Build your donor base before the round opens: quadratic funding multiplies projects with broad support, so many small donors count for more than a few large ones.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Projects that meet the eligibility criteria of a specific round; GG24's domains included developer tooling and infrastructure, privacy, interop, local funding and bioregional work.
How to apply: Direct application: apply to a round during its application period, pass Gitcoin's review against the round criteria, then rally donors during the crowdfunding window; matching funds are distributed by quadratic funding.
Work funded fit: public goods, dev tooling, infrastructure
Equity taken: None
Who wins: GG24 distributed $1.8M across six domains (October 2025).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Octant funding epochs

Golem Foundation (Octant)

Varies — quadratic funding from an ETH matching pool (Epoch 12: 200 WETH; Epoch 13: 100 WETH); you state a USD funding goal

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Accepted teams complete KYC/KYB before the round and, in Epoch 13, attended a week-long virtual accelerator and had to market themselves during the allocation window. The payout address cannot be changed in Atlas after launch without contacting the Octant team.

Next deadline: Per round — see official page (Epoch 14 not announced; Epoch 13 applications ran August 11–September 10, 2026) · Rounds several times a year (Epoch 12 ended June 2026, Epoch 13 October 2026)

Builder tip: Get on Octant's radar between rounds, because new projects need an invitation code to register on Atlas. Check the epoch theme before investing time: Epoch 13 accepted only projects where privacy was a core property.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Projects invited onto Octant Atlas; Epoch 13 required working software or hardware with verifiable users and open-source core code, excluded pre-launch projects, and counted more than $1M raised in the last 12 months against applicants. KYC/KYB is required before the round.
How to apply: Pitch gate: tell Octant about your project at octant.build/projects; invited projects register on Octant Atlas (apply.octant.app) with an invitation code, verify the project and publish an application while a round is open.
Work funded fit: public goods, infrastructure, research
Equity taken: None — paid in WETH
Who wins: Epoch 13 funded 13 projects from a 100 WETH pool; Octant reports 340+ projects funded across 25+ rounds and programs.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Giveth Quadratic Funding Rounds

Giveth

Per round: Ethereum Security QF round (April–May 2026) 637.43 ETH matching pool with a 5% per-project cap; Stellar round (September–October 2026) $50,000 in XLM with $4,000 max per project

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2sother chains

The catch: Only donations on the round's eligible networks count toward matching, and donors must pass a Human Passport check; quid-pro-quo incentives, recirculated funds or sybil donations lose matching. Results are posted on the Giveth forum about 2–3 weeks after a round before funds are sent.

Next deadline: Per round — see official page · Rounds several times a year, each with its own sponsor and network

Builder tip: Set a valid recipient address for every network the round lists before applying, since the form requires it, and get donors to verify their Passport early: unverified donations still arrive but are not matched.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Projects with a Giveth project page that meet each round's own criteria (the Ethereum Security round used Ethereum Foundation criteria and accepted 134 of 250+ applicants); accepted projects in sponsor rounds submit KYC.
How to apply: Direct application: create a project on giveth.io, then apply to the specific round on the QF application page (qf.giveth.io/qf/apply) during its application period.
Work funded fit: public goods, security, education/community
Equity taken: None — matching paid in the round's token
Who wins: The Ethereum Security QF Round (April 23–May 14, 2026) matched 134 projects from a 637.43 ETH pool with 3,934 unique donors.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Protocol Guild

Varies — share of pooled donations set by each member's time weight, vesting linearly over 4 years

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Funds flow through an on-chain split and vest linearly over 4 years, and your share depends on your time weight. Membership requires work under an OSI-approved licence and an ongoing presence in Ethereum R&D or governance venues.

Next deadline: Rolling · Quarterly membership updates on-chain

Builder tip: You cannot apply directly: once you pass six months of continuous core work, ask a member on your team to nominate you, and have the contribution links and a 3–4 sentence summary ready for the pull request.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Ethereum L1 core protocol contributors in research, client development or upgrade support with at least 6 months of continuous, roughly full-time open-source work (20–40 hours a week counts at half weight).
How to apply: Nomination: an existing member opens a pull request to the Protocol Guild documentation repo with your team, proposed weight and links to your work; after at least a week of discussion, members merge or reject it by rough consensus.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, research, public goods
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 190 contributors across 47 core repositories (protocolguild.org).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Drips Wave (Stellar Wave)

Drips (Stellar Wave Program)

Varies — each Wave's budget is split by Points earned (Wave 10, October 2026: $75,000)

PrizeEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Rewards are split by each eligible contributor's share of Points, so the payout per issue is not fixed until the Wave ends. Read the Terms & Rules before contributing; rejected repo applications can now be appealed.

Next deadline: Expected: November 2026 · Monthly (7-day contribution sprint each month)

Builder tip: Maintainers: write tightly scoped issues before a Wave opens, since Drips' maintainer guide says clear issues attract the right contributors and cut back-and-forth.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Open-source contributors who solve issues in participating Stellar-ecosystem repositories during a Wave, and maintainers who enroll their repos; contributors must accept the Wave Terms & Rules.
How to apply: Registration: join a Wave on drips.network/wave/stellar, pick issues in participating repos during the 7-day window and get your fixes merged to earn Points.
Work funded fit: public goods, dev tooling
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 10 Waves run in 2026 across 848 repos from 539 organizations.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

DoraHacks quadratic funding grants (AEZ Quadratic Grant and ecosystem Grant DAOs)

DoraHacks

Per round and ecosystem; e.g. AEZ Quadratic Grant Round 7 (May–October 2025): 8,000 ATOM quadratic matching pool plus 20,000 USDC distributed by MACI voting

GrantEquity-freeCosmosother chains

The catch: Matching depends on community contributions and votes and is subject to anti-sybil checks before results. Active BUIDLs roll into later rounds but are archived if they stop updating or raise major outside funding, and the AEZ page warns that the USDC side of the pool depended on AADAO, which announced its sunset.

Next deadline: Per round — see official page (AEZ Round 8 submissions are listed as open on the round page) · Rounds several times a year per ecosystem; AEZ submissions stay open between rounds

Builder tip: Keep your BUIDL updated between rounds: approved AEZ projects carry into the next round automatically while active, so continued updates keep earning matching.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: BUIDLs with a GitHub repo building in the sponsoring ecosystem; each round sets its own rules (AEZ funds public goods and appchains contributing to Cosmos; Aptos Grant DAO rounds excluded teams that had raised Series A). DoraHacks runs due diligence on grantees.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: create a BUIDL on dorahacks.io and submit it to the ecosystem's grant round (dorahacks.io/aez for Cosmos); after review, the community votes with tokens through quadratic funding and MACI quadratic voting.
Work funded fit: public goods, infrastructure, dev tooling
Equity taken: None — paid in the ecosystem's token or USDC
Who wins: AEZ Round 6 (April–May 2025) funded 11 grantees; Round 7 drew 429 contributors.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Filecoin ProPGF (Proactive Public Goods Funding)

Filecoin ProPGF (Protocol Labs Filecoin Impact Fund)

Batch 3 General Track: $2M total, $300K soft cap per project, about $200K average grant, six-month default horizon

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: All grants are milestone-based, with KYC/KYB before payouts and progress tracked publicly on Karma with bi-weekly reporting. Batch 3 scored proposals against Filecoin's 2026 network objectives, which favor paid on-chain usage over raw storage capacity.

Next deadline: Per batch — see official page · Periodic funding batches (Batch 3 applications ran late May to mid-June 2026)

Builder tip: Map the proposal to one of the three objectives (Kernel, Revenue Development, R&D) first, since the application, evaluation and payout schedule follow from it, and anchor RFP-track submissions to a published RFP.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Companies, builder collectives and independent projects that maintain Filecoin core infrastructure or respond to published RFPs; selected projects complete KYC/KYB before payouts.
How to apply: Direct application: apply on filpgf.io during a batch window (Batch 3: May 26–June 16, 2026); applications go through an AI-assisted shortlist, Selection Committee vetting and final allocation.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, public goods
Equity taken: None — milestone-based grants
Who wins: Batch 3: 19 of 81 applicants funded, about $1.4M committed through December 2026.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

FIL-RetroPGF

FIL-RetroPGF (Filecoin community; supported by Blueshift Foundation)

Round 3 (2025): 585,000 FIL pool allocated by badgeholder vote

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: Strictly retroactive: only impact inside the round's window counts. Funds are distributed in phases through Drip Lists in FIL, so the value moves with the FIL price.

Next deadline: Per round — see official page (no Round 4 posted) · Recurring rounds (Round 3 ran September–November 2025)

Builder tip: Bring numbers: Round 3 evaluated measurable network utilization, data retrievability and on-chain economic activity, so quantify usage rather than describing features.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Projects with demonstrated impact on the Filecoin ecosystem during the round's impact window (Round 3: November 2024–September 2025), in categories from infrastructure and tooling to education, governance and end-user UX.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: post the project in the round's Project Showcase, then submit the intake form on Drips; badgeholders review and vote to allocate the pool.
Work funded fit: public goods, infrastructure, dev tooling, education/community
Equity taken: None — paid in FIL via Drips
Who wins: Earlier rounds rewarded 194 projects; Round 3 allocated 585,000 FIL.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Localism Fund grant rounds

Localism Fund

Per round; e.g. Round 02 Local Meetups LATAM: $30,000 pool, $3,000 per network for a year of meetups, paid in quarterly tranches

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Grants are paid in tranches after quarterly review and reporting, and grantees follow pre-event, post-event and quarterly checklists. Ticket sizes are small.

Next deadline: Per round — see official page · Themed rounds (Round 02 applications November–December 2025)

Builder tip: Show a year-long plan rather than a single event: Round 02 asked for consistent recurring meetups, local community involvement and a path to sustainability beyond Ethereum Foundation support.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Credible local networks and place-based groups using Ethereum; each round adds its own criteria (Round 02 funded LATAM organizers hosting non-commercial, open, recurring meetups).
How to apply: Direct application: apply through the round page on localism.fund during its application window; the Localism Fund Expert Network and round partners evaluate against published criteria.
Work funded fit: education/community, public goods
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

9. Cryptography, zero-knowledge and academic research

Research money in crypto comes from three kinds of funders: protocol foundations paying for science they need (Stellar, Avalanche, Ethereum, Sui, IOG), public funders that support cryptography and security without naming blockchains (NSF, and the EU through NLnet), and bounty programmes that pay for breaking or proving things (the Ethereum Foundation's Poseidon and Proximity prizes, Zama's FHE seasons). A foundation award is typically $25,000 to $150,000, enough for one student or postdoc for a year; an NSF research grant can reach $1.2 million; prizes run from a few thousand dollars to $1 million. Cadence is mostly quarterly or annual, plus themed calls that open and close within weeks. Many academic awards are paid to your university rather than to you, often as an unrestricted gift, while foundation programmes may pay in ETH or stablecoins. The most common mistake is sending a literature review or a product pitch: these programmes want a novel, publishable result with a clear method, open-access output and, for several, a promise not to patent.

10 programs

SDF Academic Research Grants

Stellar Development Foundation

Up to $150,000 per proposal (budget cap; the page says funded proposals have averaged roughly $75,000), sized for one graduate student or postdoc for 12 months plus expenses such as conference travel

GrantEquity-freeother chains

The catch: The proposal must include a statement of intent not to patent the results and describe the PI's patenting track record. Each PI may submit at most two proposals per calendar year; past SDF awardees must add a page on outcomes, and resubmissions must explain what changed.

Next deadline: Dec 31, 2026 · Quarterly rounds (deadlines March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31)

Builder tip: SDF names privacy-preserving payments with regulatory compliance, formal verification, Federated Byzantine Agreement and empirical studies of the Stellar network among its topics; tie the proposal to one and name the student or postdoc who will do the work. Literature reviews are explicitly out of scope.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Researchers with PI status at a degree-granting institution whose primary mission is research or higher education. Students, consultants, for-profit businesses and non-degree-granting institutions are not eligible (SDF points them to the Stellar Community Fund). Awards go to institutions only, never to individuals. No country restriction is stated.
How to apply: Direct application: submit a PDF proposal of no more than 3 pages through the form linked on research.stellar.org/research-grants; questions go to [email protected].
Work funded fit: research
Equity taken: None — paid as an unrestricted gift to your university
Who wins: The grantees page lists 16 awards across the four 2025 quarters and 6 more in Q1–Q2 2026, mostly cryptography, zero-knowledge, consensus and formal-verification projects.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Aztec Requests for Grant Proposals (RFGP)

Aztec Foundation

Varies by RFGP — recent examples: US$60,000 split across 2–3 teams (application state migration, January 2026) and up to $75,000 for one team (Dark Forest port, December 2025)

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Submissions are public and released on an open-source basis, not treated as confidential. Windows are short (about two weeks to propose and six to ten weeks to deliver, with hard delivery deadlines), and the Foundation decides awards at its sole discretion.

Next deadline: Per RFGP — see official page (no open RFGP was found on 2026-10-24) · Per RFGP (posted on the Aztec forum as needs arise; two were posted between December 2025 and January 2026)

Builder tip: Each RFGP lists must-haves and out-of-scope items (the state-migration call rejected any design that made the Aztec Foundation a trust anchor); follow the exact format with 3–5 milestones and a justified budget, and post early because teams were selected within days of the deadline.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Teams with the relevant zero-knowledge, Noir or application experience; the RFGP posts set no country or entity rule, and one team may submit several proposals.
How to apply: Direct application: answer an open RFGP by creating a new post on forum.aztec.network tagged rfgp (plus the RFGP's own tag) in the requested format, then link it in a comment on the RFGP thread.
Work funded fit: research, dev tooling, consumer apps
Equity taken: None
Who wins: The state-migration RFGP drew proposals from at least six teams and was awarded to Raven House and Cardinal Cryptography on January 28, 2026.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Security, Privacy, and Trust in Cyberspace (SaTC 2.0)

U.S. National Science Foundation

RES: up to $1,200,000 over up to 4 years; EDU: up to $500,000 over up to 3 years (+$100,000 for education-research teams); SEED: up to $300,000 over up to 2 years for Dear Colleague Letter topics

GrantEquity-freeany

The catch: Standard NSF award terms with annual and final project reports; RES budgets above $600,000 must add Broadening Participation in Computing and collaboration plans. Proposals that push a person over the participation limit are returned without review. Blockchain is not named in the solicitation, so the work has to stand as cryptography, privacy or trust research.

Next deadline: Jan 25, 2027 · Twice a year (target dates the last Monday in January and the last Monday in September); proposals accepted anytime

Builder tip: The solicitation names cryptography among its foundational areas and privacy-enhancing technologies among its topics, so zk-proof, MPC or consensus-security work fits a RES proposal; companies can take part as funded consultants or with letters of collaboration, but not as the proposer.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S.-accredited universities and colleges with a U.S. campus, and U.S. non-profit research organizations. PIs need a tenured, tenure-track or full-time research or teaching appointment at a U.S. campus; people whose primary appointment is at a for-profit company cannot be PI, co-PI or senior personnel. Each person may be on at most four SaTC proposals in 12 months (two RES, one EDU, one SEED).
How to apply: Direct application: submit a full proposal under solicitation NSF 25-515 through Research.gov or Grants.gov under the RES, EDU or SEED designation.
Work funded fit: research, security
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

NSF SBIR/STTR (America's Seed Fund) — Distributed Ledger topic

U.S. National Science Foundation

Phase I up to $305,000 (6–18 months); Phase II up to $1,250,000 (typically 24 months); Fast-Track combines both (the solicitation gives the cap as $1,555,555 in one place and $1,555,000 in another); NSF's topic page says up to $2 million in total seed funding

GrantEquity-freeany

The catch: U.S.-only: all funded work, including contractors, must happen in the U.S., and the company must meet SBA small-business ownership rules. One proposal per company and per PI per deadline, and at most two Project Pitches per company in 12 months; federal award compliance and reporting apply.

Next deadline: Expected: March 2027 · Three deadlines a year (first Wednesday of July and November, first Thursday of March) · Set an alert ↗

Builder tip: The topic accepts any industry application of blockchains, DAGs, cryptography or smart contracts, but reviewers score technological innovation, broader impacts and commercial potential, so pitch the technical risk the money will retire rather than a token or protocol launch. Send the Project Pitch weeks ahead, because the full proposal needs the invitation.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S. small businesses with fewer than 500 employees including affiliates; at least 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents and not majority-owned by multiple VC, PE or hedge funds; all funded work done in the U.S. The PI needs the right to work in the U.S. and, under NSF 26-510, must be primarily employed (at least 51%) by the company (the older topic page still says 20 hours a week; the solicitation governs).
How to apply: Pitch gate: submit a Project Pitch at seedfund.nsf.gov; if NSF invites you (an invitation is valid for the next two deadlines), submit the full Phase I proposal under NSF 26-510 through Research.gov.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, research
Equity taken: None — NSF takes no equity and the company keeps its IP

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

NLnet Restack fund (Open Internet Stack)

NLnet Foundation

€5,000–€50,000 for a first grant, with scope to scale up significantly for proven potential; the fund will award €7 million in total through 2030

GrantEquity-freeany

The catch: Everything you produce must be released under a recognised free or open-source licence, and scientific results must be open access. The proposal needs a budget broken down by task, effort and rates, and if generative AI helped write it you must disclose that and submit your prompts.

Next deadline: Closed — next cycle TBD · Every two months (deadline on the 3rd of every odd month, 12:00 CET) · Set an alert ↗

Builder tip: Restack is about the open internet stack and never mentions blockchains, so pitch protocol, cryptographic-library, secure-device or supply-chain-security work on its own merits; a first proposal under €50,000 with a clear task budget is the usual entry point.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Individuals, collectives, associations, foundations, universities, public bodies, cooperatives, SMEs and companies. EU-funded calls require a strong European dimension: applicants are usually mostly from Horizon Europe-eligible countries, and others must explain how they meet it. AI-related projects are out of scope except one narrow exception.
How to apply: Direct application: fill in the short proposal form at nlnet.nl/propose, choosing the Restack call, before a deadline.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, security, public goods
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Its predecessor, the NGI Zero Commons Fund, announced 62 grants in June 2025 and 29 in October 2025, with a dedicated cryptography, protocols and proofs category.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

EF Academic Grants (Academic Grants Round and PhD Fellowship)

Ethereum Foundation

Varies by call — the 2025 Academic Grants Round had $2 million in total; the 2026 call was a PhD Fellowship paying $24,000 over one year to each of 9–10 fellows

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Output must be formal academic research released open access under a free and permissive licence, and the 2026 fellowship also required proof of submission to a conference or journal. EF grants are paid on-chain in ETH by default after identity verification and a signed grant letter.

Next deadline: Expected: April 2027 · Annual call (opens January–February, closes March–April)

Builder tip: Each call has its own topic list: 2025 favoured cryptography, consensus, P2P, formal verification and economics, while 2026 leaned toward institutional design, governance and decentralized AI, so map the proposal to the current wishlist or RFP item. Decisions arrive about six weeks after the deadline.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: 2025 round: individual researchers with academic backgrounds, universities, research centres and think tanks (undergraduates needed a postdoctoral advisor). 2026 PhD Fellowship: students actively enrolled in a PhD programme. No country limit is stated; the 2025 round excluded projects with a planned token launch or public funding round.
How to apply: Direct application: during the call window, submit an English PDF proposal on the provided template, with budget, timeline, applicant profile and a link to published work, through the round page on esp.ethereum.foundation.
Work funded fit: research
Equity taken: None — paid in ETH by default
Who wins: The 2024 round funded 41 projects totalling $1,786,137, of which $532,625 went to cryptography and zero-knowledge proofs.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Poseidon Cryptanalysis Initiative (bounties, attack rewards and grants)

Ethereum Foundation

Attack Reward Program 2026: $90,000 fund, minimum $5,000 per paper; Bounty Program 2026: $150,000 total; Poseidon1 collision prize: $64,000–$512,000 per open milestone ($992,000 budget, paused since August 1, 2026); 2026 short-term grants were $20,000–$40,000

PrizeEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Most bounties are first come, first win, and the technical report is due within a month with report and code public by January 1, 2027. Several sub-programmes are already finished or paused (CICO, zero-test, density, collision prize), and nothing beyond December 2026 has been announced.

Next deadline: Dec 31, 2026 · Yearly bounty, attack-reward and grant programmes within the initiative; the current phase ends in December 2026

Builder tip: The money still open is mainly the Attack Reward Program: an ePrint paper that improves on the survey's reduced-round attacks on Poseidon-256, Poseidon-64 or Poseidon-31 can earn at least $5,000. Verifiers and sample solvers are in the khovratovich/poseidon-tools repository on GitHub.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone except the Poseidon designers; the standard EF small-grant rules apply to the grants. Bounty and prize claims must come with a public technical report and code.
How to apply: Direct application: email solutions or papers to the EF Poseidon team at the address on poseidon-initiative.info; short-term grants are applied for on the Ethereum Foundation website when open.
Work funded fit: research, security
Equity taken: None
Who wins: The q=3 collision milestone ($32,000) was claimed in April 2026, and all three 2026 CICO bounties ($6,000–$15,000) were solved by July 2026.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Proximity Prize

Ethereum Foundation

$1,000,000 in awards for proving or disproving two Reed–Solomon grand challenges (mutual correlated agreement and list decoding)

PrizeEquity-freeany

The catch: Only peer-reviewed, publicly posted work counts, and the first public version sets the timestamp. Conflicts of interest must be disclosed, and the problem statements are marked preliminary, so details may change; formal verification in a proof assistant such as Lean is encouraged but not required.

Next deadline: Dec 31, 2027 · Standing prize (open until December 31, 2027)

Builder tip: Start from the companion paper, Open Problems in List Decoding and Correlated Agreement (Arnon, Boneh and Fenzi, IACR ePrint 2026/680), which formalises both challenges; disproofs count too, since the prize rewards proving or disproving the conjectures.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone except the prize judges; any award is shared equally among the named authors unless the submission says otherwise.
How to apply: Direct application: email the paper to [email protected] once it has been accepted at a reputable peer-reviewed conference or journal and posted on IACR ePrint or arXiv.
Work funded fit: research
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Zama Developer Program (Builder, Bounty and Special Bounty tracks)

Zama

Per season, paid in cUSDT: Season 3 paid 7,000 cUSDT across 5 Builder winners (2,500 for first), 3,000 cUSDT for the Bounty Track and 2,500 cUSDT for the Special Bounty; Season 5 splits 5,000 cUSDT among the top 5 projects by real on-chain usage. The developer hub lists grants of up to $7,000 (Builder) and $5,000 (Bounty)

PrizeEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Rewards arrive in cUSDT, Zama's confidential ERC-7984 token, so you need a wallet that can decrypt and unwrap it. Prize pools are split at the judges' discretion (an exceptional project can take the whole pool), and Season 5 ranks projects on real on-chain usage.

Next deadline: Nov 23, 2026 · Seasons every one to three months (Season 1 February, Season 2 April–May, Season 3 May–July, Season 4 July–September, Season 5 October–November)

Builder tip: Recent seasons reward production polish over proofs of concept: Season 4 judged UX and engineering and offered the strongest entry an OpenZeppelin audit toward production. Tracks are separate, so one team can enter Builder, Bounty and Special Bounty in the same season.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Developers building confidential applications with the Zama Protocol (FHEVM); Solidity experience is expected. The programme pages state no country, KYC or entity rule.
How to apply: Registration: build to the season's challenge, deploy on Sepolia (or on mainnet for Season 5, which needs a Relayer API key requested at forms.zama.org), and submit through the season's form before the deadline.
Work funded fit: dev tooling, DeFi, consumer apps
Equity taken: None — rewards paid in confidential USDT (cUSDT)

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Input | Output Research Cardano Vision call for proposals

Input Output (IOG)

Varies — check official page (no per-proposal amount is published)

GrantEquity-freeCardano

The catch: Work must fit one of the call's themes; the 2026-cycle themes were domain-specific languages for smart contracts, global identity, proof of useful work and effective TPS metrics. IOR runs research through stage-gated go/no-go reviews aimed at prototypes and Cardano Improvement Proposals.

Next deadline: Per call — see official page (no 2027-cycle call is posted) · Thematic calls under the multi-year Cardano Vision programme (the 2026-cycle call ran November 17–December 16, 2025)

Builder tip: Read the four thematic sections of the call document before writing: proposals had to align with a theme and show clear scientific contribution and feasibility, and the shortlist was interviewed in mid-January, about a month after the deadline.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Academics, research groups and consortia; no country limit is stated.
How to apply: Pitch gate: submit an expression of interest following the call document linked from the iog.io announcement; shortlisted applicants are interviewed before final evaluation.
Work funded fit: research
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

10. Audit subsidies and bug bounties

Security money for builders comes in two shapes. Audit subsidies cut the bill for a professional smart contract audit: the Ethereum Foundation, Uniswap Foundation, Arbitrum Foundation and Scroll cover anywhere from part of the cost to 100% of it, almost always paid to the auditor through a marketplace such as Areta rather than to your team, and the Solana Foundation funds evaluations, monitoring and formal verification for larger DeFi protocols. Most run monthly cohorts or rolling review and expect an audit-ready codebase and quotes in hand. Bug bounties pay researchers who find and privately report vulnerabilities, from a few thousand dollars for low-severity issues to $1 million to $15.5 million for critical ones, usually in USDC after KYC and a working proof of concept. A few funds, such as TheDAO Security Fund and OpenSats' Red Team Fund, pay for shared security work or research costs instead. The common mistake is reading "subsidy" as free money: some set a fixed-dollar discount, cap the share they cover, or, like Scroll's, take a 1–2% stake and require exclusivity.

13 programs

Ethereum Security Subsidy Program

Ethereum Foundation

Up to 30% of audit cost, as a fixed-dollar subsidy (e.g. $10,000 or 30%, whichever is lower); $1M program

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: The subsidy is a discount on an offer from one of the marketplace's 20+ auditors, funded by the participating audit providers rather than paid to your team, so you still pay at least 70% of the audit. Its size depends on the strength of the application and the estimated audit cost.

Next deadline: Expected: Nov 14, 2026 · Monthly cohorts (applications due by the 14th of each month)

Builder tip: Get competing quotes on the marketplace before applying: the subsidy is set from your estimated audit cost and can be applied to any provider offer on the platform, so a scoped audit request makes the application concrete.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Any project building on Ethereum mainnet, regardless of size or stage, with priority for teams aligned with the CROPS principles; an expert committee with representatives of the Ethereum Foundation, Chainlink Labs and Nethermind Security reviews applications.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the subsidy application form (areta.fillout.com) and an audit request on ethereum.areta.market by the 14th of the month for that month's cohort.
Work funded fit: security
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Uniswap Foundation Security Fund (UFSF)

Uniswap Foundation

Up to 100% of a professional smart contract audit, plus a pre-audit security scan and security guidance

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: The subsidy covers audit fees with an auditor you choose from Areta's vetted providers; no cash goes to your team. Only complete applications are reviewed and no extensions are given.

Next deadline: Open now — no deadline listed · Monthly cohorts (applications due the 7th of each month)

Builder tip: Cohort calls go out on the UFSF announcement thread around the 1st with a hard close on the 7th, so have your audit scope and codebase ready before the month starts; questions go to the UFSF applicants Telegram group.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Projects building in the Uniswap ecosystem; the program team names Uniswap v4 hooks, Unichain deployments and Trading API integrations as the main focus. No country limits are published.
How to apply: Direct application: complete the UFSF form at areta.fillout.com/ufsf-projects by the 7th of the month (23:59 UTC) and submit your audit request on Areta's marketplace.
Work funded fit: security, DeFi
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 30+ projects supported by August 2026 (UFSF announcement thread on gov.uniswap.org).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Scroll Security Subsidy Program

Scroll DAO

Audits up to $50,000 per project (DAO proposal); grants page lists up to 75% subsidy, 25% provider discounts and 6 months of free Immunefi Magnus access

In-kind / lab accessEquity: see termsEthereum & L2s

The catch: Subsidies are structured as investment contracts, not grants: a 1–2% stake via SAFE, token warrant or side letter. Audited code must stay exclusive to Scroll for a fixed period, with legal action on breach, and teams pay at least 10% of the audit cost.
Equity: 1–2% stake via SAFE, token warrant or side letter, set by application score (per the passed August 2025 DAO proposal)

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Read the investment and exclusivity terms before applying, since the subsidy converts into a small stake and locks the audited code to Scroll; the Scroll audit marketplace on Areta is free to use for quotes without taking the subsidy.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Teams building on Scroll at any stage (pre-audit, audit or post-launch), geared toward projects graduating from Scroll Open; applications are scored on a 10-point rubric and need 6 points to qualify. No country limits are published.
How to apply: Direct application: apply through the Apply Now link on grants.scroll.io (grantsapp.scroll.io) describing your codebase, timeline and security goals; approved teams are matched with Areta and Immunefi providers.
Work funded fit: security
Equity taken: 1–2% stake via SAFE, token warrant or side letter, set by application score (per the passed August 2025 DAO proposal)
Who wins: Two audits subsidized through March 2026: Polystream (31,500 USDC) and SynthOS (40,999 USDC) (Scroll governance forum update).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Arbitrum Security Program

Arbitrum Foundation

Varies — partial audit subsidy set by commercial agreement with each project (program commits about $7.8M: 1.76M USDC and 25M ARB)

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: The Foundation subsidizes only a portion of the agreed initial audit, matched to one of 13 approved auditors, after you sign a Commitment Agreement; expect about a month between approval and audit start. The program runs 12 months or until funds are exhausted.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (12-month program launched in September 2026)

Builder tip: Apply with a frozen, audit-ready scope, since confirming readiness is a gate before matching; the program also covers AI-assisted screening before the human audit, which can surface fixes cheaply.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Projects building on Arbitrum and preparing for a smart contract audit: pre-launch, migrating from another chain or in growth stage, launching new features, or launching their own Arbitrum chain. Reviewed on technical maturity, team, likelihood of success and ecosystem alignment.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the open application form linked from arbitrum.foundation/grants; approved teams confirm the codebase is audit-ready and sign a Commitment Agreement before auditor matching.
Work funded fit: security
Equity taken: None stated; approved teams sign a Commitment Agreement with the Arbitrum Foundation
Who wins: Predecessor Arbitrum Audit Program: 367 applications and 18 completed audits (Arbitrum Foundation forum proposal, August 2026).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

STRIDE security program

Solana Foundation

Foundation-funded STRIDE evaluation; 24/7 threat monitoring for passing protocols above $10M TVL; formal verification for protocols above $100M TVL

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeSolana

The catch: Evaluation findings are published publicly, weaknesses included. The paid services are tied to TVL thresholds, so smaller teams get the framework and free tooling rather than funded monitoring.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Use the eight-pillar framework as a pre-launch checklist even below the TVL thresholds: it covers multisig configuration, access controls and operational security that a code audit does not, and STRIDE lists preferred vendors for fixing findings.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Solana DeFi protocols. Funded monitoring requires passing the STRIDE evaluation with more than $10M TVL; funded formal verification requires more than $100M TVL. No country limits are published.
How to apply: Direct application: request an assessment through stride.asymmetric.re; Asymmetric Research evaluates the protocol against eight security pillars.
Work funded fit: security, DeFi
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

ETHSecurity Initiatives (TheDAO Security Fund)

TheDAO Security Fund

Initiative budgets set per RFP or grant ($20,000–$600,000 in Round 2); TheDAO's 400 ETH pool completes at most $200,000 per initiative

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: At least one-third of every budget must go to measurable adoption milestones, and each milestone is paid in stablecoins from the initiative's multisig only after an independent reviewer approves it. TheDAO's contribution is all-or-nothing, and unfunded initiatives close with the round.

Next deadline: Expected: November 2026 · Rounds roughly twice a year (a spring quadratic-funding round; a fall RFP round closing in January)

Builder tip: Line up co-funders early: an initiative reaches the badge-holder ballot only with 25% of its budget pledged or donated and a remaining gap of $200,000 or less, and every pledged dollar lowers the votes it needs.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone can propose an Ethereum security initiative. RFPs (budget set, team wanted) are open to teams including for-profit companies, while grants name a team up front; work must create public value for Ethereum security, and the fund does not pay for individual projects' audits.
How to apply: Proposal and vote: post or answer an initiative at initiatives.thedao.fund, raise at least 25% of its budget in pledges or donations, then ETHSecurity Badge holders vote on completing it from TheDAO's treasury.
Work funded fit: security, public goods, dev tooling
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Round 1 (May 2026): 134 projects funded from a 500 ETH matching pool plus over $600K from sponsors and donors (thedao.fund).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

OpenSats Red Team Fund (RED token reimbursement)

OpenSats

Varies — check official page (reimburses LLM token and related compute costs; no cap published)

GrantEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Reimburses expenses only, not salary, maintenance or project budgets. Funding is not authorization to test third-party or live systems; findings must be disclosed privately to the affected project, and exploiting, selling or conditioning disclosure on payment is prohibited.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (fast-tracked review)

Builder tip: Log your LLM and compute spend from the start, because the form asks for the total spent to date and expected burn; if you need money for the project itself, apply through OpenSats' General Grant path instead.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Security researchers red-teaming Bitcoin and related free and open-source software, with a demonstrable track record of prior work in Bitcoin security or a closely related field; selective.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the short form at opensats.org/apply/red with your research context, total spent to date and expected token burn; do not include vulnerability details.
Work funded fit: security, research
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Ethereum Foundation Bug Bounty Program

Ethereum Foundation

Critical up to $1,000,000; High up to $50,000; Medium up to $10,000; Low up to $2,000 (paid in ETH or DAI)

PrizeEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Cash rewards require proving your real identity, sent PGP-encrypted; anonymous or pseudonymous reports earn leaderboard points only. Awards are discretionary, publicly disclosed bugs are ineligible, and the program can be cancelled at any time.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (standing program)

Builder tip: Time upgrade-specific findings: Glamsterdam bugs earn a 2.0× multiplier from 24 hours after the Sepolia upgrade until Hoodi and 1.5× until a week before mainnet, but only 0.5× before Sepolia.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Researchers reporting bugs in Ethereum specifications, execution and consensus clients, the Solidity and Vyper compilers and KZG libraries. No awards to people on sanctions lists or living in sanctioned countries (e.g. North Korea, Iran); EF staff, contractors, grantees and in-scope client team members get points but no cash.
How to apply: Direct application: submit a report with a proof of concept through bbp-form.ethereum.org; testing must use local testnets.
Work funded fit: security, research
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Arbitrum Bug Bounty

Arbitrum Foundation

Critical up to $2,000,000 (10% of affected funds, $50,000 minimum); High $10,000–$30,000; Medium $5,000; Low $1,000 (paid in USDC)

PrizeEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: KYC is required to get paid, a proof of concept is required at every severity, and publication needs approval. Issues the Security Council can remediate, and all Nova issues, are capped at High.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (standing program)

Builder tip: Check the caps before investing time: Nova findings and issues the Security Council can fix pay at most High ($30,000), so the $2,000,000 tier is for Arbitrum One mainnet funds at direct risk; the same bug on both networks counts as one report.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Researchers reporting vulnerabilities in Arbitrum One and Nova mainnet smart contracts and infrastructure through Immunefi. KYC is required for payout.
How to apply: Direct application: submit a report with a proof of concept on immunefi.com/bug-bounty/arbitrum; test only on local forks, never on mainnet or public testnets.
Work funded fit: security
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Optimism Bug Bounty

OP Labs PBC

Critical up to $2,000,042 (10% of directly affected funds); High $15,000–$50,000; Medium $1,000–$15,000; websites and apps up to $50,000 (paid in USDC)

PrizeEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: KYC through W-9/W-8 tax forms, a proof of concept at every severity, local-fork testing only, and approval before publishing. Critical rewards are also capped at 10% of economic damage.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (standing program)

Builder tip: Read the known-issues list first (it excludes bridge token misconfiguration 'foot guns'), and note that testnet and mock files are not covered under primacy of impact.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Researchers reporting vulnerabilities in the OP Stack (blockchain/DLT, smart contracts, websites and applications) through Immunefi; payout requires a W-9 (US residents) or W-8 (non-US) tax form.
How to apply: Direct application: submit a report with a proof of concept on immunefi.com/bug-bounty/optimism; test only on local forks.
Work funded fit: security
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Coinbase Onchain Bug Bounty (covers Base contracts)

Coinbase

Tier 0 contracts: Critical up to $5,000,000, High up to $500,000, Medium up to $50,000, Low under $5,000; Tier 1: Critical up to $500,000 (paid in USDC)

PrizeEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: KYC is required to join, no testing on mainnet or public testnets without authorization, and no public disclosure without written consent. Final payout amounts are at Coinbase's sole discretion.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (standing program)

Builder tip: Check which tier a contract falls in before digging: Tier 0 code pays ten times Tier 1 at each severity, and Base's 'report a vulnerability' docs link the Tier 0 and Tier 1 scope guides.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Researchers of legal age who are not resident in sanctioned or restricted countries; KYC is required to join. Current and former Coinbase employees and contributors to the affected code are ineligible. Scope: mainnet smart contracts deployed by Coinbase, including Base's contracts.
How to apply: Direct application: join the Coinbase bounty on Cantina (KYC first) and report within 24 hours of discovery; offchain Base issues go to Coinbase's HackerOne program.
Work funded fit: security
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Uniswap Bug Bounty

Uniswap Labs

Critical up to $15,500,000; High up to $1,000,000; Medium up to $100,000 (paid in USDC)

PrizeEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Each submission needs a $50 deposit, and payouts are calculated from impact, likelihood, exploit maturity and report quality. For reports submitted from 14 August 2026, rewards are conditional on Uniswap Labs deploying a fix or mitigation, so validated reports needing no action can close without payout.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (standing program)

Builder tip: Build a working exploit before submitting: a fully weaponized proof of concept scores 1.0 on the exploit-maturity modifier versus 0.4 for a theoretical report, and impact carries 60% of the payout weight.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Researchers reporting vulnerabilities in Uniswap v4 core and periphery contracts and other in-scope Uniswap Labs contracts through Cantina; each submission requires a $50 deposit. Third-party contracts and issues already flagged in audits are out of scope.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the report on the Uniswap bounty page on Cantina within 24 hours of discovery, with the $50 deposit.
Work funded fit: security, DeFi
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

ZKsync Era Bug Bounty

ZK Nation Token Assembly

Smart contracts: Critical $100,000–$300,000 (10% of affected funds); High $10,000–$20,000; Medium $2,000. Blockchain/DLT: Critical $20,000; High $5,000 (paid in USDC)

PrizeEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: KYC with government ID is required for payout and a proof of concept is required at every severity. The 2026 program is funded through a Token Assembly proposal (TPP-17) in ZK tokens, while bounties are paid in USDC.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (standing program, funded annually by Token Assembly vote)

Builder tip: The program text and table disagree on the High minimum ($20,000 vs $10,000), so confirm the tier before counting on a payout; blockchain/DLT criticals pay far less ($20,000) than smart contract criticals.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Researchers reporting vulnerabilities in ZKsync Era smart contracts and blockchain infrastructure through Immunefi; government ID (KYC) is required for payout.
How to apply: Direct application: submit a report with a proof of concept on immunefi.com/bug-bounty/zksyncera.
Work funded fit: security
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

11. Accelerators, incubators and startup credits

Accelerators are the one part of crypto funding where the money is often not free. Most cohort programs in this section invest: a typical check is $100,000 to $500,000 on a SAFE, often with a token warrant or side letter that gives the investor a claim on any token you launch, and the stakes these programs state run from 2% to 5% for the first check. Equity-free options exist: the Arbitrum Mentorship Program, Encode Club, the Stanford Blockchain Accelerator, Cardano's CHF 10,000 contribution and Codebase's $50,000 stipend. Credit programs from Google Cloud, AWS, Alchemy, QuickNode and BNB Chain pay in infrastructure rather than cash. Cohorts usually run 8 to 12 weeks, two or three times a year, and many require in-person weeks in San Francisco, New York, Bangkok or Abu Dhabi. Ecosystem accelerators expect their chain to be your primary network. The most common mistake is treating an investment offer as a grant: read the SAFE cap, the token side letter and any separate program fee before you accept, because they stay on your cap table long after Demo Day.

25 programs

Alliance Accelerator

Alliance

$400,000 investment on admission plus a $400,000 follow-on at seed ($800,000 total)

OtherEquity: see termsany

The catch: This is an investment, not a grant: Alliance takes a SAFE at a $4M post-money valuation plus a token side letter that gives it a claim on any token you later launch. The program is free but expects full commitment for about three months, with weekly check-ins, two weeks in person and Demo Day in New York.
Equity: $400,000 SAFE at a $4M post-money valuation with a 1:1 token side letter; $400,000 follow-on at seed

Next deadline: Nov 18, 2026 · Three cohorts a year, each with an Early Admission and a Regular deadline

Builder tip: Apply before the Early Admission deadline: Alliance says most teams apply close to the deadline and early applicants get more review time, and accepted teams start working with Alliance right away regardless of the cohort start date.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Technical founders anywhere building crypto, fintech, stablecoin or AI startups at any stage, including pre-product and pre-revenue; non-crypto-native and Web2.5 startups are accepted. No country limits are stated; onboarding and Demo Day are in person in New York.
How to apply: Direct application: complete the roughly 20-minute form at alliance.xyz; interview decisions come within a week of applying, year-round.
Work funded fit: DeFi, payments, consumer apps, AI
Equity taken: $400,000 SAFE at a $4M post-money valuation with a 1:1 token side letter; $400,000 follow-on at seed
Who wins: 700+ founders in the Alliance community; the median Alliance startup raises $3.5M at a $25M post-money valuation after the program (alliance.xyz).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Colosseum Accelerator

Colosseum

$250,000 pre-seed investment per accepted startup

OtherEquity: see termsSolana

The catch: Equity investment with a token warrant, not a grant. The twelve-week program starts with two weeks in person in San Francisco, and founders must return there to pitch at Demo Day.
Equity: $250,000 via a SAFE plus token warrant, or a Colosseum STAMP, invested before the program starts

Next deadline: Expected: May 2027 · Two online hackathons a year (spring and fall) feeding a new cohort, plus year-round Eternal sprints

Builder tip: Treat the hackathon as the application: Colosseum removed tracks and bounties and judges entries as startups, so submit a working product with a business case rather than a feature demo.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Founders at any stage (idea, mid-pivot or revenue) who win a Colosseum online hackathon or an Eternal sprint; hackathons are open worldwide, and the accelerator and fund invest in Solana founders.
How to apply: Invite-only: win a prize in a Colosseum online hackathon (two primary events a year) or an Eternal sprint; every winner is interviewed and the strongest are offered a place.
Work funded fit: payments, DeFi, consumer apps, AI
Equity taken: $250,000 via a SAFE plus token warrant, or a Colosseum STAMP, invested before the program starts
Who wins: The Frontier Hackathon (April–May 2026) sent 10+ winners into the accelerator at $250,000 each; Cohort V's Demo Day on August 26, 2026 had 21 teams; 74+ portfolio companies (colosseum.com, blog.colosseum.com).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

EASY Residency (incl. BNB Chain MVB track)

YZi Labs (formerly Binance Labs)

Up to $500,000 per team: $150,000 for 5% equity plus $350,000 on an uncapped SAFE

OtherEquity: see termsBNB Chainany

The catch: Selected teams are offered an equity investment, not a grant: 5% for the first $150,000 plus an uncapped SAFE, and the MVB track expects BNB Chain to be your primary chain. Season 5 covers accommodation, meals and workspace in Bangkok, but founders pay their own flights.
Equity: $150,000 for 5% equity via SAFE (plus other rights where applicable) and an additional $350,000 on an uncapped SAFE

Next deadline: Expected: January 2027 · Seasons about three times a year, each with a fixed application deadline

Builder tip: BNB Chain builders should apply through the MVB track and show that core transactions, contracts and any token launch are on BNB Chain; BNB Chain also advises against reapplying without meaningful updates.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Founders building for the long term in Web3, AI and biotech, from anywhere; BNB Chain builders use the MVB track, whose published criteria ask that core transactions and contracts are on BNB Chain and any token launches there first. Founders must attend the in-person weeks.
How to apply: Direct application: apply at yzilabs.com/easy-residency before a season deadline; past applicants do not need to resubmit.
Work funded fit: DeFi, payments, AI, consumer apps
Equity taken: $150,000 for 5% equity via SAFE (plus other rights where applicable) and an additional $350,000 on an uncapped SAFE
Who wins: 100+ startups backed over four seasons since June 2025; Season 2 had 22 startups, Season 3 about 25 and Season 4 24 (yzilabs.com).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

BNB Chain Kickstart

BNB Chain

Varies — check official page (provider offers listed include AWS credits from $500 unconditional up to $200,000 after validation, Oracle Cloud credits up to 200K, $25,000 in Orbon Cloud storage credits and CreatorBid liquidity grants up to $25,000)

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeBNB Chain

The catch: Perks are discounts and credits from 50+ third-party providers (CertiK, AWS, Google, NodeReal, PancakeSwap and others), not cash from BNB Chain, and providers may require you to accept their own terms. Selection includes due diligence on the whole project.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Apply once and pick offers that fit your stage: since the August 2025 upgrade a single short survey replaces separate forms, and the dApp Growth stage is where audits, fund management and launch support sit.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Developers and projects building or planning to build on BNB Chain at any stage: the dApp Building stage is open to all developers, the dApp Growth stage to high-potential projects ready to go to market. Individual providers may add their own terms.
How to apply: Direct application: fill in the Kickstart application on bnbchain.org/en/programs/kickstart and choose the provider offers you want; BNB Chain evaluates the project and tells qualified teams how to claim.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, security, dev tooling
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Starknet Propulsion Program (V2)

Starknet Foundation

Up to $1M in user fees covered over a year, paid as a monthly USD allocation matching the fees your users spend

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: It is a gas-fee rebate, not discretionary cash: the allocation tracks the fees your users actually spend, so it pays out only as usage grows. The page does not say whether the $1M cap applies per project.

Next deadline: Rolling (applications reviewed at the start of each month) · Monthly

Builder tip: Apply while still on testnet with a mainnet date inside three months, and time it to the monthly review; the first round was dominated by on-chain games, where users pay fees often.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Fee-generating apps that are live on Starknet testnet and plan to launch on mainnet within 3 months. The page states no country, entity or KYC limits.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the form linked from propulsion.starknet.org; applications are reviewed at the start of each month.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, infrastructure
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Round 1 participants listed on the page are on-chain games including Dope Wars, Eternum by Realms, Influence and Loot Survivor (propulsion.starknet.org).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Encode Club Accelerators

Encode Club

Varies — check official page (no cash award published; free eight-week programme with workshops, 1:1 calls and a demo day)

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeSolanaother chains

The catch: No equity and no published cash: the value is eight weeks of workshops, weekly 1:1s and a demo day. On Arc, teams agree milestones with Circle before kickoff, and places went only to top hackathon teams.

Next deadline: Per programme — see official page (Arc accelerator began September 21, 2026; Encode's Solana Hackathon 2026 began October 12) · Programmes several times a year, each with a partner ecosystem

Builder tip: For Arc, prepare milestones in Encode's format (title, what will exist, Circle product used, target date, success metric) before kickoff; members of the Circle Grants decision team may attend the November 9 demo day.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Early-stage teams that have started building on the partner chain, whether pre-launch or launched and scaling; for the Arc programme, the top teams (up to 8) from the preceding Encode hackathon. Programmes are online.
How to apply: Registration: enter the Encode hackathon that feeds each accelerator (for example the Programmable Money Hackathon on Arc) or apply on the programme page at encodeclub.com/programmes while registration is open.
Work funded fit: payments, DeFi, education/community
Equity taken: None — Encode says you keep full ownership of your project
Who wins: Up to 8 teams from the Programmable Money Hackathon were offered places in the Arc accelerator (encodeclub.com).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Cardano Accelerator Program (CAP)

Cardano Foundation

CHF 10,000 contribution per participating venture; further investment possible but not guaranteed

GrantEquity-freeCardano

The catch: The CHF 10,000 is tied to delivering defined adoption milestones, and investment from the Foundation or others is explicitly not guaranteed. The first week is full-time and in person for two people, and you may not join another accelerator during the 10 weeks.

Next deadline: Per cohort call — see official page (Fall 2026 applications closed June 5, 2026; next call not yet posted) · Themed cohorts about twice a year (spring and fall)

Builder tip: Fit the cohort theme: Fall 2026 wanted digital product passports, verified identity, traceability and responsible AI and oracles, while Spring 2026 focused on DeFi and RWAs, so check the theme when the call opens.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Registered companies building on Cardano or bridging to it from Web2 or other chains; the Fall 2026 call required a live product with transactions, at least 3 full-time employees, an active bank account and a 3-year financial forecast.
How to apply: Direct application: apply through the form on the CAP page while a themed cohort call is open; shortlisted ventures go through two interview rounds.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, DeFi, AI
Equity taken: None stated for the CHF 10,000 contribution; the Foundation reserves the right to take part in later investment rounds
Who wins: About 8 teams per cohort; Spring 2026 finalists were Toto Finance, Libertum, Nobon, Colossus and The Mint; the Foundation earmarked up to 2 million ada for potential deployment to CAP participants in 2026 (cardanofoundation.org).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Genesis Pre-Accelerator and Apex Growth Accelerator (Cardano)

Draper University

Genesis: up to $20,000 investment; Apex: up to $70,000 investment

OtherEquity: see termsCardano

The catch: Both programs take equity for the cash; they are run by Draper University with the Cardano Foundation and Orion Fund. Both are in-person residencies (4 weeks for Genesis, 10 for Apex), so plan for relocating to Silicon Valley for the program.
Equity: Genesis: up to $20,000 for a target of 2% equity; Apex: up to $70,000 for 3.5% equity

Next deadline: Per cohort — see official page (Apex applications closed September 1, 2026; next cohorts not announced) · Cohorts announced per program (first Genesis cohort August 2026; first Apex cohort from October 2026)

Builder tip: Pick the track by stage: Genesis validates an MVP and ends in a Pitch Day with angels, while Apex expects customers, revenue or transaction volume and prepares a raise; several Apex teams came straight from Genesis.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Teams building on Cardano: Genesis is for early-stage technical teams ready to build an MVP, Apex for investment-ready, growth-stage teams with traction. Both focus on RWAs, institutional DeFi and enterprise solutions and are in-person residencies at Draper University in San Mateo, California.
How to apply: Direct application: apply on Draper University's Cardano programs page while a window is open, followed by interviews.
Work funded fit: DeFi, infrastructure, payments
Equity taken: Genesis: up to $20,000 for a target of 2% equity; Apex: up to $70,000 for 3.5% equity
Who wins: Genesis selected 14 teams from hundreds of applications (July 2026); Apex selected 8 teams (October 2026) (Draper University).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

BitcoinFi Accelerator

Supernormal Foundation, Boost VC, Draper Associates and Thesis*

$150,000 upfront investment per accepted team

OtherEquity: see termsBitcoin

The catch: The $150,000 is an investment, not a grant, and the equity percentage is not published, so get the terms in writing before you accept. The program is five weeks online plus one week in person.
Equity: $150,000 upfront equity investment per team (the percentage is not published on the official pages)

Next deadline: Per cohort — see official page (cohort 3 closed February 1, 2026; cohort 4 not yet announced) · Cohorts about once a year (cohort 3 applications ran November 2025 to February 2026)

Builder tip: If your product can use MUSD, join the Mezo Founder Program first: it offers a fast-track invitation to BitcoinFi Accelerator interviews.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Founders building on Bitcoin or Bitcoin-aligned L2s, EVM teams adding bitcoin to existing products, and teams on other L1s and L2s (including Solana) using bitcoin as collateral, liquidity or settlement; large TVL or revenue is not required.
How to apply: Direct application: apply at bitcoinfi.network while a cohort window is open.
Work funded fit: DeFi, payments, infrastructure
Equity taken: $150,000 upfront equity investment per team (the percentage is not published on the official pages)
Who wins: Cohort 3 (Demo Day April 2026) backed six companies with a $150,000 check each; 5–7 teams per cohort (Draper Dragon; Thesis*).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Stanford Blockchain Accelerator (SBA)

Crypto & Blockchain Alumni of Stanford (CBAS)

No cash — free mentorship, curriculum, guest lectures, investor access and a demo day

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany

The catch: No cash and no equity, but eligibility is limited to the Stanford community. The organizers also run Blockchain Builders Fund, a separate venture fund, so any investment from them is a distinct process.

Next deadline: Rolling (applications always open; admissions in the Winter and Summer intakes) · Cohorts twice a year (Winter and Summer)

Builder tip: Plan for a multi-month commitment: the site describes two cohorts a year of about five months each, and recent demo days included AI and health teams with a blockchain component, not only crypto-native protocols.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Stanford community only: at least one founder must be a Stanford student, alumnus or faculty member. Teams building with blockchain across fintech, infrastructure, AI and other sectors.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the application form linked from sba.groups.stanford.edu; applications are always open and admissions happen twice a year.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, DeFi, AI, payments
Equity taken: None — free and non-dilutive
Who wins: About 25 teams a year; 85+ teams have raised over $500M; Cohort 8's Demo Day on May 26, 2026 featured 10 teams (sba.groups.stanford.edu; Stanford Blockchain Club).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Uniswap Hook Incubator (UHI)

Atrium Academy (funded by the Uniswap Foundation)

Free tuition (covered by a Uniswap Foundation grant) plus Hookathon prize money; $260K+ in prizes awarded across cohorts

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: No stipend: the value is free tuition for a nine-week program and prize money in the closing Hookathon. Expect weekly live workshops and a capstone hook presented at demo day.

Next deadline: Expected: December 2026 · Quarterly cohorts (orientation in January, April, July and October)

Builder tip: Each 2026 Hookathon has a theme with its own prize pool (UHI11: active management and curation), so check the Request for Hooks board and pitch a hook that fits the upcoming theme.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Experienced Solidity developers with a working knowledge of DeFi (AMMs, x*y=k, liquidity mining); pseudonymous enrollment is accepted. Open worldwide.
How to apply: Direct application: complete the 5-minute application at atrium.academy/uniswap before the cohort deadline, then a live interview; acceptances are rolling.
Work funded fit: DeFi, dev tooling, education/community
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Nearly 500 graduates and 420+ hooks shipped; 260 graduates from cohorts 4–7 in 2025 out of 1,375 applications (Atrium Academy).

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Morph Payment Accelerator

Morph

Varies — check official page ($150 million total commitment; grant funding, performance-based incentives and liquidity support by deployment stage)

OtherEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Incentives are awarded on verified stablecoin payment volume settled on Morph mainnet, so the money follows the flow you route there. Participants must meet KYC/AML and jurisdictional requirements and report measurable activity.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Lead with volume: Morph prioritizes operators with meaningful monthly processed volume or signed pilots whose post-launch activity can be verified, so bring numbers and a 180-day migration plan.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Payment companies, financial institutions and infrastructure providers with a live product and transaction history in crypto cards and neobanks, cross-border remittance or payment gateways, ready to route significant payment flow through Morph mainnet within 180 days. KYC/AML compliance for real-user payment flows is required.
How to apply: Pitch gate: apply through morph.network/accelerator or write to [email protected]; priority goes to operators with existing payment volume or signed pilots.
Work funded fit: payments
Equity taken: None stated — support comes as grants, performance-based incentives and liquidity
Who wins: OSL Pay joined as a key partner in January 2026 (Morph blog).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

LFM (Aptos TGE track)

Aptos Foundation

Varies — check official page (dedicated grant pool for marketing, audits and community; security audit grants up to $25,000; possible strategic investment)

OtherEquity-freeother chains

The catch: LFM is built around a token launch: support covers tokenomics, airdrop structuring, vesting and listings, so it suits only teams planning a TGE on Aptos. Grant amounts are set case by case.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Show on-chain activity and community engagement first, since those lead the selection criteria; LFM then opens with a week-long in-person kickoff that sets your customized roadmap.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Aptos-native projects past the idea stage, with demonstrated on-chain traction, that are approaching a token generation event; pre-launch teams are pointed to Aptos grants instead.
How to apply: Pitch gate: submit a short application at aptosnetwork.com/lfm, then a deep-dive pitch with the Aptos Foundation team; top projects advance.
Work funded fit: DeFi, infrastructure
Equity taken: None for the program; select projects may separately be considered for strategic investment
Who wins: First participants included Aries Markets, Amnis Finance, PACT, Echo Protocol and Hyperion (aptosnetwork.com/lfm).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Trust Moon

Trust Wallet

Varies — check official page (distribution, Launchpool and Quest campaigns, co-marketing and partner perks; funding only as possible investment from YZi Labs or VC partners)

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany

The catch: Most of the value is distribution through Trust Alpha (Launchpool 2.0) and Quests, which give TWT holders early access to project launches, and selection weighs your tokenomics. Investment, Binance listings and the MVB fast track are possibilities, not commitments.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Make the token and user plan concrete: projects are selected with YZi Labs and Binance Research on product, market, team, business model and tokenomics, and the growth tools are built around launches.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Web3 projects at any stage (early, growth or mature) on any chain, in DeFi and trading, payments and stablecoins, RWAs, gaming and SocialFi, infrastructure, AI x Web3 or blockchains.
How to apply: Direct application: fill in the form linked from Trust Wallet's Trust Moon page; applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and selected projects are invited.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, DeFi, payments, AI
Equity taken: None for the program; any funding is a separate investment from YZi Labs or VC partners on their own terms

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Hub71+ Digital Assets

Hub71

AED 250,000 in cash (for equity via SAFE) plus AED 250,000 in service incentives; top-up of up to AED 250,000 for high performers

OtherEquity: see termsany

The catch: The cash is an equity investment via SAFE, and the in-kind half must be spent with Hub71's service providers. A founder must relocate to Abu Dhabi long-term for the 12-month programme.
Equity: AED 250,000 cash in exchange for equity through a SAFE note; optional AED 250,000 top-up for additional equity

Next deadline: Expected: February 2027 · Two cohorts a year; applications accepted year-round and rolled into the next cohort

Builder tip: Write the deck's required 'Plans for Hub71 and Abu Dhabi' section carefully: the top-up is reserved for high performers committed to Abu Dhabi, and applications after a deadline simply roll into the next cohort.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Startups operating in Web3 or using blockchain, at any stage; at least one founder must commit to relocating long-term and building a team in Abu Dhabi.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the online form with a PDF pitch deck on hub71.com, then four selection rounds (application review, Hub71 team, partners, final committee).
Work funded fit: infrastructure, DeFi, payments
Equity taken: AED 250,000 cash in exchange for equity through a SAFE note; optional AED 250,000 top-up for additional equity

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

1inch DAO Aqua Revenue Stream Incubator

1inch DAO

Up to $50,000 per team, milestone-based; $436,000 total pool for an expected 8–10 teams

GrantEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: Paid in four milestone tranches (5%, 10%, 35%, 50%), with half released only when the strategy is live on mainnet and integrated into the 1inch dApp. You sign a revenue-sharing agreement giving the DAO a share from the first dollar, and the Aqua Source License applies.

Next deadline: Rolling (finite $436,000 pool) · Rolling until the pool is spent

Builder tip: Novelty is the first screen: check the published list of existing Aqua strategies and swapVM instructions, because constant-product, concentrated-liquidity and stableswap designs are out of scope.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Teams or solo builders with real DeFi and smart-contract experience and a working understanding of Aqua or swapVM; hackathon teams with a proof of concept are welcome. KYC/KYB is required before funding.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the Notion form linked in the 1inch governance forum post; StableLab screens it and three delegate reviewers vote (2-of-3 to advance).
Work funded fit: DeFi
Equity taken: None — but the DAO takes a revenue share from the first dollar (buyout option after 3 years)

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Mezo Founder Program (Mezo Alpha Builder)

Supernormal Foundation

Up to 50,000 MEZO in milestone-based funding, 40% unlocked after a successful deployment

GrantEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: Funding is in MEZO tokens and milestone-based, with only 40% unlocked after a successful deployment, so the dollar value moves with the token. The package is customized and its scope depends on your early traction.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Show live on-chain users before applying, since traction sets the scope of support, and ask for the fast-track invitation to BitcoinFi Accelerator interviews if you want investment next.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Teams with a working product, initial traction and active on-chain users, plus a milestone roadmap of at least 3 months, that integrate MUSD (Mezo's bitcoin-backed stablecoin) into DeFi, payments, commerce, savings or consumer apps.
How to apply: Pitch gate: submit the 7-minute application on supernormal.foundation; the team replies within 3 weeks to schedule a discovery call.
Work funded fit: DeFi, payments, consumer apps
Equity taken: None — paid in MEZO tokens

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

AWS Activate Credits

Amazon Web Services

Founders (self-funded): $1,000, up to $5,000; Portfolio (via an Activate Provider): up to $200,000; AI startups: $200,000+ by invitation

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany

The catch: Credits only, subject to the AWS Promotional Credit Terms, and the large tier requires an Org ID from an accelerator or investor that is an Activate Provider. This is a general startup program, not a web3-specific one.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Ask your accelerator or investor whether it is an Activate Provider before applying as self-funded: the Portfolio tier goes up to $200,000 against $5,000, and Alchemy's and BNB Chain's startup programs also bundle AWS credits.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Startups before Series B, founded in the last 10 years, with an AWS account on a Paid Tier plan, either new to Activate Credits or requesting more than they received before. The Portfolio tier needs an Organization ID from an Activate Provider (accelerator, angel or VC).
How to apply: Direct application: create an AWS Builder ID, choose the Founders or Portfolio tier, link your AWS account and submit; decisions arrive in 5–10 business days.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, AI
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Google for Startups Cloud Program: Web3

Google Cloud

Start tier: up to $2,000 in credits for one year; Scale tier: up to $200,000 over two years (100% of usage up to $100,000 in year 1, 20% up to another $100,000 in year 2) plus $12,000 in Enhanced Support credits

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany

The catch: Credits, not cash, and in year 2 Google covers only 20% of usage. Acceptance is at Google Cloud's discretion under the program's startup terms.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: A token raise or a blockchain-foundation grant counts as funding for the Scale tier, so a foundation grant from this guide can move you from the $2,000 tier to the $200,000 tier.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Start: Web3 startups founded within 24 months with a working MVP and plans to raise, no prior Google Cloud credits beyond the trial. Scale: founded within 5 years and raised pre-seed/seed (equity, tokens, NFT sales or a blockchain-foundation grant) within 5 years or a Series A within 12 months, under $4,000 in prior credits. Nonprofits, educational institutions, government entities and IPO'd or acquired companies are excluded.
How to apply: Direct application: apply on cloud.google.com/startup/web3 with your 18-character Cloud billing account ID and a business email on your startup's domain.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Alchemy Startup Program

Alchemy

Varies — check official page (Alchemy credits, amount not published, plus $5,000 in AWS credits)

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany

The catch: Credits offset Alchemy plan invoices rather than paying cash, and Alchemy sets the size after the qualification call. Teams referred by partner VCs and accelerators get enhanced benefits.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Know your monthly RPC request volume before you apply (the form asks for a band from under 50M to over 200M), and apply through your VC or accelerator if it is an Alchemy partner.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Any team building onchain, whether VC-backed, in an accelerator or bootstrapping; existing customers affiliated with an Alchemy partner may get added benefits.
How to apply: Pitch gate: fill in the 30-second form at alchemy.com/startup-program; the team reviews it and schedules a call before credits are applied.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

QuickNode Startup Program

QuickNode

Varies — check official page (QuickNode credits, amount not published, plus partner offers such as AWS credits)

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany

The catch: Credits apply only to QuickNode's self-service tiers, and any QuickNode Ventures funding is a separate investment conversation. Startups that already used a QuickNode credit offer cannot get credits.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Apply before your Series A and before redeeming any other QuickNode promotion, since either one rules you out of the credit offer.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: New blockchain startups that have not raised a Series A or later and have not previously redeemed a QuickNode credit offer; existing customers can join for the non-credit benefits.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the form on quicknode.com/startup; most reviews finish within a few business days.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Base Batches

Base Ecosystem Fund (Base)

$100,000 investment offer per selected team (Batch 004)

OtherEquity: see termsEthereum & L2s

The catch: The $100,000 is an investment offer subject to the fund's diligence, not a grant, and the instrument is not published. You must treat Base as your default network, and the 8-week virtual program ends with an in-person Demo Day (New York for Batch 004).
Equity: $100,000 investment offer from the Base Ecosystem Fund, subject to diligence (instrument and terms not published)

Next deadline: Expected: March 2027 · Twice a year (spring and fall batches)

Builder tip: Batch 004 narrowed to five areas (trading, payments, agents, financing, asset issuance), so place the product squarely in one and explain why Base is your primary chain even if you also support others.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Early-stage teams from pre-product to post-MVP that have not raised a formal seed round, committed to Base as their primary chain and building in trading, payments, agents, financing or asset issuance. Open worldwide; the program is virtual.
How to apply: Direct application: apply at batches.base.org during the window; selected teams get acceptances about a week after applications close.
Work funded fit: DeFi, payments, AI
Equity taken: $100,000 investment offer from the Base Ecosystem Fund, subject to diligence (instrument and terms not published)
Who wins: Batch 003 picked 12 teams from 1,175 applicants (spring 2026); Batch 004 selects up to 10 (base.org; Base blog).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Arbitrum Mentorship Program

Arbitrum Foundation

No investment; $100,000 in non-dilutive prizes shared by the top teams at Demo Day

OtherEquity-freeEthereum & L2s

The catch: No equity and no guaranteed investment: cash comes only as Demo Day prizes for top performers, and four teams shared $100,000 in Cohort 1. You commit to building on Arbitrum One or Robinhood Chain.

Next deadline: Dec 6, 2026 · Cohorts about twice a year

Builder tip: Win an Arbitrum Open House buildathon if you can, since winners are fast-tracked; otherwise show a deployed prototype, because Cohort 1 accepted 1.4% of applicants.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Pre-seed or seed teams with a working prototype, MVP, testnet deployment or early live product, committed to launching or scaling on Arbitrum One or Robinhood Chain (deployment within 6 months); teams need not be on Arbitrum yet. Global and remote.
How to apply: Direct application: apply through mentorship.arbitrum.io during the application window; Arbitrum Open House winners are fast-tracked.
Work funded fit: DeFi, payments, infrastructure, AI
Equity taken: None — equity-free program; prizes are non-dilutive
Who wins: Cohort 1: 902 applications, 13 teams selected, 10 at the July 7, 2026 Demo Day, $1M+ raised by cohort teams, $100,000 shared by Carbon, LayerV, T3tris and Capa (Arbitrum Foundation blog).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Sui Hydropower Fellowship

Sui Foundation

No cash — technical and go-to-market support, mentorship, ecosystem and investor introductions

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeother chains

The catch: No cash: Sui says it connects founders with long-term support, 'not grants', and direct investment by the Foundation is a separate, selective decision. Support is flexible and on demand rather than a fixed weekly curriculum.

Next deadline: Per cohort — see official page (third cohort completed June 2026; next call not posted) · Cohort calls announced by the Sui Foundation (three cohorts since 2024)

Builder tip: Apply with a live MVP or a launch date; DeFi teams building new financial primitives can also apply to Sui's separate DeFi Moonshots program, which offers up to $500k in growth incentives.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Early-stage teams building on Sui at the MVP, launching or recently launched stage, with early product signal.
How to apply: Direct application: apply when a cohort call opens (linked from sui.io/programs-funding); admission decisions are sent by email.
Work funded fit: DeFi, consumer apps, AI, infrastructure
Equity taken: None — no equity taken up front for joining
Who wins: Third cohort (completed June 2026): six teams including Asseto, Audric, Kash and Transact.sh (sui.io blog).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Celo Camp

Upright (with the Celo Foundation)

Up to $100,000 investment pool per batch, split evenly among top graduates ($33,334 each to three teams in Batch 10)

OtherEquity: see termsEthereum & L2s

The catch: Only top graduates receive money, and it is an investment voted on by representatives of MiniPay, the Celo Foundation, Verda Ventures and Upright, not a grant. The program is virtual and runs eight weeks.
Equity: Investment from a $100,000 pool shared by top graduates ($33,334 each in Batch 10); instrument and equity terms not published

Next deadline: Per batch — see official page (Batch 10 closed August 15, 2025; pre-registration for the next batch is open) · Batches about once a year (Batch 10 applications ran July to August 2025)

Builder tip: Build with MiniPay in mind: Batch 10 tracked MiniPay listings as a headline outcome and MiniPay representatives vote on the investments, so a MiniPay-ready app strengthens your case.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Founders and developers building mobile-first applications on Celo (payments, DeFi, on/off-ramps, gaming and more) from any country; 8–12 teams per batch.
How to apply: Direct application: apply, or pre-register for the next batch, at celocamp.com; shortlisted teams pitch to the Celo Camp team before the batch is chosen.
Work funded fit: payments, DeFi, consumer apps
Equity taken: Investment from a $100,000 pool shared by top graduates ($33,334 each in Batch 10); instrument and equity terms not published
Who wins: Batch 10 (September–November 2025): 363 applications from 65 countries, 11 of 12 teams graduated, three $33,334 investments (Celo Forum, March 2026).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

12. Regional, Global South and government programs

Some crypto money is gated by where you live, not by the chain you build on. Country chapters such as Superteam hand out small, fast grants (up to $10,000, often $2,000 to $5,000) only to residents, after KYC. Community networks like Team1, Celo Africa DAO and Wada run grants, incubators and hackathons for their regions. Governments and public bodies fund distributed-ledger companies too: Busan pays KRW 100 million per project to local blockchain firms, Singapore's MAS co-funds up to half of a DLT project, Scotland's digital-trust centre awards up to £50,000, and Hong Kong's Cyberport and Japan's JETRO incubate startups. Public programmes pay in local currency, often by reimbursing audited expenses, and expect a registered local entity, staff on the ground or proof of economic benefit to the region. What applicants most often get wrong is eligibility: read the residency, registration and in-person attendance rules before you write a word, because public schemes reject ineligible applications without review, and many chapter grants pause without notice.

9 programs

Superteam Instagrants (Solana Foundation regional grants)

Solana Foundation

Up to 10,000 USDG per grant ($1–$10,000); chapter listings show average grants from about $1,700 (Korea) to $10,000 (UAE, Australia)

GrantEquity-freeSolana

The catch: Money arrives in tranches: several chapters pay 25% up front and the rest as you hit your self-declared milestones. The standing condition is weekly progress updates to the community, and payouts require KYC on Earn.

Next deadline: Rolling — check your chapter's listing (most chapter listings checked on 2026-10-24 showed 'Applications Paused'; Kazakhstan showed 'Apply Now') · Rolling (per country chapter; decisions in about one to four weeks)

Builder tip: Proof of work beats credentials: chapters prioritise shipped prototypes, bounty or hackathon wins and open-source contributions, and Superteam India says an idea with only a landing page or deck is not a fit. Check that your chapter's listing shows Apply Now rather than Applications Paused before you write.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Residents of the chapter's country or region only: each listing says it is open only to people in, for example, India, Nigeria, Brazil, the UK, the UAE, Kazakhstan, Ukraine or the Balkans. KYC on Superteam Earn is mandatory before payout. Some chapters exclude projects that already took investment or this grant (Balkans).
How to apply: Direct application: submit the short form on your country's listing at superteam.fun/earn/grants; the chapter reviews it and recommends it to the Solana Foundation.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, dev tooling, education/community
Equity taken: None — paid in USDG stablecoin in tranches
Who wins: The Nigeria listing shows 217 recipients and $633k approved, India 127 recipients and $612.4k, and the Balkans 137 recipients and $458.1k.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Team1 Builder Grants (Mini Grants and Accelerator Grants)

Team1

Mini Grants up to $10,000; Accelerator Grants up to $30,000 (committee-nominated). Example: a $5,000 Mini Grant paid half up front and half on shipping (September 2026)

GrantEquity-freeAvalanche

The catch: Funding is released in stages tied to milestones such as shipping and early usage. Team1 grants are run independently of the Avalanche Foundation, and Team1 warns that a high volume of applications does not guarantee funding.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (the Accelerator Grants committee meets monthly)

Builder tip: The committee puts the most weight on long-term commitment to Avalanche and on community-building, so show what you have shipped and who uses it; a project with real momentum can be fast-tracked to an Accelerator Grant without a Mini Grant first.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Builders, developers and community builders committed to Avalanche. Team1 says both tracks are now global and open to anyone (its earlier grants site said India only). Prior Avalanche Foundation funding counts as a factor but does not rule you out.
How to apply: Direct application: apply for a Mini Grant through the form linked from team1.network/grants (go.team1.network/mini-grants). Accelerator Grants are invite-only: a ten-person committee proposes projects and votes on them each month.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, infrastructure, education/community
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Team1's September 2026 update reported the first $30,000 Accelerator Grant (YourGrails), approved at the committee's first meeting, and a $5,000 Mini Grant to Empowr.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Vinteum Grants Program

Vinteum

Varies — check official page (long-term, flexible grants; amounts are not published)

GrantEquity-freeBitcoin

The catch: No equity or token. Grants are long-term and flexible rather than milestone tranches, and they are meant for self-directed developers working in public on open-source code; the page lists no specific reporting duty.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling

Builder tip: Vinteum funds proven contributors, so lead with merged pull requests, code review and mailing-list or Delving Bitcoin posts. Earlier-career developers should ask about the fellowship (six months of support, no fixed application cycle) rather than a grant.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Experienced contributors with a track record in free and open-source Bitcoin projects (Core, Lightning, wallets, testing, privacy research). Vinteum describes itself as a Bitcoin R&D centre in Brazil; the grants page states no residency rule. Newcomers enter through the 12-week Bitcoin Dev Launchpad and a six-month fellowship instead.
How to apply: Direct application: email [email protected] with a summary of your work and goals, links to past contributions (GitHub, mailing lists, Delving Bitcoin posts) and your funding needs and timeframe.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, dev tooling, research
Equity taken: None
Who wins: The grants page lists eight current grantees.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

CATS Hackathon (Cardano Africa Tech Summit)

Wada

2025–26 edition: 30,000 ADA in team prizes across local hackathons, plus hosting stipends of $3,500 (Anglophone) or $4,000 (Francophone) for 9 selected hubs; the top 5 teams travelled to Nairobi and received 3–6 months of incubation

PrizeEquity-freeCardano

The catch: Prizes are paid in ADA and judged by external evaluators on local relevance, use of Cardano tools, practicality and a sustainable business model. Winners are expected to continue into in-person incubation, and costs of taking part are not reimbursed.

Next deadline: Expected: February 2027 · Annual (local hackathons October–December, summit in Nairobi in February)

Builder tip: Problem statements are set by local communities during enrolment, before any code is written, so strong entries document local relevance and a business model and make their self-evaluation visible on the evaluation subdomain.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Teams that enrol through selected local community hubs across Africa (Anglophone and Francophone hubs). You must complete the enrolment phase to compete for the first ADA prize batch.
How to apply: Registration: enrol through a participating hub when the next edition opens; join the CATS 2027 waitlist at cats.wada.org.
Work funded fit: consumer apps, public goods
Equity taken: None
Who wins: At CATS 2026 in Nairobi (February 11–13), 14 teams built over 48 hours, and winners received prize money and mentorship deals.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Digital Trust Centre of Excellence Innovation Challenges

Scottish Centre of Excellence in Digital Trust and DLT

Up to £50,000 in staged grant funding for each of up to two winning solutions, plus a three-month funded build phase

GrantEquity-freeany

The catch: Funding is released in milestone-gated stages during the three-month build (February–March 2027 for the current call). Travel to the mandatory workshops and final pitch is not reimbursed, and economic benefit to Scotland is one of the five scoring criteria.

Next deadline: Nov 8, 2026 · Themed challenge calls through 2027 (the current call runs October–November)

Builder tip: Say concretely where you will base staff or customers in Scotland, because that is a scored criterion, and scope a deliverable you can demonstrate within the three-month build; the panel asks for a concrete outcome, not a roadmap.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Individuals, teams, startups and SMEs from Scotland, the rest of the UK or abroad, provided you can show a link to Scottish economic benefit (for example a Scottish base or operations, or a commitment to set up a UK entity with operations in Scotland). A registered business is required before the Exploration Workshops, and shortlisted teams must attend in person in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
How to apply: Direct application: read the problem statement and applicant pack, then submit the online form with a 5-slide pitch deck and a 2-minute unlisted YouTube video at coetrust.com/innovation-challenge-calls.
Work funded fit: payments, infrastructure, DeFi
Equity taken: None — you keep your IP
Who wins: The current challenge is the Centre's third; Morgan Stanley and Zumo are its challenge partners.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Busan Blockchain Company Commercialization Support (Blockchain Specialized Cluster)

Busan Metropolitan City

KRW 100,000,000 per project (KRW 80 million in commercialization funds plus KRW 20 million in investment and incubation support)

GrantEquity-freeany

The catch: Commercialization funds are limited to service demonstration and technology upgrading, and the incubation portion pays the participating investment firm's staff and operating costs. You must keep a Busan presence, and the programme is funded only for 2024–2026 so far.

Next deadline: Per annual call — see official page (a 2027 call depends on a follow-up to the 2024–2026 cluster programme, not yet announced) · Annual call in spring, split into early-stage and growth-stage companies (the 2026 call ran March 9–26)

Builder tip: Busan Technopark also runs separate global-expansion calls for the same Busan-based companies (exhibition booths, investor demo days and travel support in Singapore, Europe, Vietnam and Dubai), so follow its announcements on bizinfo.go.kr through the year.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Blockchain service companies with a head office or branch office in Busan, South Korea (subsidiary workplaces do not count). Calls and applications are in Korean.
How to apply: Direct application: apply online through the Busan Technopark electronic evaluation system during the call window posted on bizinfo.go.kr; post and in-person submissions are not accepted.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, consumer apps, payments
Equity taken: None
Who wins: In 2026 the commercialization track drew 40 applicants and selected 14 companies; across the cluster programme Busan selected 19 companies with KRW 5.5 billion in total support.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

J-StarX Europe & Asia Cross-Border Growth Program — Fintech, Web3 & Emerging Technologies

JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) with METI

No cash award — about 8 weeks of tailored mentoring, market-entry or investment-readiness support and introductions, with JETRO covering programme fees; up to 10 startups

In-kind / lab accessEquity-freeany

The catch: Participants pay their own travel, visas, insurance and other costs for optional visits to hubs such as Zurich, London, Madrid, Istanbul, Singapore and Hong Kong. Participants must cooperate with METI and JETRO follow-up surveys and interviews during and after the programme.

Next deadline: Dec 20, 2026 · Annual programme (applications October–December, programme October–February), with rolling admission until 10 places are filled

Builder tip: Admission is rolling and closes once 10 companies are picked, so apply early. Pick the Market Discovery track if you need partners and PoCs in Europe or Singapore, or Investment Readiness if you are preparing to raise from overseas investors.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Japanese startups seeking overseas expansion, pre-seed to late stage, including startups founded by Japanese entrepreneurs abroad and by foreign founders living in Japan. The applicant must be a CXO-level executive with business-level English and a prototype to show partners.
How to apply: Direct application: register on the JETRO site and submit the English application form with a pitch-deck link; selection is by document review and an online interview.
Work funded fit: payments, infrastructure
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

Cyberport Incubation Programme (CIP)

Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company

Up to HK$500,000 in financial assistance plus a HK$200,000 on-site rental subsidy over 24 months; companies not yet incorporated can start with the Cyberport Creative Micro Fund (up to HK$100,000 seed funding over 6 months)

OtherEquity-freeany

The catch: Financial assistance reimburses eligible expenses: at graduation you must submit audited statements or an agreed-upon-procedures report showing at least HK$400,000 spent on eligible items. You must keep a Hong Kong presence for the full 24 months and meet the programme's Secure by Design requirement.

Next deadline: Dec 1, 2026 · Three intakes a year (results announced in February, June and October); applications accepted year-round

Builder tip: Web3 startups get extra hooks at Cyberport (Web3 Hub, the Web3.0 Investors Circle, the Blockchain Support Portal), but CIP vetting is general digital tech, so present a market-ready product and Hong Kong customers rather than a protocol thesis. Also watch for a new round of Cyberport's Blockchain & Digital Asset Pilot Subsidy Scheme (up to HK$500,000 per pilot in 2025).

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Digital-tech companies limited by shares and incorporated in Hong Kong for less than 7 years (or being incorporated), with a product ready for market in 12–18 months; founders must collectively hold at least 51%, and at least one founder or full-time employee must work in Hong Kong. Individual CCMF applicants must hold a Hong Kong Identity Card.
How to apply: Pitch gate: apply online by the intake deadline; shortlisted applicants attend a vetting and presentation session before results are announced.
Work funded fit: infrastructure, payments, consumer apps
Equity taken: None — founders must keep at least 51% or absolute control
Who wins: Cyberport says its Blockchain & Web3.0 community has more than 310 companies from Hong Kong, Mainland China and 20 other countries.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

MAS FSTI 4.0 Institution Project track (DLT and tokenisation)

Monetary Authority of Singapore

Up to 50% of qualifying expenses, capped at S$1,000,000 per project, for up to 24 months

GrantEquity-freeany

The catch: MAS pays at most half of qualifying costs (base salaries, professional services, infrastructure, licences, IP and the external auditor's certification), so you fund the rest and need an auditor's sign-off. Projects that may displace workers must include a preliminary assessment of that disruption.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (applications accepted throughout the three-year FSTI 4.0 scheme)

Builder tip: Talk to MAS before you spend: applications have to come ahead of project start. A shared DLT utility built with financial institutions may fit the separate Infrastructure & Platform track better, which offers up to 70% support.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Singapore-based financial institutions and FinTechs; each applicant may submit at most two applications under the track over the scheme period. Projects must be innovative solutions in AI, distributed ledger technology or quantum technology; routine digitalisation and off-the-shelf implementations are not eligible.
How to apply: Pitch gate: email MAS at [email protected] to discuss the project, then submit the application before the project starts.
Work funded fit: DeFi, payments, infrastructure
Equity taken: None — co-funding of qualifying expenses
Who wins: MAS says the FSTI scheme has supported more than 350 projects since 2015 across its earlier iterations.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-24

12-month calendar

Each program with a known or expected deadline, plotted by month. Solid = a confirmed date, from the official page or the program's OpenGrants listing. Grey italic = expected, based on the program's past cycle. The calendar follows the filters above.

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