Foreign media reported that Trent VanEpps, formerly affiliated with the Ethereum Foundation, warned that the Ethereum development ecosystem may face funding pressures within the next 3 to 9 months. This assessment does not refer to short-term budget fluctuations, but rather to a shrinking long-term source of funding for client teams, researchers, and protocol developers.
Annual demand is approximately $30 million.
VanEpps estimates that the Ethereum core development ecosystem requires approximately $30 million annually to support client teams, researchers, coordinators, and protocol developers. He believes that, given the Ethereum network's substantial scale, this cost is relatively low, but the infrastructure and R&D work carried out by these teams are difficult to replace quickly.
He noted that current pressures stem from two changes: first, the Ethereum Foundation is reducing its spending; second, the original client incentive program has ended, but no replacement has been announced yet.
- The Ethereum Foundation proposes a fund management plan for 2025.
- The annual spending target is planned to decrease from 15% to approximately 5% by 2030.
- The client incentive program expired in April 2026.
Stepping back into the background is not easy for the foundation.
The article states that part of the controversy stems from the Ethereum Foundation's long-standing emphasis on a "subtraction" approach. The core idea of this approach is that the foundation should not remain the central authority of the network indefinitely, but rather allow independent institutions to gradually assume responsibility.
VanEpps believes that the direction has been clearly communicated in principle, but in reality, the ecosystem has not yet fully taken over the multiple roles previously assumed by the foundation. Even if the foundation intends to step back, it continues to exert strong influence through its brand, financial reserves, research team, Ethereum.org, and major events like Devcon, while maintaining close ties with Vitalik Buterin.
The next phase requires a new implementing entity.
VanEpps also noted that Buterin recently stated that the Ethereum Foundation was never intended to permanently manage the network. This means that as Ethereum enters its next phase, the ecosystem will need new institutions, funding models, and governance structures to take over core development work.
If the stable funding cannot be replenished in time, he believes Ethereum may face several consequences, including the loss of senior developers, slowed progress on scaling, and setbacks to long-term research such as quantum resistance. A more immediate risk is that external expectations regarding Ethereum’s reliability could be undermined.
The article suggests that this statement is more of a call for the Ethereum community to establish a sustainable funding mechanism promptly, rather than waiting until the effects of insufficient funding become apparent in one or two years.