Ethereum’s core development funding could be in jeopardy within months, a former EF contributor says.
Former Ethereum Foundation contributor Trent Van Epps warned that Ethereum could face a shortage of core development funding in the next three to nine months.
summation
- Van Epps said Ethereum core development could require about $30 million per year to remain stable.
- He links that pressure to EF spending cuts and the expiration of current client incentive programs.
- The Protocol Guild and new institutions are presented as possible pathways for future Ethereum-backed funding.
In a new article, he said the network could be plunged into a “slow-moving funding crisis” as foundations cut spending and major client funding programs end.
Van Epps worked at the Ethereum Foundation from May 2021 to April 2026. He focused on coordinating core development, protocol guild funding, and the political economy of Ethereum. His comments add a new layer to the debate about who should fund the people who maintain Ethereum’s underlying software.
He estimated that Ethereum’s core development system would require about $30 million per year to remain healthy. That money supports client teams, researchers and coordination groups that deliver upgrades and keep the network stable.
Increased pressure due to client program expiration
Van Epps pointed to two main sources of pressure. One is the Ethereum Foundation’s financial policy, which aims to reduce annual spending from 15% of the Treasury to 5% by 2030. The other is the end of the Client Incentive Program, known as CIP.
CIP was launched in 2021 to reward client teams that maintain key Ethereum software. The Ethereum Foundation stated at launch that client diversity helps protect the network from bugs and attacks. Under this program, client teams received validator-based rewards that were unlocked over time as they continued to meet network requirements.
Van Epps said the CIP expired in April 2026 and a replacement does not appear to be ready. He argued that losing consistent support could drive away experienced developers. He also warned that the funding gap could make it more difficult to tackle long-term tasks such as scaling and quantum-related security research.
The discussion turns to new funding models.
The article also questioned the long-term role of the Ethereum Foundation. Van Epps cited Vitalik Buterin’s view that foundations “are not designed to be eternal stewards.” He said institutions and funding systems may need to take on more responsibility.
Gabriel Shapiro argued for X that protocol funding may require a governance structure that Ethereum does not have. Van Epps responded that his goal was not to give one group unlimited control, but to secure neutral, steady funding for key contributors.
As previously reported by crypto.news, Ethereum developers are already preparing major technical work with the Glamsterdam upgrade. The roadmap includes changes to layer 1 expansion, block building, and gas pricing. Funding discussions are now more focused on the teams expected to do the work.
Protocol guilds remain part of the discussion.
Protocol Guild is one of the existing funding channels. Gitcoin describes it as a collective fund that supports Ethereum Layer 1 contributors through long-term token vesting. The fund directs donated assets to active donors and does not set protocol priorities.
Crypto.news previously reported that the Ethereum Foundation’s Q1 2026 grants supported Geth, Erigo, Lighthouse, validator security tools, crypto research, and core infrastructure. These grants show that funding is continuing, but Van Epps argues that Ethereum needs more durable sources of support.
The warning does not mean that Ethereum is facing a technical failure. This highlights growing concerns about how networks will pay for maintenance and upgrades. For Van Epps, the question is whether Ethereum can fund shared infrastructure without making the foundation a permanent center.