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The Ethereum Foundation is waking up from an austerity phase in 2026 and relaunching its EPF7 program to attract new talent. A bold strategy to strengthen your ecosystem against Bitcoin. Find out how this initiative could redefine the future of blockchain.
In short
- The Ethereum Foundation is relaunching the EPF7 program to recruit developers after the austerity phase.
- 18 grants awarded in Q1 2026 for key projects (security, cryptography, protocol).
- Goal: Strengthen the Ethereum ecosystem to compete with Bitcoin through innovation.
After austerity measures, the Ethereum Foundation is betting on new developers
In 2026, after a period of budget constraints, the Ethereum Foundation is relaunching its Ethereum Protocol Fellowship (EPF7) program. Target? Recruit talented developers to strengthen the protocol. With 18 grants awarded in Q1 2026, the foundation demonstrates its desire to maintain its leadership in technology.
To this end, candidates selected by the Ethereum Foundation will benefit from mentoring and a monthly stipend. A unique opportunity to contribute to projects such as the Fusaka transition or security tools. Applications are open until May 13, 2026 with a smaller but more engaged cohort.
Is ETH destined to remain the second largest cryptocurrency?
Ethereum remains firmly anchored in second place among cryptocurrencies, but can it overtake Bitcoin? The key could well be the new developers of the EPF7 program. Their work on innovations such as zero-knowledge proofs or scalability solutions (L2) could boost mass adoption. Will these technical improvements be enough to reverse the trend? With a rapidly evolving ecosystem, Ethereum therefore relies on innovation to differentiate itself.
Although Bitcoin still dominates in capitalization, analysts believe that flippening (overtaking Ethereum) could occur by 2028-2030 if mass adoption of decentralized applications accelerates and scalability solutions (such as rollups) reduce costs. However, Bitcoin remains the undisputed store of value. So everything will depend on the development of regulation, institutional acceptance and technological progress in Ethereum.
The Ethereum Foundation is betting on talent to strengthen its position. Could the EPF7 program make ETH a serious competitor to Bitcoin? The debate remains open, but one thing is certain: innovation will be at the heart of the battle ahead.
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The world is evolving and adaptation is the best weapon to survive in this wavy universe. Essentially a crypto community manager, I am interested in anything directly or indirectly related to blockchain and its derivatives. To share my experiences and raise awareness of a field that fascinates me, there is nothing better than writing articles that are both informative and relaxing.
DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
The comments and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be considered investment advice. Before making any investment decision, do your own research.