As we embark on a brand new decade(!), the Ecosystem Assist Program crew needed to talk to a number of the latest development, transition and studying across the program, and share particulars of our 2019 monetary allocations.
What’s ESP?
The Ecosystem Assist Program (ESP) is the arm of the Ethereum Basis centered on offering assist to groups all through the Ethereum ecosystem. This contains monetary and non-financial assist. ESP is an growth of the Grants program, which beforehand centered totally on financial assist.
Bettering Our Processes
The 2019 Ethereum Foundation Spring Update first previewed a few of our plans for evolving from Grants to ESP. Since that transition, we’ve continued to award easy grants, and helped make connections to different potential sources of funding the place an EF grant was not a match. We’ve additionally facilitated recommendation from business specialists, group publicity, entry to cloud providers and different infrastructure, and extra.
During the last 9 months we’ve included suggestions to refine our software course of and made numerous modifications, together with:
- A standardized course of for reviewing ESP purposes
- An expanded group of area specialists accessible to assist with peer assessment of purposes, or to advise candidates on their tasks
- Elevated give attention to offering candidates with 1:1 suggestions
- Labored extra carefully with accepted tasks to create clearer targets, roadmaps, and mutual expectations
Increasing Communications
With these stronger processes in place, we’re making an effort to extend visibility and to draw extra high-quality purposes. To that finish, we’re making some modifications to how we talk, from bettering current channels to including some shiny new pages to the ESP website.
Some modifications are modest, however we hope that they’ll be useful in each maintaining the group knowledgeable and higher getting ready potential candidates. On the entrance web page now you can comply with the newest information about ESP and see which occasions we’ll be collaborating in, whether or not just about or in individual following the present and ongoing well being disaster.
We’ve added to our FAQ, improved our inquiry types, and most significantly debuted some new web page banners that we predict actually tie the room collectively 😎. Preserve a watch out for much more additions within the coming months, and common updates to current content material!
We’ve additionally added a Wishlist to carry consideration to particular areas like safety, Eth2, and privateness, the place we’d wish to see extra purposes. This listing is not a declaration of what is necessary to the ecosystem, or perhaps a assertion of ESP’s priorities. Nevertheless, we hope the listing serves as inspiration for anybody trying to become involved! As at all times, we wish to strike a steadiness between demonstrating the vary of efforts that ESP helps whereas additionally embracing potential contributors working exterior of the precise areas we have outlined.
On the reporting entrance, we might be publishing common weblog posts to announce new grant recipients, however a grant is simply the start. Shifting ahead, we’ll even be highlighting what supported groups go on to perform. On the brand new Featured Projects web page, we’ll highlight tasks which can be months or years into the work that was enabled by these grants. We’ll additionally use our weblog and broaden our use of social media to have a good time grant recipients as they obtain milestones and make progress towards their targets.
Monetary Assist in 2019
Whereas we labored to enhance the Ecosystem Assist Program all through 2019, we continued to assist tasks throughout the ecosystem. Awarding grants is just one means that we offer that assist. There are a lot of wonderful groups that aren’t EF grant recipients, both as a result of they’re already funded or as a result of their explicit focus is simply not the fitting match for EF funding. Nevertheless, we work to assist these important contributors in no matter means we will (for instance, as a bridge to new alternatives or as an amplifier of community results for his or her tasks).
That stated, monetary assist continues to be a serious a part of how we assist the broader Ethereum ecosystem. Over 70 tasks acquired monetary assist in 2019. What’s listed beneath particulars newly distributed grants to groups in 2019. It doesn’t embody recurring assist, tranches for newly achieved milestones from prior recipients, or funding for different EF groups. For extra particulars on the entire Basis’s work, we’ll share a 2020 Spring Replace within the coming days.
We’re together with names and summaries for every funded undertaking beneath. You could find a searchable spreadsheet together with hyperlinks to be taught extra about particular person tasks right here.
Ethereum 2.0
Ethereum 2.0 improvement is in full swing, with many groups working collectively to make Ethereum extra scalable, resilient, safe, and naturally introduce Proof of Stake! We’ve helped to fund a various bunch of two.0 shoppers, in addition to efforts towards interoperability, bettering reliability and creating developer tooling. Along with the grants listed beneath, Ethereum 2.0 work has been supported by means of recurring funding and different channels.
Eth2 Purchasers: $1,695,000
| Grant | Description | Extra Data |
|---|---|---|
| Concord Shopper | Assist for the Concord crew to develop a beacon chain shopper in Java. | https://github.com/harmony-dev/beacon-chain-java |
| Lighthouse | Assist for Sigma Prime’s continued improvement of the Lighthouse staking shopper, written in Rust, for the Ethereum 2.0 community. | https://lighthouse.sigmaprime.io/ |
| Nimbus | Assist for Standing’s continued improvement of the Nimbus shopper for Ethereum 2.0, designed to carry out properly on embedded techniques and private cellular gadgets, together with older smartphones with resource-restricted {hardware}. | https://nimbus.team/ |
| Prysm Shopper | Assist for Prysmatic Labs’s continued improvement of the Prysm staking shopper for the Ethereum 2.0 community written in Go. | https://prylabs.net/ |
Eth2 Tooling & Different: $1,459,000
| Grant | Description | Extra Data |
|---|---|---|
| Tutorial analysis on CBC Casper | Analysis by Ryuya Nakamura of College of Tokyo and Dominik Harz of Imperial School London to ascertain the theoretical basis of CBC Casper together with the evaluation of safety, efficiency, and incentives. | https://ethresear.ch/u/nrryuya/activity/topics https://eprint.iacr.org/2019/415.pdf https://github.com/LayerXcom/cbc-casper-proof |
| Beacon Fuzz | Differential fuzzer for Section 0 of Eth2. | https://github.com/sigp/beacon-fuzz/ |
| Cryptonext | Survey and report on potential approaches to aggregatable post-quantum signatures in Eth2. | https://cryptonext-security.com/ |
| Dmitry Khovratovich | Cryptoanalysis of the Lengendre PRF and Proof of Custody development. | https://eprint.iacr.org/2019/862.pdf |
| Herumi | Convey the Herumi BLS library in keeping with the IEFT spec. | https://github.com/herumi/mcl |
| Lodestar | Work by Chainsafe on Eth2 light-client R&D inside their Lodestar javascript shopper; in addition to persevering with to supply assist to the Eth2 JS/web-browser ecosystem by growing libraries, tooling, and academic sources. | http://github.com/ChainSafe/Lodestar |
| Nimbus | Grant to Standing, co-funded with Protocol Labs, to construct nim-libp2p, a networking stack in Nim. | https://github.com/status-im/nim-libp2p |
| Runtime Verification | Formal verification of the Eth2 Deposit Contract; constructing the Section 0 Beacon Chain spec in Ok Framework for the needs of formal verification; and formally verifying Accountable Security and Believable Liveness in opposition to the Ok Beacon Chain. | |
| VDF analysis—hybrid prover | Analysis on the soundness and efficiency of a hybrid Wesolowski-Pietrzak VDF prover. | |
| VDF: Quantity Idea Assertion | Show a quantity theoretic assertion which means an info theoretic decrease certain for modular squaring. | |
| Whiteblock | Ethereum 2.0 community testing and testnet/interoperability assist: evaluation of the libp2p gossipsub implementation, working with implementors to assist refine the networking stack and specification, and advancing interoperability efforts. | https://whiteblock.io/ |
Eth 1.x: $487,000
Important work continues on bettering Ethereum because it exists immediately, with upgrades being labored on by 1.x contributors to assist enhance Ethereum within the quick time period. Targeted upon areas embody Stateless Ethereum, bettering developer expertise, rising node shopper variety, guaranteeing that operating a full node stays sustainable, and getting ready a path to the two.0 rollout. As with Eth2, these are simply the allocations that took the type of grants. We’ll share extra about different supported efforts – together with Geth, extra 1.x and Stateless analysis, and extra in later organizational updates.
Layer 2: $1,211,000
Layer 2 options allow all kinds of purposes which may in any other case be too costly, gradual, difficult, or simply not potential to implement instantly on the Ethereum base layer. 2019 was an thrilling 12 months throughout which groups and people throughout the group got here collectively to make big strides towards making Ethereum extra helpful and scalable. This work is essential within the close to time period, however simply as worthwhile for the long run. Eth 2.0 will nonetheless profit from the improved privateness, scalability, and adaptability provided by Layer 2.
| Grant | Description | Extra Data |
|---|---|---|
| Connext | Aligning Connext cost hubs with generalized State Channel unification undertaking. | https://github.com/ConnextProject/indra, https://connext.network |
| Cryptoeconomics Labs | Plasma Chamber, an OVM-inspired, basic function layer 2 software framework | https://www.cryptoeconomicslab.com/ |
| LeapDAO | Plasma Leap: a Extra Viable Plasma design which permits execution of good contract performance on plasma utilizing EVM enforcer, a computation verification engine that enables for enforcement of off-chain execution. | https://leapdao.org/ |
| Matter Labs | Productionizing Plasma Ignis, a SNARK-driven zk-rollup implementation. | https://matter-labs.io/ |
| PISA Analysis | Common accountable watchtower system for state channels and decentralized finance protocols, which permits events to rent an accountable service to observe the off-chain protocols and on-chain contracts on their behalf. | https://www.pisa.watch/ |
| Plasma Group | Analysis into generalized plasma, Optimistic Rollup, and OVM (Optimistic Digital Machine). | https://plasma.group/ |
| Twitch Performs Pokemon on Plasma | Take a look at suite for tutorial establishments and researchers to check financial and coordination theories of decentralized governance fashions. | flexdapps.com |
| Unified State Channels | A joint grant to Prototypal, Magmo and L4 analysis aimed on the unification of State Channels efforts. Along with merging efforts already in progress, contributors labored collectively to rewrite, optimize and do formal modeling of the underlying protocol; design a demo app; and design a resilient shopper that gives fund restoration ensures to customers. | statechannels.org |
Cryptography and Zero Information Proofs: $426,000
There’s extra work than ever going into analysis and improvement on cryptography and nil information proofs. These efforts strengthen the basic constructing blocks of the protocol, opening up new prospects for scaling, privateness, and safety. 2019 was all about sensible steps ahead, with instruments being constructed that make developments extra accessible to builders with out requiring a complicated understanding cryptography.
| Grant | Description | Extra Data |
|---|---|---|
| AirAssembly | Language for encoding Algebraic Intermediate Illustration (AIR), making STARK programming extra accessible by enabling succinct proofs of computational integrity in zk-STARKS. | https://ethresear.ch/t/airassembly-a-low-level-language-for-zk-starks/6419/4 |
| Aztec | Cryptographic development which permits nested composition of a batch of Aztec vary proofs inside a zk-SNARK circuit, to allow future improvement of privateness preserving rollups. | https://www.aztecprotocol.com/ |
| Circom | A strong and scalable language for complicated arithmetic circuit design. | https://github.com/iden3/circom |
| FPGA Snark Prover | Bettering effectivity of zk-SNARK proof creation by offloading operations to an FPGA (area programmable information array). | |
| Kestrel Institute | ACL2 Ethereum shopper and AXE equivalence checker to formally confirm cryptographic primitives (together with MiMC, PiMC, Edison hash, BLAKE2) relevant to varied makes use of of zk-SNARKS. | https://www.kestrel.edu/home/projects/fv-of-r1cs/index.html |
| Legendre PRF Bounty | The Legendre PRF (pseudo-random perform) is required to allow secret-shared validators utilizing multi-party computations. These bounties encourage extra analysis on key restoration assaults, to extend confidence in utilizing this cryptographic primitive. | https://eprint.iacr.org/2019/862.pdf, https://legendreprf.org/bounties |
| MACI | Minimal Anti-Collusion Infrastructure: a collusion resistance scheme that drastically will increase the chance concerned in shopping for or promoting votes. | https://github.com/barryWhiteHat/maci |
| Platon | Validation and implementation of the “Proof of Custody” scheme, which permits secret shared validators by way of multi-party computation, enabling trustless staking swimming pools in addition to redundancy to lower the chance of getting slashed because of compromised {hardware} or software program. | https://github.com/PlatONnetwork/proof_of_custody |
| Statebox | Analysis into utilizing class idea to show diagrams, securely and compositionally, into zk-SNARK circuits. | www.statebox.org |
Developer Expertise: $1,322,000
Ethereum opened up a complete new design area for purposes. As builders have explored this area, inevitably they’ve found new ache factors and required new instruments. We’re making important investments in enhancing developer expertise on Ethereum, from bettering the vary of programming languages, software program libraries, dev tooling, node infrastructure, decentralized storage, messaging, and extra. These developments allow builders to do extra, extra simply, to allow them to give attention to their merchandise slightly than on constructing their very own customized tooling. In the end we wish it to be straightforward – and enjoyable – to construct on Ethereum.
| Grant | Description | Extra Data |
|---|---|---|
| Buidler | Extending capabilities for Buidler, a process runner for Ethereum good contract builders. | https://buidler.dev/ |
| DeepSEA | Analysis at Yale and Columbia on DeepSEA, a language producing coq proofs to compile formally verified code to the EVM guaranteeing no bugs are launched. | https://certik.org/deepsea_blockchain.html |
| Ethereum on ARM | Customized Linux photographs to routinely flip useful resource constrained gadgets into full Ethereum nodes. | https://github.com/diglos/pi-gen (for ARM32 repository, Raspberry Pi 4 picture), https://github.com/diglos/userpatches (for ARM64 repository, NanoPC-T4 and RockPro64 picture) |
| Moon | EVM and WASM runtimes for formality language in addition to associated libraries, documentation and tutorials. | https://github.com/moonad/, https://sunshinecybernetics.com/, https://github.com/moonad/Formality/blob/master/DOCUMENTATION.md |
| NomicLabs | Developer expertise analysis, prioritization, and roadmapping. | https://nomiclabs.io/ |
| Play | Decentralized database for verified Solidity code. | https://playproject.io/play-ed/ |
| py-libp2p | Capstone undertaking by 4 College of Pennsylvania seniors to develop a python implementation of libp2p, utilized by IPFS and Eth2, and accompanying easy-to-use toolsets | https://github.com/libp2p/py-libp2p |
| Shadowlands | Framework for constructing terminal-based Ethereum apps with a textual content UI, as an alternative choice to apps with web-based UI. | https://github.com/kayagoban/shadowlands |
| Solhint | Continued improvement and added plugins for Solhint, a software for linting solidity code to establish dangerous coding practices. | github: https://github.com/protofire/solhint/, Firm profile: https://protofire.io |
| Solidity Protection | Enhancements to the solidity-coverage software, which gives a means for Solidity builders to measure the accuracy of their javascript check suites, obtain protection reporting and extra. | https://github.com/sc-forks/solidity-coverage |
| SOLL | Second State’s LLVM based mostly compiler, a yul various to assist transition Solidity to eWASM. | https://github.com/second-state/SOLL, https://www.secondstate.io/ |
| Swarm | Analysis and improvement on Swarm, a decentralized storage resolution. | https://swarm.ethereum.org/ |
| Tenderly | Enhancements to Buidler’s console.log performance. | https://tenderly.dev/ |
| Web3J | Improvement and upkeep of the Web3j library to be able to present an improved expertise for Java, Android and Kotlin builders. | https://blog.web3labs.com/web3j-ethereum-foundation-grant-update, https://www.web3labs.com/web3j, https://github.com/web3j/web3j |
Person Expertise: $213,000
We’re at all times looking out for common instruments and upgrades that scale back friction for the top person with out compromising decentralization or any of the opposite issues that make Ethereum particular. Addressing widespread ache factors like fuel prices, id administration, tackle readability, and interoperability makes it simpler for dapp builders in every single place to onboard customers.
| Grant | Description | Extra Data |
|---|---|---|
| Eauth | Oauth2 appropriate authentication service framework based mostly on Ethereum. | https://github.com/pelith/node-eauth-server |
| ENS Basis | Continuation funding for Ethereum Title Service, decentralized Web naming infrastructure on Ethereum. | https://ens.domains/ |
| Ethereum Pockets SDK | Abstraction layer which permits dapp builders to simply combine with a number of wallets. | https://dappsdk.io/ |
| Everest | Id and credential system which permits id claims reminiscent of KYC standing to be securely revealed, shared, and verified on Ethereum Mainnet. | https://everest.org |
| Gasoline Station Community | Meta transactions normal and decentralized community of relay nodes to deal with fuel charges on behalf of customers. | https://gasstation.network/ |
| POAP | Subsidization of Proof of Attendance Protocol fuel prices at Devcon. | http://www.poap.xyz |
Group and Training: $422,000
Merely put, Ethereum wouldn’t exist with out its group and the people who work to develop and enrich our ecosystem. These groups carry individuals collectively each in individual and on-line, improve the variety of our international group, and assist to construct a common information base by making instructional supplies free and accessible to all.
Oblique Funding $484,000
A brand new sort of ecosystem wants new methods of fascinated with funding! The Ethereum ecosystem depends on open supply builders and impartial thinkers to thrive. To this finish, we glance to assist novel methods of funding gifted contributors exterior the normal constructions of firms and organizations; grants and VCs; contracts and salaries. This class is all about entrusting sources to the group.
| Grant | Description | Extra Data |
|---|---|---|
| Gitcoin | Funding for operations, bounties and CLR matching. | https://gitcoin.co/ |
| MolochDAO | Funding for the launch of MolochDAO in an effort to diversify improvement funding. | https://molochdao.com/ |
| UNICEF | ETH and BTC donations to UNICEF’s Crypto-denomintated Fund to assist blockchain improvements within the growing world and encourage using cryptocurrencies (with out changing them into fiat). | https://www.unicef.org/ |
We’re happy with all the pieces our 2019 cohort achieved, and we’re forging forward in 2020 with renewed vitality and function. As at all times, massive due to the group on your ardour and assist, and we stay up for maintaining you updated with the newest from the ESP crew! 🦄