Ethereum funding gap may emerge within months

• Former Ethereum Foundation contributor Trent Van Epps warned Ethereum (CRYPTO:ETH) could face a core development funding shortfall within three to nine months.
• Van Epps estimated Ethereum's core development ecosystem requires about US$30 million annually to support client teams, researchers, and coordination groups.
• The warning follows the expiry of the Client Incentive Program and planned reductions in Ethereum Foundation spending.

Ethereum (CRYPTO:ETH) could face a funding gap for core protocol development within the next three to nine months, according to former Ethereum Foundation contributor Trent Van Epps, who estimated the ecosystem requires about US$30 million per year to remain sustainable.

Van Epps said concerns are growing as the Ethereum Foundation reduces its spending rate and the Client Incentive Program, which provided ongoing support for client software teams, expired in April 2026 without a replacement.

“Ethereum may enter a slow-burning funding crisis,” said former Ethereum Foundation contributor Trent Van Epps.

Van Epps argued that reduced funding could affect client teams, researchers, and coordination groups responsible for network upgrades, while potentially slowing work on long-term initiatives such as scaling improvements and quantum security research.

He said Ethereum may need alternative funding structures beyond the Ethereum Foundation, with Protocol Guild and new institutional funding mechanisms among the options being discussed, and following the comments Ethereum traded near prevailing market levels with no immediate price reaction reported.

The funding debate comes as Ethereum developers continue work on the Glamsterdam upgrade, which includes proposed changes focused on Layer 1 scaling, block-building infrastructure, and gas pricing mechanisms.

Protocol Guild remains one of Ethereum's existing funding channels, while recent Ethereum Foundation grants have supported projects including Geth, Erigon, Lighthouse, validator security tools, cryptography research, and core infrastructure, highlighting ongoing efforts to maintain the network's development ecosystem.

At the time of reporting, Ethereum price was $1,692.31.