Ethereum

The Ethereum Foundation has announced its Q1 2025 grant recipients, continuing its tradition of supporting innovative projects within the ecosystem. This quarterly funding initiative demonstrates the Foundation's ongoing commitment to fostering development and growth in the Ethereum space. - Grants focus on technical infrastructure, research, and community development - Recipients were selected based on potential impact and alignment with ecosystem needs - Full list of grantees available on the Ethereum Foundation blog *Note: This marks the first grant round of 2025, following the established quarterly distribution schedule.*

The Pectra network upgrade has been successfully activated on Ethereum mainnet at epoch 364032 (10:05:11 UTC). Key improvements include: - Enhanced smart account wallet user experience - Doubled L2 scaling data storage blob capacity - Improved validator user experience Community monitoring will continue for 24 hours to ensure stability. The upgrade marks a significant milestone before the upcoming Fusaka upgrade. For detailed information: [Full Upgrade Notes](https://blog.ethereum.org/2025/04/23/pectra-mainnet)

**Key Contributors Recognized** - Marius Van Der Wijden created crucial test cases and statetests, supporting Besu team verification - Collaboration between Besu team, EF security team, and Kevaundray Wedderburn highlighted - Notable contributions from Justin Traglia **Additional Team Efforts** - @davidchuETH, @talbert_leon, @LucemansNL, @Esk3nder - @mvcura, @domicoeth, @gregskril worked with @dentityme *This collaborative effort demonstrates the ongoing development and security maintenance of the Ethereum ecosystem.*

The Ethereum ecosystem continues to attract thousands of new builders annually through various entry points: - Community events and hackathons - Educational courses and bootcamps - University campus clubs However, **retention remains a key challenge** as newcomers struggle to find structured pathways for continued engagement. This mirrors broader trends seen at events like Devcon SEA, where 93 scholars recently gathered in Bangkok to explore integrating Ethereum across different disciplines and communities. The ecosystem now faces the critical task of developing sustainable onboarding processes to convert initial interest into long-term builder engagement.

A new 'Checkpoint' series has been introduced to provide condensed updates from Ethereum's weekly All Core Developer calls. - Series will cover 4-5 calls per update - Focus on high-level development progress - Aims to make technical discussions more accessible The initiative comes as Ethereum continues to evolve, with recent discussions including the Dencun upgrade coordination among core developers. *Follow the Checkpoint series to stay informed about Ethereum's technical development without getting overwhelmed by weekly details.*

The Ethereum Foundation emphasizes its dedication to treating information as a public good, highlighting two key initiatives: - **Research Grant Program**: Launched in 2022 to support academic research and knowledge sharing - **Next Billion Fellowship**: Focuses on documenting community impact stories and technological accessibility These programs align with the Foundation's core mission of keeping technology open and accessible while fostering community-driven development. *Learn more about ongoing research opportunities and fellowship applications through the Ethereum Foundation portal.*

Mulenga Kapwepwe, founder of the Women's History Museum of Zambia, initiated discussions with local tech experts about blockchain's potential role in cultural preservation. This exploration follows a growing trend of African cultural institutions seeking innovative technological solutions. The initiative connects with other regional movements like Bitcoin Dada in Kenya, which focuses on empowering African women in blockchain technology. Key points: - Museum founder exploring blockchain for heritage preservation - Local tech community engaged in discussions - Part of broader African tech adoption movement *This intersection of traditional cultural preservation and blockchain technology represents an emerging trend in African heritage institutions.*

The Ethereum Foundation's EcoDev Research Team has announced five six-month research fellowship positions. These fellowships aim to explore underutilized Ethereum use cases, offering participants a unique opportunity for in-depth research. Key points: - Five positions available - Six-month duration - Focus on underexplored Ethereum applications This initiative follows the recent Devconnect Scholars Program, which aimed to increase diversity in the Ethereum community. Both programs demonstrate the Foundation's commitment to fostering innovation and inclusivity in the Ethereum ecosystem. Interested candidates should check the Ethereum Foundation's website for application details and deadlines.

Ethereum's highly anticipated Cancun-Deneb upgrade has successfully launched, marking a significant milestone in the blockchain's evolution. Key improvements include: - Enhanced scalability and reduced transaction costs - Improved smart contract functionality - Increased network security measures The upgrade, part of Ethereum's ongoing development roadmap, aims to address previous limitations and pave the way for future innovations. While the immediate impact may be subtle, experts predict long-term benefits for developers, users, and the broader Ethereum ecosystem. As the community adapts to these changes, stay tuned for updates on how this upgrade shapes Ethereum's future.

In March 2024, Ethereum implemented EIP-4844 as part of the Dencun hardfork, strengthening its role as a data availability layer. This upgrade introduced "blobs" to enhance the network's capabilities. Key points: - EIP-4844 is a crucial component of the Dencun hardfork - The upgrade aims to improve Ethereum's data availability - "Blobs" were introduced as a new feature The Dencun hard fork, scheduled for March 2024, will activate multiple Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) on the mainnet. EIP-4844, also known as proto-danksharding, has garnered significant attention among these proposals. This upgrade represents a major step forward in Ethereum's ongoing development and scalability efforts.