The progress that is being made in the Ethereum ecosystem lately is truly inspiring. Whether you’re excited about proof-of-stake adoption (and faster, safer, greener Ethereum), the upcoming merger and other big updates, or some of the many apps and solutions that have the power to change various industries, it is a great time to be a part of the Ethereum community.
Our evolving role
While we are all excited about the growth of Ethereum and the future that our collective work can help create, I am also often asked about the role of the Ethereum Foundation and how our philosophy of subtraction fits into that future.
“Society grows when the elderly plant trees whose shade they know will never sit down.” – anonymous Greek proverb
When we think about creating a real and lasting impact, one that will outlive all of us personally and our organizations, it becomes important for us to subtract what we can so that the ecosystem, the Ethereum garden, can sustainably exist and thrive without relying on too much in EF or any other entity.
However, we also understand that there are many things that will not happen organically until the garden matures. Someone needs to plant seeds, others need to water them. And we take care of weeds when things block healthy growth in the garden. We care not only about longevity, but also about the health of the Ethereum garden so that Ethereum remains “Ethereum”.
Looking for opportunities within the big picture
In the quest for longevity and ecosystem health, I always encourage our team to step back and look at the big picture, as we consider which of the to-dos only EF can do. One of the questions I often ask is: “Are we looking at the users who would benefit the most from Ethereum?”
Currently, developing countries account for more than 80% of the world’s population, and of the approximately 400,000 babies born every day around the world, more than 360,000 are born in developing countries. People in developing countries represent not only our future as a people, but they may also represent the next billion active Ethereum users. That means new generations of developers together making tomorrow’s Ethereum more resilient and stronger. Additionally, Ethereum’s ability to enable trust, transparency, efficiency, and coordination has great potential in developing countries, where these features are often in short supply. It is in this context, an overlap between opportunities, impact and potential for Ethereum, that the Ethereum Foundation Scholarship Program was created.
Learn about the EF Scholarship Program
He Ethereum Foundation Scholarship Program is a pilot project that has been launched by next billion, an EF team that focuses on seeking opportunities in emerging economies. The EF Scholarship Program gives us the opportunity to work with change makers whose projects have high potential to make an impact in emerging economies using Ethereum. The program features a unique experience that includes mentorship, experience, and access to leaders in the Ethereum ecosystem.
How is this different from regular grant support? Our vision is not just to support these specific projects, but to create a ripple effect. We hope that others will learn from the work of this cohort and be inspired to do similar work in their own communities, or even create improved solutions.
Our inaugural cohort
Benson Njuguna (Acre Africa) is working to implement blockchain solutions in a microinsurance product that protects thousands of smallholder farmers in Kenya from extreme weather events. His project will test and showcase the potential of Ethereum to enable the viability and sustainability of products and services that target the bottom of the wealth pyramid.
Chuy Cepeda (OS.City) provides municipal and national governments with a platform to easily issue blockchain-based digital identities and documents to their citizens, with a vision of one day having government-issued documents (such as permits and IDs) in our Ethereum wallets. During the Fellowship Program, he and his team will work with the Argentine government and create strategies to advance meaningful blockchain adoption in the Latin American public sector.
Kuldeep Bandhu Aryal (BRAC) will develop a blockchain and crypto strategy for BRAC, the world’s largest NGO. Based in Bangladesh, BRAC serves more than 100 million people a year. Kuldeep’s project involves multiple experiments using blockchain and could serve as a model for other social enterprises and the development sector in general.
Naroa Zurutuza (Jig) is exploring Ethereum-based solutions as part of Giga’s effort to connect all schools to the Internet. By helping to provide today’s most important public good to billions of people who are currently unconnected, Naroa envisions many roles that blockchain can play, from increasing the accountability of service providers and financing connectivity infrastructures, to a access point to the global economy and markets.
Stay informed and involved
While starting small and as an experiment with this pilot class, this program is also a new strategic avenue for EF to allocate resources to regions that are still a blue ocean for the future of Ethereum. The issues they focus on have important and long-term implications for the value of Ethereum as something that can achieve public sector adoption while helping to achieve financial inclusion, which has a positive impact on the fight against climate change and more.
We are excited to begin working with Benson, Chuy, Kuldeep, and Naroa for the pilot year of the Ethereum Foundation Fellowship Program as they incorporate Ethereum into their projects in the coming months. Congratulations to Taira Ishikura and Serena Tan from the Next Billion team on the launch, and we’d also like to give a special thanks to those who helped us identify candidates.
We look forward to working with other members of the community to support these scholars, and if you would like to stay connected with the Scholarship Program or any of the scholars, please sign up to stay informed hereor contact the team at [email protected].
