Ethereum for the Next Billion: Announcing the EF Fellowship Program

Recent developments in the Ethereum ecosystem are truly encouraging. Are you interested in Proof-of-Stake (and faster, safer, greener Ethereum) adoption, the upcoming Merge and other massive upgrades, or the many applications and solutions that could transform various industries? Now is a great time to be part of the Ethereum community.

Our Evolving Role

We are all excited about the growth of Ethereum and the future our collective work can help create, but we also frequently receive questions about the role of the Ethereum Foundation and how our subtraction philosophy fits into that future. .

“Society becomes great when we plant trees whose shade our elders will never sit in.” – Anonymous Greek Proverb

As we all think about creating a real, lasting impact that outlasts us individually and as organizations, it becomes important to do what we can to ensure that the ecosystem, the Ethereum Garden, can exist and thrive sustainably without dependencies. . Giving too much information to EF or other companies.

But I also understand that there are many things that don’t happen organically until the garden matures. Someone has to plant the seeds, and someone has to water them. And we manage weeds that interfere with the healthy growth of your garden. We care about the longevity of Ethereum as well as the health of the Ethereum Garden so that it can remain “Ethereum.”

Look for opportunities in the bigger picture

In pursuing the longevity and health of our ecosystem, I always encourage our team to look at the bigger picture, thinking about what great work only EF can do. One of the questions I am often asked is “Are you looking for users who will benefit the most from Ethereum?”

Today, 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 not only represent our future as a people, but they could also represent the next billion Ethereum active users. This means a new generation of developers making Ethereum’s tomorrow more resilient and stronger. Additionally, Ethereum’s capabilities to enable trust, transparency, efficiency, and coordination have high potential in developing countries where these characteristics are often lacking. It is in this context that Ethereum’s opportunities, impacts and potential overlap. Ethereum Foundation Fellowship Program Created.

Discover the EF Fellowship Program

that much Ethereum Foundation Fellowship Program This is a pilot project started by . next billion, an EF team focused on identifying opportunities in emerging economies. The EF Fellowship program provides the opportunity to collaborate with change-makers using Ethereum to create high-potential projects that can impact emerging economies. This program offers a unique experience that includes mentorship, expertise, and access to leaders in the Ethereum ecosystem.

How is it different from regular grant support? Our vision is not only to support these specific projects, but to create a ripple effect. We hope that others will learn from and be inspired by this group’s work to do similar work or create upgraded solutions in their own communities.

our founding group

Benson Njuguna (acres africa) is working to implement blockchain solutions in microinsurance products that protect thousands of small-scale farmers in Kenya from extreme weather events. His project will test and showcase Ethereum’s potential to enable the viability and sustainability of products and services targeting the bottom of the wealth pyramid.

Tsui Cepeda (OS.City) provides local governments and central governments with a platform to easily issue digital IDs and blockchain-based documents to citizens, and has a vision of one day being able to store government-issued documents (such as permits and IDs) in an Ethereum wallet. You have. During the fellowship program, he and his team will work with the Argentine government to create strategies to drive meaningful blockchain adoption in the Latin American public sector.

Kuldeep Bandhu Arial (Bragg) will develop a blockchain and cryptocurrency strategy for BRAC, the world’s largest NGO. Headquartered in Bangladesh, BRAC serves more than 100 million people each year. Kuldeep’s project includes several experiments using blockchain, which could serve as a model for other social enterprises and the development sector at large.

Naroa base investment (giga) is exploring Ethereum-based solutions as part of Giga’s effort to connect every school to the internet. Naroa will help deliver today’s most important public goods to billions of people who are currently unconnected, unlocking much of what blockchain can do, from increasing accountability of service providers and financing connectivity infrastructure to providing access points to the global economy and markets. I’m thinking about a role.

Stay informed and get involved

While starting small and experimenting with this pilot class, this program is also a new strategic way for EF to allocate resources to areas that are still blue oceans for the future of Ethereum. The issues it focuses on have large, long-term implications for the value of Ethereum, which could achieve public sector adoption while also having a positive impact on promoting financial inclusion and fighting climate change.

We are excited to be working with Benson, Chuy, Kuldeep, and Naroa on a pilot year of the Ethereum Foundation Fellowship program to introduce Ethereum to their projects over the coming months. We congratulate Taira Ishikura and Serena Tan of the Next Billion team on their launch, and we’d like to extend a special thank you to those who helped us identify candidates.

We look forward to working with other community members to support these fellows. If you would like to stay connected to the fellowship program or other fellows, Sign up to stay informed hereOr contact our team. fellowship@ethereum.org.