The Best Blockchain Grants in 2024 – (Updated)

The world of blockchain is filled with innovation, but bringing groundbreaking ideas to life often requires more than just passion.

In this same space, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 90% of startups find it hard to propel these ideas to become a reality due to many reasons of which lack of funding could be seen as number one.

For this reason, blockchain accelerators, startup labs, and bootcamps are launched to enable these smaller companies to find their foot in the crowded marketplace.

In this article, we’ll delve into the diverse range of blockchain grants available, from those offered by established players like the Ethereum Foundation to venture capitalists and individual philanthropists.

Get ready to explore the specific areas these grants target, discover the potential benefits for your project, and unlock the key to securing valuable funding for your project.

But before we do that, let’s grasp the understanding of what blockchain grants are and what sets them apart from crowdfunding and other kinds of public contributions.

Blockchain grants are a form of funding that supports the development and innovation of projects in the web3 space. They are usually offered by blockchain platforms, foundations, organizations, or individuals who want to expand the growth and adoption of their ecosystems, protocols, or technologies.

Blockchain grants are different from traditional funding sources, such as venture capital or crowdfunding, in several ways.

First, blockchain grants are often non-dilutive, meaning that the recipients do not have to give up any equity or ownership of their projects in exchange for the funds.

Secondly, blockchain grants are usually more flexible and open-ended, allowing the recipients to use the funds as they see fit, without strict milestones or deliverables.

Third, blockchain grants are often community-driven, which means that the applicants and the reviewers involved will be a part of the same ecosystem or network, and share a common vision and values.

However, they also come with some challenges and limitations, First, blockchain grants are highly competitive, meaning that as an applicant, you must stand out from a large pool of candidates, and demonstrate your value proposition, your contribution to the ecosystem, feasibility, and impact.

Another reason is that blockchain grants are often selective, so as an applicant, you will also have to align with the goals and criteria of the grant program, even if there may be some specific preferences or biases.

Finally, blockchain grants are often uncertain, as they have to deal with the volatility and unpredictability of the crypto market and the changing needs and expectations of the grant program.

Despite all the potential limitations mentioned above, as an applicant, you should be able to make sure you stay updated with the latest and up-to-date information available as it is published.

So dive in, let’s get started.

Top Blockchain Grants in 2024

Here are the highly recommended blockchain grants to apply for in 2024:

Velas $100 Million Grants Program
Aptos Foundation Grants Program
Ethereum Community Fund
Binance Smart Chain Accelerator Fund
CollectiveShift
Injective’s Global Virtual Hackathon
EOS Network Foundation

Velas $100 Million Grants Program

This ambitious program by the Velas blockchain boasts a staggering $100 million dedicated to fostering innovation within its ecosystem.

Offering grants up to $100,000 per project, they focus on a broad spectrum, including DeFi, NFTs, gaming, and educational initiatives. Interestingly, they prioritize projects that merge blockchain with technologies like AI and VR/AR.

The program is open to anyone who wants to join the Velas ecosystem and create user-friendly, transparent, and privacy-respecting products on top of the Velas blockchain

To find more information, visit Velas 100 Million Grants Program

Aptos Foundation Grant Program

The Aptos Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports the development of the Aptos ecosystem, a decentralized platform for Web3 applications. The Aptos Foundation’s Blockchain Grant Program invites developers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and enthusiasts to submit proposals for impactful solutions benefiting from the Aptos ecosystem.

Grants, technical guidance, mentorship, and exposure to the Aptos community are offered. Also, it is open to anyone with a vision for DApp development on Aptos, the program encourages innovative concepts beyond the listed suggestions.

The Aptos Foundation, supporting the Aptos blockchain, offers grants to individuals and teams building innovative dApps and tools on their platform. With a major focus on scalability, security, and user experience, they aim to nurture a thriving developer ecosystem for Aptos.

The Aptos Foundation’s Grant Program is not currently looking for projects but is usually open to both individuals and teams and offers funding ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, depending on the scope and complexity of the project.

To find out more information, visit the Aptos Foundation Grant Program

Ethereum Community Fund

Funded by the Ethereum Foundation, this program distributes grants to projects actively contributing to the advancement of the Ethereum ecosystem. The ECF was launched in 2018 by several prominent Ethereum-based projects, such as OmiseGo, Cosmos, Golem, Maker, and Raiden, with the advice of Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin.

The Ethereum Community Fund supports a diverse range of initiatives which sometimes range from core protocol development to education and research

To find out more information, visit the ECF Fund

Binance Smart Chain Accelerator Fund

The leading smart contract platform, Binance Smart Chain, offers an accelerator program providing grants, mentorship, and access to its vast network. Launched in 2021, the Binance Smart Chain Accelerator Fund (BSC Accelerator Fund) stands as a prominent initiative by Binance to propel the growth and development of the Binance Smart Chain (BSC) ecosystem.

The fund provides financial backing to promising projects building on BSC. This can range from seed funding to support early-stage development to larger grants for established projects with significant potential.

Beyond financial resources, the program offers technical guidance and mentorship to participating projects. This valuable support helps them navigate technical challenges, optimize their development process, and enhance their overall quality.

To find out more information, visit Binance Developer Programs

CollectiveShift

CollectiveShift is a platform that provides education, research, and community for crypto enthusiasts and investors. Its grants programs are a series of initiatives to support the development and innovation of projects in the crypto space, especially in the areas of DeFi, NFTs, gaming, and social impact.

The CollectiveShift’s Crypto Grants Program is looking for projects that can demonstrate originality, feasibility, and relevance to the crypto space, and that can benefit from the CollectiveShift platform and community.

The grant programs offer funding, exposure, and feedback to the selected projects, as well as access to the CollectiveShift network of experts and influencers. The grants programs are open to anyone who wants to contribute to the advancement and adoption of crypto, and welcome projects in various stages, from ideation to launch

To apply for CollectiveShift’s Crypto Grants Programs, you need to fill out an online application form, where you have to provide information about yourself, your project, your motivation, your roadmap, your budget, and your expected outcomes.

You also have to submit a video pitch of your project, and a link to your GitHub repository or other relevant materials. The applications are reviewed every month, and the results are announced within two weeks.

To find more information, visit the CollectiveShift Crypto Grants Guide

Injective’s Global Virtual Hackathon

Injective is a layer-2 decentralized exchange protocol that allows for fast, secure, and fully customizable trading of any asset, across any chain. Injective’s Global Virtual Hackathon is a competition that challenges developers to build innovative and scalable solutions using the Injective protocol and ecosystem.

The hackathon offers over $1 million in prizes, as well as mentorship, workshops, and networking opportunities.

The hackathon also provides mentorship, workshops, and networking sessions to the participants, as well as access to the Injective ecosystem of partners and investors.

To apply for the Injective’s Global Virtual Hackathon, you need to register on the hackathon website, where you have to provide information about yourself, your project, your category, and your team.

The applications are open until March 31, 2024, and the results are announced on April 15, 2024.

To find more information, visit the Injective Global Virtual Hackathon Website

EOS Network Foundation

The EOS Network Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports the development and growth of the EOS network, a decentralized platform for scalable and secure smart contracts.

The EOS Network Foundation offers grants to projects that contribute to the improvement and innovation of the EOS network and ecosystem, in alignment with its vision and values.

To find out more information, visit the EOS Network foundation

Final Words

These are some of the top blockchain grants available to creators and blockchain developers in 2024. You can find more information about these grants and how to apply for them on their respective websites.