# Ethereum Funding Crisis Debate

> A former EF contributor warned core devs face a funding crisis within 3 to 9 months. Debates ignited over who should fund Ethereum's developers.

**Published by:** [ETH Daily](https://ethdaily.io/)
**Published on:** 2026-06-19
**Categories:** ethereum-foundation, funding, governance, protocol-guild
**URL:** https://ethdaily.io/trent-van-epps-warns-of-funding-crisis

## Content

Former Ethereum Foundation contributor Trent van Epps published an essay that included a warning about Ethereum core development entering a slow-burning funding crisis within the next 3 to 9 months. Van Epps worked at the Foundation from May 2021 until April 2026, coordinating core development and funding through Protocol Guild. He attributed the risk to the Foundation's annual spend cut from 15% toward a 5% endowment-level baseline by 2030. Van Epps estimated that maintaining and shipping features across more than 10 client, research, and coordination teams costs roughly $30 million annually. The post triggered a broader debate over who should fund core developers as the Foundation narrows its mandate. Federico Carrone, whose team builds the Ethrex execution client, pushed back and argued the squeeze could be healthy. He claimed many core teams survive only because the EF funds them regardless of output, noted his client team receives no EF grant and no place in Protocol Guild. Cutting guaranteed funding, he said, would sharpen incentives and force accountability onto teams insulated from competition. Disclaimer: Content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or other professional advice. No representations or warranties are made as to accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. Use of this content is at your own risk, and you should consult a qualified professional before making decisions. No fiduciary or advisory relationship is created

## Publication Information

- [ETH Daily](https://ethdaily.io/): Publication homepage
- [All Posts](https://ethdaily.io/): More posts from this publication
- [RSS Feed](https://api.paragraph.com/blogs/rss/@ethdaily): Subscribe to updates
- [Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/follow?screen_name=ethdaily): Follow on Twitter