Ethereum Foundation Launches $1 Million Security Audit Subsidy Program

Apr 16, 2026

The Ethereum Foundation launched a $1 million Audit Subsidy Program on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, to make professional security reviews more accessible to Ethereum mainnet builders of all sizes. The program connects developers with more than 20 top-tier audit firms through partners including Nethermind, Chainlink Labs, and platform provider Areta, with an expert committee reviewing applications and distributing subsidies. The initiative is part of the Foundation's broader Trillion Dollar Security Initiative and accompanies the introduction of CROPS principles (censorship resistance, open source, privacy and security) to guide application development. The program aims to lower financial barriers that have prevented comprehensive audits and strengthen Ethereum as it scales to support increasingly complex applications and larger amounts of on-chain value.

Ethereum Foundation's $1 Million Audit Subsidy Program Launch

▪The Ethereum Foundation's Audit Subsidy Program is designed to lower financial barriers that have historically prevented many teams from undergoing comprehensive audits.
▪The Ethereum Foundation's Audit Subsidy Program aims to make professional security reviews more accessible to builders.
▪The Ethereum Foundation's Audit Subsidy Program is backed by a $1 million subsidy pool.
▪The Ethereum Foundation unveiled the Audit Subsidy Program on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
▪The Ethereum Foundation's Audit Subsidy Program is open to all Ethereum mainnet builders, regardless of size or stage.

Program Structure and Partnership Network

▪The Ethereum Foundation's Audit Subsidy Program includes partners such as Nethermind, Chainlink Labs and Areta.
▪The Ethereum Foundation's Audit Subsidy Program connects builders with more than 20 top-tier audit firms.
▪Selected teams in the Ethereum Foundation's Audit Subsidy Program receive subsidies that can be applied directly to audit services through Areta's platform.
▪Builders can submit their projects for consideration to the Ethereum Foundation's Audit Subsidy Program, after which an expert committee reviews applications.

CROPS Framework and Broader Security Initiative

▪The Ethereum Foundation's Audit Subsidy Program is part of the Ethereum Foundation's broader Trillion Dollar Security Initiative.
▪The Ethereum Foundation's Trillion Dollar Security Initiative focuses on strengthening Ethereum as it scales to support increasingly complex applications and larger amounts of value on-chain.
▪The Ethereum Foundation introduced the CROPS principles framework, which stands for censorship resistance, open source, privacy and security.

Perspective of Ethereum Foundation

▪The Ethereum Foundation positions the CROPS principles framework as a guide for how applications should be built across the Ethereum ecosystem.
▪The Ethereum Foundation views the Audit Subsidy Program as critical to strengthening Ethereum as it scales to support increasingly complex applications.
▪The Ethereum Foundation believes financial barriers have historically prevented many teams from undergoing comprehensive security audits.

Perspective of Ethereum mainnet builders and developers

▪Ethereum mainnet builders can access subsidies for security audits through the Audit Subsidy Program regardless of their project size or development stage.
▪Developers selected for the Audit Subsidy Program can apply subsidies directly to audit services through Areta's platform.