Ethereum Devconnect ARG Scholars Program – Interdisciplinary initiative and ecosystem development is open to 100 new participants from legal, cultural, and technical sectors. Scholars will gain access to structured online preparation, financial support (upon request), and participation in Devconnect, followed by the creation of a personal Learning Artifact that reflects their path, experience, and point of entry into the ecosystem.
More on Ethereum Foundation’s Ongoing Initiatives to Strengthen Its Position and Expand the Ecosystem
While Ethereum remains a solid foundation and the largest ecosystem in today’s DeFi landscape, its competitors are also evolving rapidly – leaving no room for stagnation.
This is precisely why we’re seeing active organizational shifts within the Ethereum Foundation, as well as fundamental technical upgrades designed to significantly enhance efficiency and security. One such initiative is the deliberate effort to bring in fresh perspectives from a wide range of domains – from technical to legal and cultural – through Devconnect.
But the most notable development is the official announcement of the Devconnect ARG Scholars Program, a dedicated effort by the Ethereum Foundation to help new participants join this process. Significantly, the program is open only to those who have never attended Devconnect before, ensuring the inclusion of genuinely new viewpoints, experiences, and approaches.
The program identifies five primary participant categories:
- Community Organizers – a focus on local initiative leaders and adjacent-field activists (including cryptography, open source, and education), in line with the mission to preserve the network’s grassroots energy.
- Legal & Public Sector – focused on those who can contribute to Ethereum’s legitimization and institutional acceptance through the interpretation of open source principles and emerging regulatory frameworks.
- Journalists – with a dedicated emphasis on shaping the external narrative of Ethereum as a socially significant technology, particularly by authors covering government, technology, economics, and law, who have not previously interacted with Ethereum.
- Artists – continuing the “infinite garden” philosophy previously articulated in Devconnect and Devcon content – Ethereum as a space for open, decentralized artistic expression. The program includes collaborative exhibition work and the exploration of digital creativity through a blockchain lens.
- Developers & Other Builders – the traditional track for technical contributors and those who can enhance Ethereum’s technical and practical layers. Notably, this is not limited to programmers – it also includes educators, designers, entrepreneurs, and researchers.
The program will select 100 new participants who self-identify with any of these categories. It includes structured online preparation, optional financial support upon request, and in-person participation at Devconnect. After completing the program, each participant will produce a personal “Learning Artifact” that reflects their entry point, experience, and journey within the Ethereum ecosystem.
Applications are open until June 30, 2025, 11:59 PM PST, with selected applicants to be notified in July.
Conclusion
We are seeing a comprehensive and proactive stance by the Ethereum Foundation on the creation of a resilient, interdisciplinary network of participants who can act as bridges between Ethereum and external systems – from research and technical domains to legal, social, and cultural ones.
