Ethereum Foundation unveils $1M audit subsidy program to boost crypto security and cut costs for builders

The new initiative aims to address a persistent challenge in crypto development—the high cost of smart contract security audits.

What to know:

• The Ethereum Foundation on Tuesday launched a $1 million Audit Subsidy Program to help builders offset the high cost of smart contract security audits, a key barrier to safer development.
• Part of its broader “Trillion Dollar Security” push, the initiative partners with major firms and 20+ audit providers to expand access to top-tier security while promoting new CROPS principles across the ecosystem.

The Ethereum Foundation is doubling down on one of the ecosystem’s most critical needs: security.

On Tuesday, the organization unveiled a new initiative aimed at tackling a persistent challenge in crypto development—the high cost of smart contract security audits.

Through its "Audit Subsidy Program," the foundation is partnering with leading audit providers and ecosystem firms to make professional security reviews more accessible to builders.

Backed by a $1 million subsidy pool, the program is designed to lower financial barriers that have historically prevented many teams from undergoing comprehensive audits, despite their importance as an industry best practice.

The initiative is part of the foundation’s broader Trillion Dollar Security Initiative, which focuses on strengthening Ethereum as it scales to support increasingly complex applications and larger amounts of value on-chain.

The program includes partners such as Nethermind, Chainlink Labs and Areta, and connects builders with more than 20 top-tier audit firms, helping streamline access to trusted security expertise across the ecosystem.

Alongside the rollout, the foundation also introduced a new framework it calls the “CROPS principles,” short for censorship resistance, open source, privacy and security. The framework is intended to guide how applications are built and evaluated across the Ethereum ecosystem.

Builders can submit their projects for consideration, after which an expert committee reviews applications. Selected teams receive subsidies that can be applied directly to audit services through Areta’s platform. The program is open to all Ethereum mainnet builders, regardless of size or stage.

“The subsidy program makes audits accessible and strengthens the Ethereum ecosystem,” the foundation wrote on X.

Read more: Ethereum Foundation publishes new mandate defining its role, core principles

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