Ethereum Foundation Launches $1M Audit Subsidy Program

The Ethereum Foundation announced on Tuesday the launch of the Ethereum Security Subsidy Program, a $1 million initiative aimed at making professional smart contract security audits more accessible to developers building on the Ethereum mainnet.

The program, which partners with Areta, Nethermind, and Chainlink Labs, provides financial support to cover up to 30 percent of audit costs for eligible projects. Higher subsidies may be available on a case-by-case basis, depending on the project's needs. All Ethereum mainnet builders qualify, regardless of size or development stage, though priority goes to those advancing the foundation's CROPS principles: censorship resistance, open source, privacy, and security. Applications are submitted through Areta's marketplace platform, where an expert committee comprising representatives from the foundation, partners, and audit firms reviews submissions monthly. Approved teams receive subsidies automatically and can then obtain quotes from more than 20 participating audit providers, including Certora, Cyfrin, Dedaub, Hacken, Immunefi, Quantstamp, Sherlock, Spearbit, Zellic, Zokyo, and Blocksec.

The initiative addresses a key barrier in...