Ethereum Foundation Launches $1M Audit Fund to Boost Blockchain Security

Gate News message, April 15 — The Ethereum Foundation launched the Ethereum Security Subsidy Program yesterday (April 14), committing $1 million to help mainnet builders cover professional smart contract audit costs.

More than 20 audit firms, including Certora, Zellic, Immunefi, and Quantstamp, joined the Areta marketplace to deliver competitive quotes, with subsidies covering up to 30% of total costs. Projects apply through Areta Market and are reviewed monthly by a committee; approved teams receive the subsidy and can request quotes from multiple auditors.

The program falls under the Foundation’s Trillion Dollar Security Initiative and is open to all Ethereum mainnet teams, with priority given to projects aligned with the CROPS framework (censorship resistance, open source, privacy, and security). The initiative aims to reduce security risks across the developer ecosystem, as high audit costs—typically ranging from $50K to $500K—have been a key barrier to preventative security measures.