Ethereum's Next Billion Fellowship: New Cohort and Alumni Insights

The Ethereum Foundation's Next Billion Fellowship program has announced updates, introducing new fellows and sharing alumni experiences. This initiative aims to support individuals developing innovative applications of blockchain technology to improve trust and coordination in various global contexts, according to the Ethereum Blog.

Alumni Contributions

The fellowship highlights stories from five alumni, each illustrating unique use cases for Ethereum. Devansh Mehta developed a marketplace where journalism outcomes are converted into tradeable impact certificates, fostering direct funding paths for social change. Guo Liu's Billboard Protocol transforms digital ad spaces into community-controlled assets, promoting thoughtful online engagement.

Lefteris Arapakis works with Mediterranean fishing communities through Enaleia, using blockchain to track ocean plastic and promote environmental stewardship. Rebecca Mqamelo explores blockchain-based commitment pooling to revitalize indigenous economic practices in South Africa. Valeriia Panina documents how crypto has transformed societal resilience in Ukraine, shifting perceptions of institutional trust.

New Fellows and Projects

The latest cohort includes Mashbean, researching digital identity in Taiwan; Sharfy Adamantine, connecting climate finance to local conservation efforts via Gainforest; Teodor Petricevic, mapping Ethereum-based projects for the UN Development Programme; and Robert Cowlishaw, developing a satellite-based emergency response app in collaboration with the European Space Agency.

Fellowship's Broader Impact

The Next Billion Fellowship emphasizes the human experience of technology, showcasing projects that address real-world challenges from polluted oceans to economic autonomy for communities. The stories shared by alumni and new fellows underscore blockchain's potential for social change, economic empowerment, and ecological regeneration.

The program is open for applications for its sixth cohort starting in October 2025, inviting projects that offer unique perspectives on Ethereum's next billion users and their experiences.