Since its inception in early 2024, the 250m XRD Radix Ecosystem Fund has been pivotal in advancing and supporting the fantastic builders in the Radix ecosystem.
Over 70 projects are live on Radix. The builders behind these projects are developing secure, innovative on-chain dApps across key DeFi categories, including DEXs, lending markets, dashboards, and NFT marketplaces.
From January to November 2024, the Radix Ecosystem Fund has awarded 67 grants, averaging $12,000 each, and distributed nearly 20m XRD to projects meeting their grant criteria. All in all, this has set a solid foundation for the fund and is in line with the expected allocation rate.
Due to advancements in the ecosystem and lessons learned over the year, some tweaks are being made for 2025 to better support the next growth phase and optimize operational efficiency. This grant process revamp is designed to reduce administrative costs and ensure judicious use of funds.
In short – grant stages are going to be streamlined. Here’s how:
- Launch Booster – Grants up to $15,000 in XRD
- This is for teams launching their initial application on the Radix Mainnet.
- Applications must enable target users to go through the main intended flows and complete necessary actions for dApp functionality. For example, a marketplace must let users list and buy items, not just one or the other!
- Market data should demonstrate the demand and growth potential of the application/dApp within the DeFi ecosystem. If similar projects already exist in the Radix ecosystem, the application must demonstrate USPs and market opportunities.
- Ecosystem Boosters – Grants up to $150,000 in XRD, with multiple awards possible up to this cap per project.
- This is for dApps/projects that show existing demand, generate revenue, or have a clear revenue generation path.
- Criteria focuses on the dApp/project potential to enhance DeFi activity on Radix and must demonstrate the path to future project sustainability (not be solely reliant on future grants to operate).
Application Tip: Present your proposal as if you’re seeking investment — highlight the value and potential of your project to gain traction in the wider crypto space, not just technical deliverables.
Discontinued Grants:
- MVP Booster and Refine Boosters are discontinued, reflecting a shift towards projects with full functionality due to the growing number of dApps with high quality standards already active on Radix.
- Milestone rewards will no longer be standalone; future grants will integrate these achievements into the Ecosystem Booster criteria.
The Foundry Program remains active, offering established teams a $250k investment opportunity. The ecosystem fund expects to make up to one investment per quarter in standout projects via the Foundry Program.
For developers building tooling, libraries, or APIs that don’t meet the outlined criteria but are beneficial for the Radix network/ecosystem, applications are still welcome on a case-by-case basis.
Ready to apply? Begin with this simple application form.
