Ethereum Security Fund Shifts to RFP Model for Second Funding Round

The Ethereum (ETH) Security Support Fund is broadening its support structure starting from the second funding round, shifting to a Request for Proposals (RFP) model targeting major ecosystem projects. A detail about supporting Vyper with $600,000 was not confirmed in official materials. TheDAO Security Fund plans to conduct its second funding round in the second half of 2026.

The RFP approach involves presenting specific security challenges first before receiving project proposals, though exact targets and funding amounts remain undisclosed. The first round concluded on May 23, 2026, with a matching pool of 500 ETH supporting projects that provide public value to Ethereum security. A total of 134 projects were selected as beneficiaries. Beyond the matching pool, community and sponsor contributions exceeded $600,000 (approximately KRW 882 million).

TheDAO Security Fund's scope extends beyond individual project audits to include compilers, wallets, signing processes, incident response, formal verification, Ethereum core protocol, and Layer 2 security. The fund announced on its official funding round page that the second round will be conducted via RFP for large ecosystem projects, with specific challenges and submission procedures to be detailed in the next announcement.

The fund was established using assets recovered after the 2016 DAO hack but not claimed. Its official site states that over 75,000 ETH was converted into the fund as of January 2026, with approximately 69,000 ETH staked and utilized for security support. The allocation involves seven curators and ETHSecurity Badge holders, who determine budget distribution and direction alongside the Ethereum community.

It's important to note that claims about $600,000 allocated to Vyper compiler development or $300,000 for Auditware were not found in official documents. Similarly, a deadline of January 2027 for proposals was not listed on the fund's official page. Therefore, these figures remain unconfirmed until further announcements or actual disbursement records are published.

Previously, the site reported on the establishment of the ACD Fund to support core development coordination. This security fund differs in scope, focusing instead on security infrastructure and public good projects rather than core development coordination.