Web3 Foundation

A non-profit organization supporting the development of decentralized web technologies, including Polkadot, to promote user control over data and identity.

What is Web3 Foundation?

The Web3 Foundation (W3F) is a non-profit organization based in Switzerland that supports the development and adoption of decentralized technologies. It was founded by Dr. Gavin Wood, a co-founder of Ethereum and the creator of Polkadot and Solidity programming language. W3F's mission is to advance Web3, a vision of the internet where users have control over their data, identity, and digital interactions.

Best known for launching and supporting the Polkadot network, the Web3 Foundation focuses on building infrastructure for a more open and secure web. It funds open-source projects, supports community education, and promotes technical research that helps developers create new applications for Web3.

What does Web3 Foundation do?

The Web3 Foundation funds and supports projects that advance the decentralized web. Its main focus is building the infrastructure needed for Web3 technologies to thrive, with a strong emphasis on open-source development and community-led innovation. Through its Grants Program, W3F provides funding to teams working on developer tools, wallets, rollups, interoperability protocols, and decentralized identity solutions.

In addition to funding, W3F supports long-term research and collaboration across cryptography, distributed systems, and protocol design. It works closely with Parity Technologies to maintain the Polkadot tech stack, but also supports independent builders contributing to the broader ecosystem. W3F helps coordinate technical resources and promotes educational initiatives, ensuring that Web3 development remains open, secure, and accessible to all.

What is the Web3 Foundation’s role in the Polkadot ecosystem?

The Web3 Foundation played a key role in the creation and launch of Polkadot. It provided the initial funding, research direction, and technical support needed to bring the protocol to life. Today, while Polkadot is a decentralized autonomous organization governed by a global community of DOT token holders through its onchain governance system, W3F continues to support the ecosystem alongside the Polkadot DAO by funding open-source development, core tooling, and ecosystem growth. However, it does not control Polkadot’s governance. Instead, it acts as a contributor and enabler, helping the community build and maintain the infrastructure that supports a decentralized internet.

Rather than acting as a central authority, the Web3 Foundation enables a decentralized model where rollup teams, developers, and users can propose and implement changes independently. It supports technical documentation, core tooling, and grants that help Polkadot evolve and scale. Its ongoing collaboration with Parity Technologies helps ensure that the protocol’s core components remain secure, well-maintained, and open to the public.

What is the Web3 Foundation Grants Program?

The Web3 Foundation Grants Program supports teams building tools and applications that contribute to the growth of Web3. It focuses on open-source projects that promote decentralization, privacy, user sovereignty, and interoperability. Grants have been awarded to a wide range of projects, including developer tools, wallets, rollup infrastructure, decentralized identity systems, and cross-chain integrations.

The application process is open to anyone and is designed to support early-stage ideas without requiring venture funding or corporate backing. To receive funding, teams must submit clear milestones and publish their work as open source. All progress is tracked publicly to encourage transparency and community trust.

The program has played a major role in expanding the Polkadot ecosystem by supporting essential infrastructure and lowering barriers for developers around the world.

Learn more about grants and funding opportunities on Polkadot.