# Crypto grants for individuals: who funds solo builders

> Crypto grants for individuals in 2026: which of the 99 programs we track fund solo developers, researchers and educators, and how solo applicants win.

Last reviewed 2026-10-31. Dates are UTC.

Crypto grants for individuals are common. As of October 2026, more than 40 of the 99 programs in web3grant's directory name individuals, solo builders or "anyone" in their eligibility rules, so you do not need a company. Bitcoin open-source funders such as OpenSats, HRF, Brink and Maelstrom pay one developer at a time, and most programs want public proof of work and a small, defined scope.

## Key takeaways

- More than 40 of the 99 programs in web3grant's directory explicitly accept individuals, solo builders or "anyone", although several of them are paused or winding down as of October 2026.
- Bitcoin has the deepest bench for solo developers: OpenSats, HRF's Bitcoin Development Fund, Brink, Spiral, Btrust and Maelstrom, which pays $50,000 to $150,000 a year per developer.
- The smallest published ceilings suit a first solo grant: Nym Squad League (about $2,700), Tether Grants and Bounties ($5,000) and the Bitshala Fellowship ($6,000).
- Solo applicants win with a narrow scope, public work a reviewer can check and references: OpenSats asks for two written references, Maelstrom for at least one.
- Applying alone does not skip identity checks: many programs run KYC before paying, and Tether and Golem set a minimum age of 18.

## Can individuals get crypto grants?

Yes. A crypto grant is money a foundation, DAO or company gives you to build something, with no equity taken and nothing to repay, and many programs pay it straight to a person. If the term is new to you, start with [what Web3 grants are](https://www.web3grant.com/guides/what-are-web3-grants).

The eligibility lists in our directory fall into three patterns:

1. **Individuals named outright.** Monero CCS takes "any individual or team", Lido's LEGO and The Graph fund "individuals, teams, projects", Nym says "anyone can apply, alone or as a squad", and Maelstrom funds only "individual open-source Bitcoin developers".
2. **Applicants described by role.** OpenSats, HRF and Tether list developers, researchers, educators and designers rather than legal forms, which in practice means people.
3. **Teams, companies or institutions only.** The Stellar Community Fund wants teams with user traction, the Hashgraph Innovation Program funds startups, enterprises and governments, and SDF Academic Research Grants go to principal investigators at universities.

Applying as an individual means the grant agreement is in your name, you pass the identity checks yourself, and the money lands in your wallet or bank account. Whether you also need a legal entity is covered in [getting a crypto grant without a company](https://www.web3grant.com/guides/crypto-grant-without-a-company).

## Which crypto grants accept individuals?

Programs that accept individuals cluster into four groups: chain and protocol grants for developers, research funding, grants for educators and designers, and on-chain treasuries anyone can petition. Each group below lists only programs whose own eligibility rules name individuals or the roles individuals fill, such as developer, researcher or educator.

### Developers building on a chain or protocol

Many foundation and DAO programs will fund a solo developer if the work helps their network. The Solana Foundation funds "individuals and teams building on Solana" and said in March 2026 that its open-source grants average about $40,000. Aleo Developer Grants accept "anyone: individuals, teams, nonprofits and companies", up to $100,000, but fund developer work only. CoW DAO, dYdX and Reactive Network name individual developers, and STON.fi pays individual developers up to $10,000 in USDT for integrating its DEX SDK on TON.

Ink Spark grants (500 to 20,000 USDC) are aimed at "indie builders and small teams", but only with a live product or working integration. Zcash Community Grants fund "independent individuals and teams" and require KYC only for grants above $50,000.

- [Solana Foundation grants](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/solana-foundation-grants): Solana Foundation. Grant size: Not published. Always open: no deadline, applications reviewed as they arrive.
- [Aleo Developer Grants](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/aleo-developer-grants): Aleo Network Foundation. Grant size: Up to $100K (USD equivalent). Always open: no deadline, applications reviewed as they arrive.
- [CoW DAO Grants](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/cow-dao-grants): CoW DAO. Grant size: Not published. Always open: no deadline, applications reviewed as they arrive.
- [dYdX Grants Program](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/dydx-grants-program): dYdX Foundation. Grant size: Not published. Always open: no deadline, applications reviewed as they arrive.
- [Reactive Dev Fund](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/reactive-network-dev-fund): Reactive Network. Grant size: Not published. Always open: no deadline, applications reviewed as they arrive.
- [STON.fi DEX Grants](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/stonfi-dex-grant-program): STON.fi. Grant size: Up to $10K (USD equivalent). Always open: no deadline, applications reviewed as they arrive.
- [Ink Spark grants](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/ink-foundation-spark): Ink Foundation. Grant size: $500–$20K (USD equivalent). Always open: no deadline, applications reviewed as they arrive.
- [Flare Grants Program](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/flare-grants-program): Flare Foundation. Grant size: Not published. Always open: no deadline, applications reviewed as they arrive.
- [Monero CCS](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/monero-ccs): Monero Project. Grant size: Up to $65K (USD equivalent). Always open: no deadline, applications reviewed as they arrive.

### Researchers without an institution

You do not need a university post for every research grant. The MAGIC Monero Fund accepts "any developer or researcher, regardless of degree or occupation", up to $55,000, and lets you apply under a pseudonym as long as you identify yourself to MAGIC Grants before payout. Galaxy's Bitcoin Quantum Readiness Grants, from a pool of up to $5 million, take developers and researchers by email with "no published restrictions on location or entity type".

Kusama Vision Bounties fund individuals, teams and collectives worldwide for zero-knowledge, proof-of-personhood and art work, with art projects typically up to $10,000. Sentient's Open Source AGI Grants list researchers, independent developers and students. For grants that do require an institution, see [blockchain research grants for academics](https://www.web3grant.com/guides/blockchain-research-grants-for-academics).

- [Bitcoin Quantum Readiness Grants](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/galaxy-bitcoin-quantum-readiness-grants): Galaxy. Grant size: Not published. Always open: no deadline, applications reviewed as they arrive.
- [Kusama Vision Bounties](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/kusama-vision-bounties): Web3 Foundation. Grant size: Not published. Always open: no deadline, applications reviewed as they arrive.
- [Open Source AGI Grants](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/sentient-open-source-agi-grants): Sentient Foundation. Grant size: Not published. Always open: no deadline, applications reviewed as they arrive.

### Educators, writers, translators and designers

Non-developers have fewer options, but they exist. HRF's Bitcoin Development Fund names activists, educators, community builders, translators and UX designers. Tether pays developers, researchers, educators and creators, mostly through fixed tasks that paid roughly $1,500 to $4,000 each at launch. The Graph says you don't have to be technical to receive a grant, and Nym Squad League pays for translations, regional community management and commissioned content.

Render Network Grants have an artist track for 3D work, and the Bitcoin Design Foundation funds designers and UX researchers on open-source Bitcoin projects. More options are in [Web3 content creator grants](https://www.web3grant.com/guides/web3-content-creator-grants).

- [Render Network Grants](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/render-foundation-grants): Render Network Foundation. Grant size: Not published. Always open: no deadline, applications reviewed as they arrive.
- [Bitcoin Design Foundation Grants](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/bitcoin-design-foundation-grants): Bitcoin Design Foundation. Grant size: Not published. Always open: no deadline, applications reviewed as they arrive.
- [Subspace Foundation Grants](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/subspace-foundation-grants): Subspace Foundation. Grant size: Not published. Always open: no deadline, applications reviewed as they arrive.

### On-chain treasuries anyone can ask

Some networks let anyone ask the treasury directly. There is no committee to impress, but you need a deposit and a public vote. These routes are open to individuals in their rules, but you have to persuade token holders in public, which is harder without a track record.

| Treasury | Who can submit | Deposit or stake |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Polkadot OpenGov Treasury](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/polkadot-opengov-treasury) | Anyone with a Polkadot account | 1 DOT to 1,000 DOT decision deposit, by track |
| [Kusama OpenGov Treasury](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/kusama-opengov-treasury) | Anyone with a Kusama account | About 0.03 KSM to 33.33 KSM, by track |
| [Cardano Treasury](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/cardano-treasury-withdrawals) | Anyone | 100,000 ada, refunded after the vote |
| [CKB Community Fund DAO](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/nervos-ckb-community-fund-dao) | Any individual or team | 100,000 CKB in the Nervos DAO to start the vote |
| [Livepeer Community Treasury](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/livepeer-community-treasury) | Anyone | 100 LPT, returned if the proposal passes |

The Akash Community Pool also accepts any individual, but its page carries a warning: no outside team has won a community pool vote since August 2025. The [blockchain treasury funding](https://www.web3grant.com/guides/blockchain-treasury-funding) guide explains how these votes work.

## Bitcoin grants for individuals

Bitcoin is where individual funding is most established: most of the 13 Bitcoin programs in web3grant's directory pay individual contributors directly, usually for three months to a year. Several are run by nonprofits whose whole purpose is paying open-source developers.

| Program | Who can apply | Length or size | Paid in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [OpenSats General Fund](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/opensats-general-fund) | Developers, designers, researchers, reviewers and educators anywhere; pseudonyms welcome | 3 to 12 months; amounts private | BTC |
| [HRF Bitcoin Development Fund](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/hrf-bitcoin-development-fund) | Developers, activists, educators, translators, designers | Case by case | BTC |
| [Brink](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/brink-grants) | Established protocol developers anywhere; London fellowship for newcomers | One year, full-time | Salary or grant |
| [Maelstrom](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/maelstrom-bitcoin-grant-program) | Individual open-source Bitcoin developers | $50K to $150K for 12 months | BTC or stablecoins |
| [Spiral](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/spiral-grants) | Independent developers, designers, product managers, researchers | Not published | Not published |
| [Btrust Developer Grants](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/btrust-developer-grants) | Developers in Africa, India, Latin America, MENA, Southeast Asia | 6-month starter or 1-year grant | BTC, monthly |
| [BDK Foundation](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/bdk-foundation-grants) | Developers with a public open-source record | Full-time, or projects of about 3 months | Not published |
| [Bitshala Fellowship](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/bitshala-fellowship) | Developers, designers, educators in India or South-East Asia | $500 a month for 6 to 12 months | USD stipend |

A few details matter when you pick. OpenSats takes applications in the first two months of each quarter, and its Q4 2026 window runs from October 1 to November 30, 2026; the [OpenSats application page](https://opensats.org/apply) has the template. Maelstrom caps your total grant income from all funders at $400,000 a year and interviews every candidate ([program page](https://maelstrom.fund/bitcoin-grant-program/)). Vinteum in São Paulo funds experienced contributors and its grantees so far are mostly in Brazil, although its page states no location requirement.

For the wider set, including Nostr and design funding, see [Bitcoin grants](https://www.web3grant.com/ecosystems/bitcoin) and the guide to [Bitcoin developer grants](https://www.web3grant.com/guides/bitcoin-developer-grants).

## Which programs want a team, company or institution?

Programs that fund products with traction usually want a team or company. Check the eligibility list before you write anything:

- **[Stellar Community Fund](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/stellar-community-fund):** teams with significant user traction, and every contributor must pass KYC or KYB.
- **[Aptos Ecosystem Grants](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/aptos-foundation-grants):** small teams, enterprises, academic groups and nonprofits with a live product and real users.
- **[Circle Developer Grants](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/circle-developer-grants):** teams building on Arc, led by founders with a shipping record.
- **[SDF Academic Research Grants](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/stellar-academic-research-grants):** principal investigators only, and the money goes to the university.
[World One](https://www.web3grant.com/grants/world-one-residency) is the reverse case: it takes only solo builders, but it is an in-person San Francisco residency for people authorized to work in the US. Team-oriented programs are collected in [Web3 startup grants](https://www.web3grant.com/guides/web3-startup-grants).

## Which individual-friendly programs should you check first?

Several programs that accept individuals carry a warning on their page as of October 2026. They are still listed, but read the notice before you spend time on a proposal:

- **Ethereum Foundation ESP:** individuals can apply, but open proposals ended in 2025 and no Wishlist or RFP items were open on October 1, 2026, so there is nothing to apply to yet.
- **Uniswap Foundation Open Grants:** welcomes first-time builders, but the Foundation is spending down its budget and plans to close once it is committed.
- **Rocket Pool GMC grants:** anyone can apply to Round 42 until November 7, 2026, but Round 41 declined every application and nothing above $7,500 has been approved since May 2026.
- **VeBetter Grants:** a legal entity is optional, but only one application arrived in Q2 2026 and none was processed.
- **Filecoin Open Grants:** open to individuals, but proposals filed since April 2026 have had no reply.
- **xGov (Algorand):** proposals are accepted, but payouts wait on a treasury top-up and a newly elected Council.

## How do solo applicants win crypto grants?

Solo applicants win by making the reviewer's risk small: a scope one person can finish, evidence they can check in minutes, and someone who will vouch for them. The programs say this directly.

1. **Scope to what one person can ship.** BDK project grants run about three months, Btrust's Starter Grant six months, and Bitcoin Design Foundation starter grants are often part-time for 3 to 6 months. A first ask under $5,000 at Nym or Tether is easier to approve than a year of salary.
2. **Show work reviewers can verify.** Btrust's Starter Grant needs at least one merged, non-trivial code PR (not a "good first issue"), meaningful reviews and a positive word from a project mentor. For its fellowship, Brink says evidence of open-source contributions matters far more than formal education.
3. **Line up references early.** OpenSats needs two written references and a two-minute video, Maelstrom at least one reference, and Btrust's Open-Source Cohort three.
4. **Work in public.** Brink grantees commit to deliverables publicly, OpenSats grantees report every 90 days, and Zcash applications sit on the community forum for at least a week before the vote.
5. **Price your time honestly.** Break the budget into milestones with a date and a deliverable each. The guides to [writing a Web3 grant proposal](https://www.web3grant.com/guides/how-to-write-a-web3-grant-proposal) and [building a grant budget](https://www.web3grant.com/guides/web3-grant-budget) walk through both.

If you are new to all of this, [Web3 grants for beginners](https://www.web3grant.com/guides/web3-grants-for-beginners) covers the first application step by step.

## What changes when you apply as an individual?

Identity, age, sanctions and taxes all land on you personally. Plan for them before you are approved:

- **KYC:** many programs verify identity before paying. OpenSats welcomes pseudonymous applicants, MAGIC lets you apply under a pseudonym but not get paid under one, and Zcash lets you stay pseudonymous in public while requiring KYC above $50,000. See [KYC for crypto grants](https://www.web3grant.com/guides/web3-grant-kyc).
- **Age:** Tether requires you to be 18 or the age of majority where you live; Golem and the World One residency set 18; TRON Builders League says "individuals of legal age".
- **Sanctions:** OpenSats cannot fund grants tied to countries on the OFAC sanctions list, and Kusama Vision and Tether exclude sanctioned persons and jurisdictions.
- **Taxes:** in many countries a grant paid to you personally is taxable income, and a grant paid in tokens may be valued when you receive it. Rules differ by country, so check with a tax professional; [are crypto grants taxable](https://www.web3grant.com/guides/are-crypto-grants-taxable) explains the principles.

## Next steps

Filter the [full directory](https://www.web3grant.com/grants) to programs that fit your skills, check the [deadline calendar](https://www.web3grant.com/deadlines) for round-based programs such as OpenSats, and set up [email alerts](https://www.web3grant.com/#alerts) for new windows. Then follow [how to apply for Web3 grants](https://www.web3grant.com/guides/how-to-apply-for-web3-grants). web3grant never takes applications; every application goes through the program's own site.

## FAQ

### Can I get a crypto grant with no team and no company?

Yes. More than 40 of the 99 programs in web3grant's directory name individuals, solo builders or "anyone" as eligible, including Monero CCS, Lido's LEGO, The Graph, Solana Foundation grants and Zcash Community Grants. A crypto grant for a solo applicant is signed and paid in your own name, after identity checks. Some programs still want a team or a live product, so read each eligibility list first.

### Are there Bitcoin grants for individuals outside the US?

Yes. OpenSats funds developers, designers, researchers and educators "anywhere in the world", and Brink's grants are open to established developers anywhere. Btrust Developer Grants are built for developers in Africa, India, Latin America, MENA and Southeast Asia, and Bitshala's fellowship serves India and South-East Asia. The limit is sanctions: OpenSats cannot fund grants tied to countries on the OFAC list.

### How much money can an individual get from a crypto grant?

Amounts for individuals range from a few thousand dollars to a full salary. Nym Squad League grants top out around $2,700 and Tether's at $5,000, while Maelstrom pays $50,000 to $150,000 per developer for a year. Across web3grant's directory, the median published ceiling is $50,000 as of October 2026, though that figure covers teams as well as individuals.

### Do I need a crypto wallet to receive a grant as an individual?

Usually, yes. In web3grant's directory, 39 of the 99 programs pay only in a native or other token, and many others pay in stablecoins or bitcoin, all sent to an address you control. OpenSats asks for a bitcoin address in the grant agreement, Nym requires a wallet to receive NYM, and Kusama Vision Bounties pay DOT to a Kusama Asset Hub address with a verified identity. A few pay in dollars, such as World One's $10,000 monthly stipend.

### Can students apply for crypto grants as individuals?

Students can apply to most programs that accept individuals, since few eligibility lists exclude them. Sentient's Open Source AGI Grants name students explicitly, the Ethereum Foundation ran a $24,000 PhD Fellowship in 2026 (no 2027 call is announced), and Bitshala's fellowship takes developers and educators in India and South-East Asia. The guide to [Web3 grants for students](https://www.web3grant.com/guides/web3-grants-for-students) lists the options.

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From web3grant: https://www.web3grant.com/guides/crypto-grants-for-individuals. Program details change often: confirm on each program's official site before applying.