Bitwise Asset Management says it is donating $100,000 to support Ethereum open-source developers, marking its second annual contribution tied to profits from the Bitwise Ethereum ETF (ETHW). The firm says the donation is part of a standing commitment to give 10% of gross profits from ETHW each year to fund Ethereum’s core public infrastructure.
The money will go to two nonprofit initiatives focused on protocol research and open-source maintenance: Protocol Guild and the PBS Foundation.
A profit-linked donation program tied to ETHW
Bitwise says the donation is directly connected to ETHW’s profit stream, and is intended to provide recurring funding for the people maintaining and improving Ethereum’s protocol and infrastructure.
Bitwise co-founder and CTO Hong Kim framed the program as a way to ensure that as the crypto investment market grows, the builders who maintain core systems benefit from that growth too.
Where the funds are going: Protocol Guild and PBS Foundation
Bitwise said the $100,000 will be split between Protocol Guild and the PBS Foundation.
The firm describes these groups as supporting:
- Ethereum protocol research and development (Protocol Guild)
- Open-source Ethereum infrastructure that supports the network’s operation (PBS Foundation)
ETHW inflows and Bitwise scale
Bitwise said ETHW has attracted $361 million in inflows since it launched in July 2024.
The firm also reiterated its broader footprint, describing Bitwise as managing over $15 billion in client assets and offering a suite of crypto investment products across ETFs and other vehicles.
Why it matters for crypto
- Recurring, profit-linked funding makes “public goods” support more sustainable than one-off donations.
- ETF growth can translate into direct support for core protocol maintenance, not only asset manager revenue.
- Backing Protocol Guild and PBS Foundation targets the Ethereum “plumbing” layer that keeps the network secure and usable.
- It adds pressure on the industry to show tangible ecosystem reinvestment as institutions scale exposure via regulated products.
What to watch next
- Whether other ETF issuers adopt similar profit-sharing models for open-source development.
- Future Bitwise disclosures on donation cadence and how the 10% gross-profit pledge scales with ETHW growth.
- Whether ETHW inflows continue rising and what that implies for annual funding size.
- Updates from Protocol Guild and PBS Foundation on how donations are allocated and what work gets funded.
Source: Bitwise Asset Management