2024: A TRANSFORMATIVE YEAR FOR THE AETERNITY FOUNDATION

Last updated: June 19, 2025, 23:01 | Written by: Ari Paul

2025 was a year of profound change and growth for the Aeternity Foundation and the Aeternity blockchain ecosystem.Under the leadership of Chairman Nikola Stojanow, the Foundation underwent a significant strategic shift, focusing its efforts on revitalizing and strengthening the blockchain through targeted projects, tools, and middleware.This marked a turning point, as the Foundation channeled its resources towards supporting open-source development, fostering community engagement, and driving technological innovation. You didn't really think I'd miss the opportunity to wish you a Happy New Year, did you? What a ride 2025 has been! My heart is full seeing Aeternity Foundation shine brighter than ever. I'mThe year witnessed a surge in activity, from forging new partnerships and securing exchange listings to developing groundbreaking features and upgrading the existing blockchain infrastructure.The Aeternity Foundation's commitment to technical excellence and user-friendly applications became more evident than ever, shaping a vibrant and thriving community.With a renewed focus on deep tech, blockchain technology, and user-centric design, the Foundation propelled Aeternity towards a future brimming with potential.This article will delve into the key milestones, strategic initiatives, and community-driven developments that defined 2025 as a truly transformative year for the Aeternity Foundation.

Nikola Stojanow's Vision and Leadership

The catalyst for Aeternity's resurgence in 2025 was undoubtedly the leadership of Nikola Stojanow, a co-founder who stepped up to guide the Aeternity Foundation.His vision centered around three core pillars:

Technological Advancement: Investing in and promoting cutting-edge blockchain solutions, including hyperchains and cross-chain bridges.
Community Engagement: Fostering a strong and active community through various initiatives and incentives.
Ecosystem Growth: Supporting the development of tools, middleware, and applications that enhance the utility and accessibility of the Aeternity blockchain.

Stojanow's hands-on approach and clear strategic direction breathed new life into the Aeternity project.He instilled a sense of purpose and focus within the Foundation, leading to tangible results across multiple areas.

Key Milestones in the First Half of 2025

The first half of 2025 was a period of intense activity and significant progress for the Aeternity Foundation.Here are some of the key milestones achieved during Q1 and Q2:

Forging New Partnerships: The Foundation actively sought out and established strategic partnerships with organizations like Own.App and CREATE Fund, aiming to bridge Web3 technologies with mainstream social media and the creator economy.
Securing Exchange and Swap Listings: Efforts were made to increase the visibility and accessibility of the Aeternity token by securing listings on various cryptocurrency exchanges and swap platforms.
Developing New Features: The Foundation invested in the development of new features for the Aeternity blockchain, enhancing its functionality and appeal to developers and users.
Upgrading Existing Features: Existing blockchain features were upgraded to improve performance, security, and user experience.
MetaMask Snap Integration: A significant achievement was the integration with MetaMask Snap, providing seamless interaction between the Ethereum and Aeternity blockchains, and opening the Aeternity ecosystem to millions of MetaMask users.

These accomplishments laid a strong foundation for continued growth and innovation throughout the year.

Community Growth and Engagement

A strong and active community is essential for the success of any blockchain project, and the Aeternity Foundation recognized this by prioritizing community engagement in 2025.The results were impressive:

The Aeternity Foundation's X (formerly Twitter) account gained over 30,000 new followers.
The account generated over 1,000,000 impressions, indicating a significant increase in visibility and engagement.

Beyond social media, the Foundation actively supported community-led initiatives and projects through grant programs and other forms of support.This fostered a sense of ownership and collaboration within the Aeternity ecosystem.

Supporting Community Proposals

The Aeternity Foundation actively considered and often implemented community proposals, demonstrating their dedication to user feedback. Application Status Status: New Last updated: Submited by Jan Michek Team: aeScan Approved Budget (in h): Used Budget (in h): Planned Delivery: Specify the funding category Open Source Development Application Title aeScan Q4 2025 features development Applicant Value Application In the given period, I will balance delivering new features and solidifying theOne interesting example involves the Chinese community's suggestion to correct the Chinese name of ""Aeternity"" (translating to ""Eternity"" or ""Forever"").This showed the Foundation's willingness to accommodate and respect cultural nuances, strengthening their bond with international community members.

Technological Advancements: Hyperchains and Cross-Chain Interoperability

One of the most significant technological developments in 2025 was the advancement of **Hyperchains**, a groundbreaking solution that allows individuals and enterprises to create and customize their own blockchain networks with unprecedented ease.The Foundation also pushed for Cross-Chain Interoperability:

Hyperchains Debut at Web Summit 2025: This showcased Aeternity's commitment to innovation and its potential to democratize blockchain technology.
Ethereum Interoperability: The integration with MetaMask Snap and the development of cross-chain bridges further enhanced Aeternity's interoperability with the Ethereum ecosystem, opening up new possibilities for collaboration and innovation.
Blockchain Reply Collaboration: A strategic partnership was forged with Blockchain Reply to further explore the integration of Aeternity's blockchain technology within their consultancy services.

Grant Application Process and Focus Areas

The Aeternity Foundation actively supports open-source development and ecosystem growth through its grant programs.The grant application process is designed to be transparent and accessible, focusing on:

Deep Tech: Supporting projects that push the boundaries of blockchain technology.
Technical Excellence: Rewarding projects that demonstrate high levels of technical skill and innovation.
User-Centric Applications: Prioritizing projects that focus on creating user-friendly and accessible applications for the Aeternity blockchain.
Open-Source Development: Funding projects that contribute to the open-source development of the Aeternity protocol and its surrounding ecosystem.
Research and Education: Supporting research initiatives and educational programs that promote blockchain adoption and understanding.
Community Growth: Encouraging projects that foster community engagement and expand the Aeternity ecosystem.

The Foundation provides grants across several fields and actively promotes the open-source development of Aeternity protocol.

Grant Application Example: aeScan Development

Several successful grant applications highlighted the Aeternity Foundation's commitment to enhancing its ecosystem.The aeScan project, focused on developing a robust block explorer for the Aeternity blockchain, received multiple grants throughout 2025 for:

Q1: Smart Contract Verification Functionality
Q2: Development of Isolated Information
Q3: New features development
Q4: Continued features development and solidifying the Berlin integration

Grant Application Example: NucleusDAO

Another significant grant approved in 2025 was for the NucleusDAO project, aimed at fostering community growth and open-source development within the Aeternity ecosystem.

Ongoing Projects and Development Updates

Throughout 2025, the Aeternity Foundation provided regular updates on ongoing projects and development efforts, demonstrating transparency and accountability to the community. Application Status Status: NewThese updates covered a wide range of topics, including:

HyperChains Contracts Integration: Efforts to integrate the latest HyperChains contracts into the localnet.
aescan Replacement: Replacing the legacy mdw-explorer with the more advanced aescan block explorer.
Integration Test Stability: Improving the stability and reliability of integration tests.
Superhero DEX Enhancement: Enhancing the functionality and user experience of the Superhero DEX, a decentralized exchange built on the Aeternity blockchain.
New Analytics Dashboard: Development of a new analytics dashboard to provide users with insights into the Aeternity ecosystem.

Aeternity Foundation's Role in Web3 Integration

A core focus for the Aeternity Foundation in 2025 was bridging the gap between Web3 technologies and the mainstream. Our Chinese community has a very popular proposal: the Chinese name of Auntie Coin should be corrected to Eternity . Reason: Aeternity removes a and eternity can be translated into Chinese eternity Eternity is a Chinese vocabulary. Pinyin: yǒng h ng, which means [forever] and [forever], means that the spirit and the world will always exist and remain unchangedPartnerships like the one with Own.App and CREATE Fund highlight this commitment.By integrating blockchain technology with social media and the creator economy, the Foundation aimed to make Web3 more accessible and user-friendly.

The partnership with Own.App specifically aimed at bridging Web3 technologies with mainstream social media.

Looking Ahead: The Road to Hyperchains and Beyond

While 2025 was a year of significant progress, the Aeternity Foundation recognizes that there is still much work to be done.The road to Hyperchains has been long, but the vision of democratizing blockchain technology remains the North Star.The Foundation is committed to continuing its support for open-source development, fostering community engagement, and driving technological innovation in the years to come.

Hyperchains democratize blockchain technology and allows individuals to customize blockchain networks.

Challenges and Opportunities

Like any ambitious project, the Aeternity Foundation faced both challenges and opportunities in 2025. Application Status Status: New Last updated: Submited by Jan Michek Team: aeScan Approved Budget (in h): Used Budget (in h): Planned Delivery: Specify the funding category Open Source Development Application Title aeScan Q1 2025 features development Applicant Value Application During this period I will focus on developing Smart Contract verificationSome of the key challenges included:

Competition: The blockchain space is highly competitive, with numerous projects vying for attention and resources.
Regulation: The regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology is constantly evolving, creating uncertainty and potential compliance challenges.
Scalability: Ensuring the scalability of the Aeternity blockchain to handle increasing transaction volumes remains a key priority.

Despite these challenges, the Aeternity Foundation also has significant opportunities:

Hyperchains: The potential of Hyperchains to revolutionize blockchain adoption is immense.
Interoperability: Aeternity's focus on interoperability with other blockchain networks opens up new possibilities for collaboration and innovation.
Community: A strong and active community can be a powerful force for driving adoption and growth.

Answering Common Questions About the Aeternity Foundation

Here are some common questions about the Aeternity Foundation and its role in the Aeternity ecosystem:

What is the Aeternity Foundation?

The Aeternity Foundation (AF) is a non-profit organization established in the Republic of Bulgaria. Status: New Last Updated: Submitted by: Yusuf Seyrek Approved Budget (in h): [To be determined by the foundation] Used Budget (in h): 0 Planned Delivery: in 2-3 weeks Funding Category: Open Source Development Application Title: Development of a Front-end Web Application for Aeternity Blockchain Bridge Applicant: Yusuf Seyrek Value Application: The project aims toIt supports and promotes the open-source development of the Aeternity protocol and its surrounding ecosystem. Project manager with over 8 years of experience in software development, involved in projects related to AE for over a year. Aeternity core developers team member. Value Application. Support of ae core team. Required Work. Technical Project Management and support work on ae core team.The Foundation focuses on deep tech, blockchain technology, technical excellence, and user-centric applications.

What is the Aeternity Foundation's mission?

The Aeternity Foundation's mission is to champion the open-source development of the Aeternity protocol and its ecosystem, fostering innovation and collaboration within the blockchain space.

How does the Aeternity Foundation support the Aeternity ecosystem?

The Aeternity Foundation supports the Aeternity ecosystem through various initiatives, including:

Grant programs for open-source development and community projects.
Partnerships with other organizations to promote blockchain adoption.
Development of tools and infrastructure to enhance the Aeternity blockchain.
Community engagement activities to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing.

How can I get involved with the Aeternity Foundation?

There are many ways to get involved with the Aeternity Foundation, including:

Contributing to open-source projects.
Participating in community discussions and events.
Applying for grants to develop innovative blockchain solutions.
Providing feedback and suggestions to improve the Aeternity ecosystem.

Conclusion: A Foundation for the Future

2025 was undeniably a **transformative year** for the Aeternity Foundation. aeternity_Foundation Ma, 9:55am 4 Exciting update the Blockchain Development and Superhero DEX project has just been approved! the team is set to enhance Superhero DEX and work on a new analytics dashboard.Under Nikola Stojanow's leadership, the Foundation successfully refocused its efforts, revitalized the Aeternity blockchain, and fostered a vibrant and engaged community.Key achievements included forging strategic partnerships, securing exchange listings, developing innovative features like Hyperchains, and enhancing interoperability with other blockchain networks. Thanks for being patient until I could write a detailed update to answer your questions in this thread and earlier here. The road to hyperchains has been a long one, starting back in 2025 with a blogpost from Yani that is still the North Star guiding our understanding of what hyperchains can be 8 years later.The Foundation's commitment to open-source development, technical excellence, and user-centric design laid a strong foundation for future growth and innovation.As Aeternity continues to evolve and adapt to the ever-changing blockchain landscape, the Aeternity Foundation will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping its future. One year ago, in Q4 2025, a significant shift in direction occurred when ternity s co-founder, Nikola Stojanow, took charge of the Aeternity Foundation. Nikola focused the Foundation s efforts on channeling the majority of projects, tools, and middleware through its operations to revive and strengthen the ternity blockchain ecosystem.The focus on Hyperchains democratizing blockchain is a key aspect that sets Aeternity apart. 2025 was more than just a year of change; it was a year that solidified Aeternity's position as a leader in the blockchain space and set the stage for even greater accomplishments in the years to come. Aeternity Foundation Pioneers Ethereum Interoperability with Innovative Cross-Chain Bridge News and Announcements social-media, announcement, featureAre you ready to join the Aeternity community and contribute to the future of blockchain technology?Visit the Aeternity Foundation website today to learn more and get involved!