Stellar Development Foundation

The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the growth and development of the Stellar blockchain network. Its core mission revolves around creating equitable access to the global financial system, particularly for underserved populations, by facilitating low-cost, high-speed cross-border payments and asset issuance. SDF acts as a steward for the open-source Stellar protocol, engaging in technical development, community building, and strategic investments to foster a robust ecosystem of applications and services built on the network.

SDF employs several strategic initiatives to achieve its objectives, notably through its investment vehicles. The Ecosystem Fund is a significant component, designed to provide grants and investments to projects and companies building on the Stellar network. In 2021, SDF committed $100 million to this fund, underscoring its dedication to accelerating innovation and adoption within its ecosystem. Complementing this, SDF also operates the Enterprise Fund, often referred to as QED, which focuses on more mature, equity-based investments.

The Enterprise Fund specifically targets companies that are leveraging the Stellar blockchain for real-world use cases, with typical investment sizes ranging from $500,000 to $5 million. This fund aims to provide capital to established businesses, helping them scale and integrate Stellar into their operations. Beyond these direct investments, SDF also supports the ecosystem through various grant programs, including the Stellar Community Fund, which provides smaller, community-voted awards. This multi-faceted approach allows SDF to nurture projects from nascent stages through to significant enterprise adoption, ensuring a comprehensive growth strategy for the Stellar network.