Is this actionable now?

rolling. Rolling RFP and flash-RFP releases, each with its own application window; there is no open-ended general grant application.

Builders and teams must answer a live Sui Foundation RFP; researchers can use the separate USD 25,000 research-award route. Direct investment and liquidity incentives must not be represented as grants.

What burden and restrictions apply?

RFP-specific deliverables and milestones apply; strategic investment has separate negotiated terms and Moonshots requires on-chain data sharing. Restricted to the technical or ecosystem challenge specified in the RFP.

Sui Foundation Grants / RFPs

RFP awards vary; academic research awards are USD 25,000; separate Moonshots liquidity incentives can reach USD 500,000 but are explicitly not grants · Sui Foundation / Mysten Labs · rolling applications

Sui Foundation funding for startups, developers and research teams building on Sui. Pathways include targeted RFPs (build to solve specified technical/ecosystem challenges), a $25k research award for blockchain science/security, DeFi liquidity incentives (up to $500k for top protocol teams), an accelerator and direct strategic investments. Current lifecycle: rolling. Real economics: RFP awards vary; academic research awards are USD 25,000; separate Moonshots liquidity incentives can reach USD 500,000 but are explicitly not grants.

Tier 3non-dilutivesuimoverfp

Apply Official site Open in the live directory

Key facts

Funder	Sui Foundation / Mysten Labs
Amount	RFP awards vary; academic research awards are USD 25,000; separate Moonshots liquidity incentives can reach USD 500,000 but are explicitly not grants
Deadline	Rolling — apply anytime
Decision time	RFP committee reviews alignment and feasibility, shortlists candidates and votes; timing is RFP-specific.
Eligibility	Builders and teams must answer a live Sui Foundation RFP; researchers can use the separate USD 25,000 research-award route. Direct investment and liquidity incentives must not be represented as grants.
Restrictions	RFP-specific deliverables and milestones apply; strategic investment has separate negotiated terms and Moonshots requires on-chain data sharing. Restricted to the technical or ecosystem challenge specified in the RFP.
Status	rolling

Always confirm on the official page before applying — dates and terms change.

Application process

Choose a live RFP or the academic research award
Submit through the Sui Grants Hub within that RFP's window
RFP committee reviews alignment and feasibility
Shortlist and final vote
Execute the funded scope and milestones

Background

Sui Foundation / Mysten Labs operates Sui Foundation Grants / RFPs. This pass separates direct cash, repayable finance, credits, incentives and umbrella programs so later ranking does not compare unlike instruments. The official current funding page distinguishes RFP awards, USD 25k research awards, direct investments and non-grant liquidity incentives.

How the application really works

Choose a live RFP or the academic research award → Submit through the Sui Grants Hub within that RFP's window → RFP committee reviews alignment and feasibility → Shortlist and final vote → Execute the funded scope and milestones

Tips

Show direct fit with Sui blockchain.
Show direct fit with developer tooling.
Show direct fit with DeFi.
Show direct fit with blockchain security research.

Watch out for

Current lifecycle is rolling.
RFP-specific deliverables and milestones apply; strategic investment has separate negotiated terms and Moonshots requires on-chain data sharing.
Restricted to the technical or ecosystem challenge specified in the RFP.

Track record

The official current funding page distinguishes RFP awards, USD 25k research awards, direct investments and non-grant liquidity incentives.

Moonshots selects ten teams annually, but that rate does not apply to RFP grants.

Frequently asked questions

Is this actionable now?: rolling. Rolling RFP and flash-RFP releases, each with its own application window; there is no open-ended general grant application.
What is the real economic value?: RFP awards vary; academic research awards are USD 25,000; separate Moonshots liquidity incentives can reach USD 500,000 but are explicitly not grants
Who is eligible?: Builders and teams must answer a live Sui Foundation RFP; researchers can use the separate USD 25,000 research-award route. Direct investment and liquidity incentives must not be represented as grants.
How does selection work?: Choose a live RFP or the academic research award; Submit through the Sui Grants Hub within that RFP's window; RFP committee reviews alignment and feasibility; Shortlist and final vote; Execute the funded scope and milestones. RFP committee reviews alignment and feasibility, shortlists candidates and votes; timing is RFP-specific.
What burden and restrictions apply?: RFP-specific deliverables and milestones apply; strategic investment has separate negotiated terms and Moonshots requires on-chain data sharing. Restricted to the technical or ecosystem challenge specified in the RFP.
What evidence exists?: The official current funding page distinguishes RFP awards, USD 25k research awards, direct investments and non-grant liquidity incentives. Moonshots selects ten teams annually, but that rate does not apply to RFP grants.

Sources

www.sui.io/programs-funding — Official current funding taxonomy and explicit not-grants statement (checked 2026-08-10)
www.sui.io/blog/revamp-request-for-grant-proposals — Official rolling/flash RFP process and committee selection (checked 2026-08-10)
www.sui.io/moonshots — Official liquidity-incentive distinction, rolling review and ten-team annual cohort (checked 2026-08-10)
sui.io/ecosystem — Official source used for the 2026-08-11 verification correction. (checked 2026-08-11)