The Web3 Foundation is a non-profit foundation based in Switzerland, set up in 2017 by Gavin Wood, a co-founder of Ethereum. Its stated mission is to support technologies for a decentralized internet, often called Web3. Its best-known work is on Polkadot, a network that links specialised blockchains called parachains to a central relay chain. The foundation helped fund Polkadot's development through sales of DOT tokens and supports research, education and a grants programme for outside teams. Much of the core software has been built by separate companies, notably Parity Technologies, which Wood also co-founded. Like other crypto foundations, it has been scrutinised over how tokens were sold and how much influence it keeps over a network meant to be run by its holders. Also see nominators.
Last updated 13 Nov 2026