Hiring Freeze for Dream Job After Getting to the Last Round: What Should I Do Next?

Hi everyone,

I recently got this email from a fund I interviewed with:

Hi __,

I wanted to give you a quick update. Currently, we’re focused on a few other strategic priorities, so we’ll be pausing hiring until the end of the summer. We’ll be sure to reach out later in the year once things pick up again.

Many thanks,

For context, I made it to the last round, and the team showed a very strong interest in me. The process went really well, so I’m not sure how to interpret this email. This is absolutely a dream role for me, and I am a bit crushed. 

Should I follow up now, wait until later, or try to stay in touch periodically? Any advice on how to handle this professionally and keep it on their radar would be appreciated.