Btrust

Btrust 2024 in Review ?? From training the first female African Bitcoin Core contributor to hosting the first Btrust Developer Day, and expanding our Btrust Builders Program, 2024 was a landmark year in decentralizing Bitcoin open-source development in the Global South. Some 2024 highlights include: ? Supported Bitcoin training programs in the Global South, including Btrust Builders in Africa, Bitcoin 4 Open Source (B4OS) in LATAM, and Bitshala in India ? Supported 11 developers via grants, including the first long-term African Bitcoin Core contributors ? Hosted BitDevs meetups in 5 cities across 3 African countries ? Hosted our first Developer Day with 250+ attendees 2024 was incredible, and we’re excited for 2025. Read the full recap to see how we're building a global, inclusive Bitcoin ecosystem. ?? Read the blog post here: https://lnkd.in/dVyzGUU7

We’re excited to welcome Brandon Odiwuor and Itoro Ukpong Oluwasegun as the latest recipients of the Btrust Starter Grant ?? This grant allows recipients to explore different areas within Bitcoin development, identify a focus for long-term contributions, and engage deeply with the Bitcoin open-source community without financial constraints. These talented developers are making impactful contributions to open-source Bitcoin projects, strengthening the ecosystem and expanding Bitcoin’s accessibility. ? Brandon is focused on improving Bitcoin Core’s testing infrastructure, build system, and developer tooling, while also engaging with the community through Nairobi BitDevs. ? Itoro is enhancing Bitcoinj and BDK-FFI, improving wallet development, mobile privacy features, and Schnorr/PSBT support, and also driving Bitcoin education as an organizer for BitDevs Accra. At Btrust, we are committed to supporting open-source Bitcoin developers in the Global South, ensuring they have the resources to build, contribute, and grow. Btrust grants are open year-round. Learn more about the grants and apply here: https://lnkd.in/dr5UjEyv

Open-source Bitcoin development is growing across the Global South, and we’re bringing together key voices to discuss how to empower developers, fund innovation, and build a stronger Bitcoin ecosystem. Join us for an insightful conversation. ?? Date: Thursday, March 13, 2024 ? Time: 5PM UTC | 6PM WAT | 7PM SAST | 8PM EAT Set a reminder & join us live: https://lnkd.in/dTf8Ge9j We will cover: ?? An overview of Btrust and the open-source Bitcoin development ecosystem in the Global South ?? The Btrust Builders Program and how it supports new & experienced devs ?? Funding opportunities through Btrust Grants ?? Live Q&A. Ask your questions & engage with industry leaders. Our speakers of the day include: ? Abubakar Nur Khalil - Bitcoin Core Contributor & Btrust CEO ? Kelvin Isievwore - Btrust Engineering Lead ? Stephanie Titcombe - Program Lead, Btrust Builders ? Brandon Odiwuor - Bitcoin Core contributor and Btrust Grantee ? Duncan Dean - Lightning Dev Kit contributor and Btrust grantee Whether you're an aspiring Bitcoin developer, a seasoned contributor, or an ecosystem supporter, this space will give you insights into how to start, grow, and contribute to Bitcoin development.

The bitcoin++ Hacking Edition conference has officially kicked off in Florianópolis, Brazil! ???? This is where Bitcoin devs, builders, and hackers come together to collaborate, learn, and push open-source Bitcoin development forward. ????? We’re proud to support this event, promoting innovation and empowering developers to build the future of Bitcoin. ?? Happening today until February 22nd ?? Catch the action LIVE here: https://lnkd.in/dHTmp2Vg

This past week, we had the privilege of sponsoring and participating in Adopting Bitcoin Cape Town ???? 2025 Conference. There, we had the opportunity to connect with brilliant minds, engage in insightful discussions, and explore the real-world impact of bitcoin adoption and development across Africa. The experience kicked off with a special screening of UNBANKABLE, a documentary by Luke Willms that explores Africa’s financial innovation through the years. The film challenges the traditional narrative that solutions only come from the West, instead showcasing Africa’s ability to develop our own solutions. The conference itself was packed with incredible talks and workshops, ranging from technical deep dives to adoption strategies. On day 1, our communications officer, Sharon Murugi, spoke about the need to empower African developers and highlighted the work we’re doing to support open-source Bitcoin development in the Global South. On day 2, our grantee, Duncan Dean, led a Btrust Builders workshop, where attendees learned about our program and how to get involved. One standout moment was the live demo by UseOrange, in partnership with Mavapay in Nigeria, where they successfully made an almost instant payment from Nigeria ???? to South Africa ???? using the Lightning Network? This was just one of many innovative projects showcased at the conference, highlighting how builders are developing localized solutions inspired by real-world challenges. No trip to Cape Town is complete without an adventure. After the conference, we took a scenic road trip to Mossel Bay & Witsand, visiting Bitcoin Ekasi & Bitcoin Witsand; two grassroots initiatives showcasing real-world bitcoin adoption in local communities. One of our goals for 2025 is to expand our reach into Southern Africa, and the response we got in Cape Town confirmed that we’re moving in the right direction A huge thank you to the organizers, speakers, and everyone who made this experience unforgettable. The conversations, the connections, the energy, it was all next level ??

The #BtrustDeveloperDay was an absolute highlight of this year for me. Over 250 developers from across #Africa came together to listen, learn, collaborate, and innovate, and I couldn’t be prouder to have played a role in making it happen. One of my favorite moments was welcoming everyone during the Opening Plenary, where I shared how Btrust is working to locate, educate, and remunerate developers—because they are the backbone of a decentralized #Bitcoin ecosystem. Special thanks to Jack Dorsey for an incredible keynote (thank you so much for accepting my invitation!), to every speaker and attendee for bringing their A-game, and to the team that made this day a success. Seeing such talent and passion in one space reminded me why I love what I do. Here’s to community, collaboration, and building something that truly matters. ?? #BtrustDeveloperDay #Btrust #BtrustBuilders #Developers #ABC24 #Grateful

We are excited to announce the Q4 2024 recipients of Btrust grants ?? This quarter, Abdullahi Yunus has been awarded the Starter Grant, while Enigbe Ochekliye and Tobechi Chukwuleta will transition to the Btrust Open-Source Cohort. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dh8eFsmW

Can you feel the excitement? Because we sure can! ?? Today, we come together for this year’s Btrust Developer Day, and it’s going to be nothing short of AMAZING! From inspiring talks to hands-on workshops and networking with the best in Bitcoin development, you won’t want to miss this. Check out the agenda here: https://lnkd.in/dV39vrDb See you soon! #BtrustDeveloperDay #ABC24

Sched will be our official agenda platform for the 2024 Btrust Developer Day! ?? With Sched, you can easily explore all the sessions and workshops we’ve lined up for you. You can also customize your experience by adding your favorite sessions to your personal schedule and stay on top of what’s happening. Head over to https://lnkd.in/dsq-C39k and start exploring. #BtrustDeveloperDay #ABC24

We’re excited to announce that Jack Dorsey will be dialing in to give a keynote at the Developer Day! ?? Jack is the Block Head, Chairman, and Co-Founder of Block. He is a visionary leader driving innovation in financial technology and a passionate advocate for Bitcoin and open-source protocols. Jack’s commitment to Bitcoin’s potential as a tool for economic empowerment has inspired countless developers and entrepreneurs to build a more inclusive and decentralized financial system. His support for open-source initiatives continues to shape the future of Bitcoin and its ecosystem. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from one of the most influential voices in Bitcoin and tech! #BtrustDeveloperDay #ABC24