On June 2nd, @npub17xvf...c9as will be hosting the Freedom Tech Track at the 2026 Oslo Freedom Forum, bringing together builders, founders, and advocates exploring the role of technology in advancing freedom around the world. Our CEO, @Abubakar Nur Khalil, is one of the featured speakers and will be joining the panel on bitcoin adoption in practice. He’ll be speaking alongside: • Anaïse Kanimba, director & founder, Africa Bitcoin Institute • @npub1kp7j...487l, founder & CEO, @npub1uq70...u0c2 • @npub1ykgz...xf8j, co-founder, @Tando.me 📍 Oslo Konserthus, Deep Dive Stage ⏰ June 2nd, 5:45pm This is one session you won’t want to miss. Check out the Freedom Tech Track speaker lineup and schedule here:

Oslo Freedom Forum

Freedom Tech at the Oslo Freedom Forum

June 2, 2026 June 2 Buy Tickets June 2, 2026 June 2 Buy tickets Meet Our Freedom Tech Speakers Meet Our Workshop Speakers Explore the Freedom Tech ...

We recently had the pleasure of sponsoring and being part of the just concluded @Adopting Bitcoin Cape Town 🇿🇦 conference. Things kicked off on Thursday with the Bitcoin Circular Economy Summit, followed by the pre-conference hangout. It was a great chance to meet people, network, and enjoy some fun activities like sim golf ⛳ before the main event began. On day 1, @npub1zm2d...f260, a Btrust developer grantee working on Stratum V2, presented a session on mining decentralization. He broke things down from the basics all the way to the technical details, showing why mining pool centralization can become a censorship risk. He also shared how Stratum V2 helps miners choose their own transactions, making Bitcoin more secure and decentralized. On day 2, @npub12qj0...w8vy, our communications lead spoke about what it takes to support and sustain open-source development in Africa and the Global South. She reminded everyone that behind Bitcoin is a strong human layer, consisting of developers, reviewers, maintainers, and community builders whose work keeps the network running and growing. She also shared how developers help turn Bitcoin from just a protocol into tools people actually use every day, like wallets, self-custody solutions, and payment infrastructure. That’s why decentralization shouldn’t stop at the code. We need builders from more places, especially those who understand local challenges, helping shape the tools that will bring Bitcoin to the next billion users. We’re proud to support this work by creating more sustainable paths for contributors and helping strengthen the ecosystem. One of the coolest parts of the conference was seeing bitcoin used in real life. We were able to buy coffee using bitcoin, powered by @npub155m2...dcvg, one of the open-source projects helping make bitcoin payments possible. There was also a dedicated workshop space where builders got to share what they’re working on. It was exciting to see solutions being built from real local problems, and we loved connecting with the community and exploring new partnerships. A big thank you to the organizers and everyone involved for putting together such an amazing experience.

Highlights from the 2025 #BtrustGalaDinner ✨ We called, and you answered. The theme for the night was elegant, and attendees showed up and showed out. It was a night filled with joy, and incredible energy! The evening kicked off with aperitifs and light bites at the backstage lounge, setting the tone for relaxed networking and easy conversations. As guests made their way into the hall, the host, Paul Eke, got things started with ice-breakers, followed by a welcome address from @Abubakar Nur Khalil. @npub1kp7j...487l then shared a moving farewell, representing the outgoing inaugural Btrust Board. Since 2021, this board has been responsible for overseeing the delivery of Btrust’s mission, guiding the organization through its formative yea rs and setting the foundation for future success. We celebrate and thank them for their vision and leadership. The night also saw us celebrate the 2025 cohort of the Btrust Builders pathways, recognizing top students for their dedication, growth, and excellence throughout the program. A special moment was dedicated to celebrating Abubakar Nur Khalil and formally welcoming him into the office of the CEO. Under his leadership, Btrust has experienced a period of significant growth and transformation, moving from early groundwork to executing at scale. This includes expanding our programs, launching new partnerships, growing our developer reach, strengthening our grants review and delivery processes, and refining our internal systems and team structure. We wrapped up the evening with great food, drinks, dancing, and conversations, the perfect close to an unforgettable year. Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the night truly special. We hope to see you soon 🧡

Highlights from this year's @npub1dtvs...wc6t in Mauritius 🇲🇺. On day one, our CEO, @Abubakar Nur Khalil, delivered his keynote on Btrust in 2026, sharing our achievements in 2025 and our strategic roadmap for the year ahead. Later that day, Abubakar Sadiq Ismail led a technical workshop on building a Bitcoin Node using the libbitcoinkernel library, introducing Bitcoin Core’s upcoming consensus engine. Day two featured a presentation on BTCPay Server plugins by Tobechi Chukwuleta, highlighting how plugins expand merchant tools and create new business opportunities. In the afternoon, Raj, CEO of @bitshala, spoke about training Bitcoin developers in India 🇮🇳 and the Global South, outlining a roadmap for developer growth and contribution. Day three brought education and collaboration to the fore, with Tuedon Tuoyo kicking off the BOSS Challenge by Chaincode Labs, giving participants a practical entry point into Bitcoin open‑source contribution. Applications for the BOSS Challenge are open until December 31st, offering aspiring developers a chance to join a hands‑on, skill‑building journey. Apply to join the 2026 cohort here:

Chaincode Labs

The final day was also a moment of pride for our community, as Abubakar Nur Khalil was named most impactful African Bitcoiner of 2025, and @npub1353s...gajp was recognized as the African Bitcoin project of 2025. A huge thank you to the @African Bitcoiners team for the recognition. As a sponsor, we also had a booth which was a point for conversations, and learning about our programs, with visitors leaving with exclusive merch and new ways to get involved. We are proud of the incredible representation from our ecosystem at #ABC2025 and grateful to everyone who interacted with us in Mauritius. We’re looking forward to the work ahead as we continue building the future of open‑source Bitcoin development across the Global South.🧡 #ABC25

We recently had the pleasure of sponsoring and taking part in this year’s @npub1dtvs...wc6t, held from December 3–5 at the Caudan Arts Centre in Port Louis, Mauritius 🇲🇺. The Africa Bitcoin Conference brings together builders, businesses, innovators, policymakers, and community members from across Africa and beyond, all working to advance Bitcoin on the continent. This year, we brought in over 90 people from across our ecosystem, including the Btrust team, grantees, members from @npub1353s...gajp, @bitshala, @npub13s0k...5g70, @ISMOS, #BtrustDeveloperDay speakers, and more, to attend the conference, lead sessions, and connect with the wider Bitcoin community. Beyond the sessions and conversations, we had a great time reconnecting, learning, and building alongside the community. Huge thanks to the Africa Bitcoin Conference organisers for the amazing event and for the work that went into making it a success. #ABC25 #ABC2025

On November 29 and 30, we hosted our annual #BtrustGathering at the Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel in Port Louis, Mauritius 🇲🇺. This year’s theme, mapping the future ofnopen‑source collaboration across the Global South, set the tone for two days of deep learning, open conversation, and collective action. We welcomed around 75 participants from across our community, including the Btrust team, grantees, and members from @npub1353s...gajp, @bitshala, @ISMOS and @npub13s0k...5g70. Together, we explored the evolving landscape of open‑source Bitcoin development and how collaboration can accelerate progress across the Global South. Two days of exchanges, workshops, and genuine connection reminded us of the power of community and what’s possible when developers across the Global South co‑create the future of open‑source Bitcoin development. We’re deeply grateful to everyone who joined us, and we’re looking forward to the work ahead of us.

"This is my first time outside India 🇮🇳 to an international bitcoin conference or gathering. The bar has been set really high for me now." Paperpsych from @bitshala. Day two of the 2025 #BtrustGathering built beautifully on the momentum from day one, diving deeper into collective learning and collaboration.

Day one of the #BtrustGathering began with an engaging opening plenary by Stephanie Titcombe, followed by the state of Btrust address from our CEO, @Abubakar Nur Khalil, who shared a thoughtful year‑in‑review, key milestones from 2025, and the outlook for 2026. The morning continued with the 2025 program reports, where @npub1353s...gajp, @npub13s0k...5g70, @bitshala, and Libreria de Satoshi presented updates on their work, growth, and the impact they’ve created in supporting open‑source Bitcoin development across the Global South. In the afternoon, participants joined cross‑organization working groups to explore opportunities for collaboration on joint programs, developer connectivity, localization, and technical cooperation. Discussions also covered shared initiatives, developer exchange and communication, grants and sustainability, as well as community growth, storytelling, and brand alignment. These sessions were energetic and idea‑driven, with groups sharing thoughtful outputs that reflected the strength of cross‑community collaboration. The day captured the essence of what the gathering stands for; connection, transparency, and collective progress. It was a powerful reminder of how much can be achieved when builders from across the Global South come together to advance open‑source Bitcoin development.

New to bitcoin? Stop by the Bitcoin 101 booth at the #BtrustDeveloperDay to get guided, hands‑on help from our team.  Our booth will walk you through the fundamentals of bitcoin, what it is, how it works, and why it matters, while helping you set up your wallet. You’ll get to explore user‑friendly tools like Wallet of Satoshi and @Blink Wallet and learn how to send, receive, and secure your bitcoin with confidence. Our team will be available throughout the event to answer questions, share practical tips, and help you take your first steps toward bitcoin ownership and financial independence. 👉 Register to attend the Developer Day here: https://clooza.com/events/BTRUSTDEVELOPERDAY 

Toby Nwuba, co-founder of @npub1aamj...wft2 will join #BtrustDeveloperDay to co-lead the workshop, build a @Tando.me in 20 minutes, alongside Isaack. Toby is a software engineer and entrepreneur focused on building open, accessible Bitcoin payment infrastructure across Africa. Before founding Minmo, he spent seven years at Goldman Sachs, where he led engineering initiatives in data platforms. His passion lies in expanding open financial access, advancing federated custody solutions, and growing developer ecosystems that encourage local innovation. With Minmo, Toby is demonstrating how Bitcoin and Lightning can transform payments in emerging markets, empowering agents and developers to create real-world solutions that bridge digital and local economies. 👉 RSVP now to secure your spot: https://clooza.com/events/BTRUSTDEVELOPERDAY

We’re happy to have @npub1lqn4...yrp7 joining us as a speaker at the upcoming #BtrustDeveloperDay! ⚡ Pins is a @npub13s0k...5g70 grantee currently contributing to LND (Lightning Network Daemon). His journey into Bitcoin development is a powerful example of passion meeting persistence. After starting his career as a software developer, Pins transitioned to commercial and sales roles in cybersecurity within major tech companies. Yet, his love for Bitcoin and open-source software reignited his drive to get back to hands-on coding. Over the past two years, Pins has dedicated himself to relearning programming and has been actively contributing to the LND codebase. At Developer Day, Pins will lead a hands-on workshop titled Taproot Lightning Channels from Scratch, designed for developers eager to dive deep into the Taproot transactions required to create and operate simple Taproot channels. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn directly from Pins and strengthen your understanding of how Bitcoin’s latest protocol upgrades expand the possibilities of the Lightning Network. RSVP now to secure your spot: https://clooza.com/events/BTRUSTDEVELOPERDAY

@Abubakar Nur Khalil, Btrust CEO and Bitcoin Core contributor, joins the #BtrustDeveloperDay lineup to share insights on the future of Bitcoin development across Africa. Abubakar is one of the leading voices shaping the continent’s Bitcoin ecosystem, and also serves as CEO of @npub153nm...pl7v, a bitcoin-focused venture fund fueling innovative projects across the global Bitcoin landscape. Through his leadership at Btrust, he drives initiatives that empower developers in the Global South with training and mentorship, helping cultivate the next generation of Bitcoin builders. Beyond his technical and community-building work, Abubakar contributes to Forbes Digital Assets, where he shares thoughtful analysis on Bitcoin’s evolution and highlights key developments within Africa’s growing Bitcoin space. Join Developer Day to hear Abubakar’s vision for a decentralized, sustainable Bitcoin ecosystem and the work being done to unlock Africa’s potential in global Bitcoin development. 👉 Secure your spot here: https://clooza.com/events/BTRUSTDEVELOPERDAY

In July, we put out a call for a Chief Executive Officer, and after a long, thoughtful, and rigorous selection process, we’re excited to share that @Abubakar Nur Khalil has been appointed as the new CEO of Btrust. Abubakar will be stepping down from his position on the Board to take on this full-time role, where he will report directly to the Btrust Board. His appointment marks an important new chapter for Btrust as we continue our mission to strengthen and support open-source development across Africa and beyond. This is a three-year term, with the possibility of renewal by a subsequent board for one additional three-year period. Read more about the appointment, as featured on @npub1x82x...yzdm:

Bitcoin Magazine

Btrust Names Abubakar Nur Khalil As New CEO

After a stint as interim CEO, Abubakar Nur Khalil is officially Btrust's new chief executive officer.

Join us in congratulating Abubakar on this new role and in looking forward to what’s ahead for us.

We’re excited to be sponsoring and taking part in #OSCAFest25, Africa’s largest open-source festival. 🎉 This gathering brings together developers, designers, students, and organizations from across the continent and beyond to learn from each other, spark new ideas, and strengthen the open-source movement. This year’s theme is "Beyond Borders", and it perfectly reflects what we believe in as an organization; building technology that connects people, communities, and opportunities across the world. 📅 August 15 – 16, 2025 📍 Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, Nigeria 🇳🇬 Grab your ticket at: https://tix.africa/discover/osf-25 and use the code OSF25BTRUST50 for 50% off. On Friday, our grantee Tobechi Chukwuleta will be hosting a workshop on Open Source Bitcoin Payment Infrastructure for African Businesses. Tobechi is a contributor to BTCPay Server, an open-source Bitcoin payment processor that gives businesses the power to accept Bitcoin without relying on third parties. In his session, he’ll walk participants through how to set up BTCPay Server 💚, use its merchant tools, integrate it with online stores, and explore its plugin ecosystem, including Lightning Network support. He’ll conclude with a live demo featuring a Naira-denominated checkout for local customers. On Saturday, our Engineering Lead, Kelvin Isievwore, will give a keynote on Building Out Africa’s Open Source Ecosystem. He’ll share our journey from an idea to a thriving community, funding developers, launching builder programs, and creating spaces where open-source collaboration can flourish. In the afternoon, Itoro Ukpong will share insights in his talk Opening Up Bitcoin: Empowering Developers Across Languages with BDK-FFI. Itoro’s work helps bridge Bitcoin Dev Kit’s core with widely-used programming languages like Python, Kotlin, and Swift. One of Saturday’s highlights will be the Women in Open Source Brunch, which we’re proud to sponsor. This is a space for women in open source to network, share, and support one another on their journey in tech. Attendance is limited, and you’ll need an OSCAFest ticket to join. You can RSVP here:

Women in Open Source (OSCAFest '25)

During the brunch: • Enigbe Ochekliye will give a lightning talk on Finding Your Place in Bitcoin Open Source, sharing stories and pathways for newcomers to get started with confidence. • Jennifer Ezeobi and Munirat Olayiwola will lead an interactive session on Building Your Career in Bitcoin, exploring how to contribute across different roles, overcome common challenges, and tap into mentorship and funding opportunities. Explore the full OSCAFest agenda here:

Open Source Festival | Speaker Schedule

A high profile event with series of talks, workshops, and awareness of open-sourced developer tools.

We’ll have around 40 members from the Btrust Builders and BitDevs Lagos communities, so you’ll definitely spot many familiar faces. We’ll also have a booth at the event. Come through to learn more about our work, and get some merch. See you in Lagos! 🇳🇬

This past week, our CEO, @Abubakar Nur Khalil, took the stage at the Baltic Honeybadger Conference in Latvia 🇱🇻 He gave a talk on The Global Majority: Bitcoin by the Billions 🌍. He reminded us why Bitcoin matters most to those who need it most, and why the people who rely on it must be the ones building it. He spoke about building for a sustainable future and how we at Btrust are committed to decentralizing Bitcoin development so it truly belongs to everyone. Abubakar also joined a panel on building communities alongside Mir Liponi, @keypleb, and Mike Peterson, moderated by @Efrat Fenigson. The discussion provided insights into the process of building bitcoin communities. Panelists shared their unique experiences from various parts of the world, highlighting efforts to build different communities. Our team members, Kelvin Isievwore and Sharon Murugi, were also present engaging with attendees and building connections within the global Bitcoin community. Catch the livestream recordings on @Hodl Hodl's YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@hodlhodl?si=Ij9AiSiY6FqOFCFI #BH2025

We're hiring a part-time accountant at Btrust 📢 If you have experience with budgeting, financial reporting, and setting up accounting systems, especially in a non-profit setting, we’d love to hear from you. As our accountant, you’ll keep our financial records accurate, help us stay compliant, and support the team with financial advice as we grow. You’ll also play a key role in building efficient financial systems that can scale with our work. This is a remote, short-term role, with flexible working hours. We especially encourage people based in Africa to apply. 👉 Learn more about the role and apply here: https://btrust.homerun.co/accountant-part-time/en 🗓️ Applications close on August 15th, 2025.

We're excited to announce our partnership with the @npub1dtvs...wc6t to bring the #BtrustDeveloperDay back for 2025. 🚀 The event will take place on December 2nd at the Trianon Convention Centre, Mauritius 🇲🇺, serving as the official developer-focused kickoff for #ABC2025. Expect a full day of deep technical sessions, hands-on workshops, and networking, all focused on our theme: "Build Locally, Contribute Globally." This is a free event open to all builders. Register to attend: https://clooza.com/events/BTRUSTDEVELOPERDAY Apply to speak:

Btrust Developer Day

Btrust Developer Day

Learn more about the event on our blog:

Btrust Blog

Announcing the 2025 Btrust Developer Day in Mauritius

We are excited to share that Btrust is once again partnering with the Africa Bitcoin Conference (ABC) to present the 2025 Btrust Developer Day. Th...

We’re excited to announce that we are partnering with Open Source Community Africa (OSCA) to sponsor the 4th edition of OSCAFEST this August. 🚀 OSCAFEST is Africa’s largest open-source festival, bringing together developers, students, designers, and organizations to share knowledge, spark new ideas, and strengthen open-source communities. This year’s theme, Beyond Borders, is about pushing past traditional boundaries in technology and collaboration. It invites participants to work together across countries, industries, and areas of expertise, enabling bold innovation, inclusivity, and growth for Africa’s tech community. 📅 Save the date: August 14 – 16, 2025 📍 Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, Nigeria 🇳🇬 Secure your spot and be part of this exciting event: https://tix.africa/discover/osf-25 👉 Learn more about our partnership and what it means for Africa’s tech community in our blog:

Btrust Blog

Btrust Partners with the Open Source Community Africa to Sponsor OSCAFEST 2025

Lagos, Nigeria – 17th July 2025 We’re excited to share that we’re partnering with the Open Source Community Africa (OSCA) to sponsor the 4th...

📢 We're inviting applications for the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Btrust. Btrust is a non-profit organization working to decentralize the development of Bitcoin software by supporting open-source developers across Africa and the Global South. We’re seeking a principles-led leader to guide our next phase of growth; someone with a track record of impact, strong leadership, stakeholder engagement, and deep alignment with mission-driven or technical work. As CEO, you’ll shape and oversee strategy and execution across our core areas: identifying and supporting developers, delivering high-quality Bitcoin education, funding open-source work, and strengthening open-source infrastructure and community. Until the appointment of the new CEO, @Abubakar Nur Khalil will continue as interim CEO to ensure leadership continuity. 👉 Learn more about the role and apply here:

BTrust

We’re excited to share the Q2 2025 Btrust Developer Grant recipients. This round features three new Starter Grant and two renewed Long Term grantees, all driving open-source Bitcoin development. Check out the full list of grantees here:

Btrust Blog

Announcing Q2 2025 Btrust Developer Grant Recipients

Africa, July 2, 2025 — We are excited to present the recipients of our Q2 Starter Grants and welcome returning members to the Btrust Open-Source ...

Starter Grants empower talented engineers to contribute full-time to open-source Bitcoin development, giving them the flexibility and security to identify their specialty and deepen their community involvement. Sulaiman Aminu Barkindo is focusing his efforts on the Validating Lightning Signer (VLS) project. With the support of the Starter Grant, he’ll be working on enhancing HTLC security, advancing on-chain state enforcement and disaster recovery, optimizing signer performance for rapid synchronization, and ensuring robust data persistence. He’s also expanding system test coverage and implementing advanced tools to bring VLS closer to production-readiness, helping make non-custodial, secure Lightning solutions more reliable and accessible, especially where self-custody is essential. Peter Tyonum is making Bitcoin wallet development more approachable and powerful through the Bitcoin Dev Kit (BDK) libraries. He’s focused on releasing bdk-cli version 1.0.0, integrating new features like hardware wallet support, building advanced wallet templates, and improving compatibility with chain clients and RPC proxies. Peter will also be expanding documentation and contributing code reviews across the ecosystem. Jamal ERRAKIBI is dedicating himself to boosting the stability and usability of rust-bitcoin. His priorities include regular code reviews, expanding documentation, improving serialization consistency, and helping guide core rust-bitcoin libraries towards a stable release. This work will support both core developers and newcomers as Bitcoin’s open-source foundation continues to grow. The Btrust Long Term Grant helps experienced contributors continue making high-impact, sustainable advances in Bitcoin infrastructure. Both Long Term Grant renewals will provide two more years of dedicated support to each recipient. Duncan Dean is working on the Lightning Development Kit, particularly advancing dual-funded channels. He is enabling funding contributions from channel acceptors, introducing robust APIs for channel initiators, and developing interactive fee-bumping. Duncan’s future plans include pioneering simple taproot channels to enhance privacy and exploring the integration of Point Time Locked Contracts. Abubakar Sadiq Ismail is deepening his work on Bitcoin Core, focusing on fee estimation improvements and strengthening mempool infrastructure. He’s developing a cluster-aware fee estimator, contributing to multiprocess support and mining interface testing, and continuing to mentor new contributors, host review sessions, and advance his expertise in Bitcoin cryptography. At Btrust, we believe supporting developer talent is key to a stronger, more decentralized Bitcoin. Our grant applications are open year-round, and new grantees are announced every quarter. If you’re passionate about contributing to Bitcoin open-source, we encourage you to apply. Visit our website to learn more about our ongoing grant programs:

Grants

Get funding to work on Free and Open-Source Bitcoin projects