2025 was a defining year for Btrust. After several years of experimentation and learning alongside communities, this year marked the beginning of a more structured phase focused on strengthening the systems that support Bitcoin open‑source developers across the Global Majority. Here’s a look at what we built and learnt throughout the year: nitter.net/i/status/2042276615846… 🧵

🎙️ Today’s X Space was a great reminder of the people building, educating, creating and pushing Bitcoin forward across Africa. A huge thank you to our incredible hosts, @EMbits, @proofofpaul, @JJ_the_creator and our phenomenal speakers @ihate1999, @marcelorraine, @carelvwyk, @AfribitKibera and @princejoj0 for sharing their experiences, lessons, challenges and the work happening across their communities.🧡 Thank you to everyone who joined, listened, asked questions and contributed to the conversation. We are grateful for this community and the builders who continue to move Africa’s Bitcoin ecosystem forward. The conversation doesn’t stop here.🧡

Day 4 in Dar es Salaam! 🇹🇿⚡ Yesterday, we took things a step further and started putting everything we’ve learned into practice. We showed the developers how to build on Lightning, working with APIs and exploring how they can bring Lightning payments into real world applications. Our instructor, @Extheo also went deep into open source contribution and @btrust_builders pathways. From finding projects to contribute to, understanding a codebase, making changes, and submitting contributions, the goal was to show that building in Bitcoin is not just about starting something new. There is also a huge opportunity to contribute to the projects already powering the ecosystem. It was a packed day with lots of building, questions, and hands on work. One more day to go! ⚡🚀 We are deeply grateful to our sponsors and partners, @HRF , @btrustteam , @Tether_Africa, @planb_network , @afribitcoiners, and @BitcoinSafariTZ

What does it take to build a pathway for developers to find their place in Bitcoin open source? In the latest episode of Btrust in Focus, @proofofpaul sits down with @StephTitcombe, Head of Program & Operations at Btrust, to discuss the evolution of Btrust Builders and what it takes to support developers as they enter, grow and contribute to the Bitcoin ecosystem. They talk about the lessons that have shaped the program, the communities and projects that have grown around it, and the role of mentorship in creating a cycle where developers eventually become mentors and leaders themselves. Stephanie also shares what comes next for @btrust_builders, from expanding its technical pathways and supporting local communities to creating more opportunities for developers to build together. Watch the full episode here👉 piped.video/mfiMVJeT-Rg?si=5ozS…

Excited to announce the Bitcoin Buildathon 2026 by DevFest Kaduna x @BtrustTeam, with @BitDevsKaduna as our technical partner! ⚡Learn core concepts and build real-world Bitcoin apps. 🧵 Details below 👇

NEW: 🏦 Btrust Awards Q3 2026 Bitcoin Developer Grants to 10 Open-Source Contributors Across Africa and Global South. Ten engineers will receive support this quarter: five through starter grants and five through long-term open-source cohort grants. For the first time, Btrust developer grants are going directly to contributors outside Africa. 🇧🇷🇮🇳🇳🇬🇰🇪 Read More: bitcoinnews.africa/btrust-aw…

Finding an open-source project to contribute to is easy, but choosing one where you can learn, contribute, and keep going takes a little more thought. Bitcoin’s open-source ecosystem spans protocol development, Lightning, wallets, mining, privacy, ecash, developer tools, infrastructure, testing, documentation, and more. With so many directions to explore, your first project can shape how you experience open-source development. In our latest article, we break down what to look for before you commit, how to assess your interests and skills, understand a project before touching the code, read its community, choose a contribution you can finish, and ask better questions when you get stuck. If you're figuring out where to make your first contribution, start here 👉 nitter.net/btrust_builders/status…

Day 3! First session with Nkatha. Focused on Bitcoin mining. Learnt a lot eg. What a Mempool is💃🏾😝 @hack4_freedom @DadaDevs @btrustteam @officialsoapbox

Thank you so much @btrustteam for the support 🚀

Day 3 in Dar es Salaam! 🇹🇿 Today, we got deep into Bitcoin transactions. The developers learned how transactions work under the hood and got hands on with constructing raw Bitcoin transactions. In the afternoon, we moved into Lightning ⚡ We covered the fundamentals of the Lightning Network and then got our hands dirty with @lightningpolar, setting up nodes and experimenting with a local Lightning network. It was a packed day, but the developers were right there with us, asking questions and getting their hands dirty. We are deeply grateful to our sponsors and partners, @HRF , @btrustteam , @Tether_Africa , @planb_network , @afribitcoiners , and @BitcoinSafariTZ , for supporting this bootcamp and helping make this opportunity possible for developers in Tanzania. 🙏🏾 Three days down, two more to go.

Rita is phenomenal technical mentor for Hack4freedom Lagos and helping to build the next generation of women builders in bitcoin Congratulations @Camilla_rhi ✨🧡

Congratulations to these rockstars and our new friends 🇧🇷🇮🇳🔥

And for the last session of day 2 we have learnt the testing process when building on Bitcoin 🥹. Also I've just learnt a new word "fuzzing" which is basically vaccinating your Bitcoin application 🥲, a testing method. @hack4_freedom @DadaDevs @btrustteam

Sharon is a dedicated technical mentor for both Hack4freedom Lagos and Nairobi respectively Congratulations @nkatha_kk this is truly deserved ✨🧡

Day 1 of Hack4Freedom Nairobi ✨🧡 A day of connection, learning & new possibilities. Workshops, shared experiences, and real conversations among women building, learning, and claiming their space in tech. Huge thanks to @DadaDevs, @btrustteam, @evento_so, and @SoapboxTech for believing in the Hack4Freedom — and in bringing more women closer to open technologies and the Bitcoin ecosystem. #hack4freedom #Hack4FreedomNairobi_2026

We’re really proud to see some of our alumni among the recipients. 🧡 We’ll be running two more cohorts this year: Rust 🦀 for Bitcoiners and Language Clubs, both starting in October. Learn more and apply to join us here: btrust.tech/builders/apply

Thank you @btrustteam for the support. 🖤 Thank you @DadaDevs for laying the foundation that started this journey. Thank you @btrust_builders and @BitDevsNBO for the community, knowledge & opportunities. We keep building.

This is what we love to see! 🙌🏾 We're glad to have been part of @abeeujah's journey. Keep killing it, man! 🔥