Btrust, the non-profit group devoted to decentralizing Bitcoin open-source growth, has introduced the appointment of a brand new Board of Directors, marking the completion of a landmark governance transition and the launch of the group’s subsequent strategic chapter.
Following a world, open name and a rigorous, multi-stage choice course of, Janet Maingi, Bruno Garcia, and Laurence Aderemi have assumed full governance duties, the group instructed Bitcoin Journal.
The choice was guided by Btrust’s Genesis Ideas, which prioritize transparency, equity, and mission alignment — values which have anchored the group since its founding.
The transition fulfills the unique mandate set in 2021, when Btrust was established with a 500 BTC endowment from Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and rapper Jay-Z — a donation valued at roughly $24.5 million on the time of announcement. The reward was meant to fund Bitcoin growth throughout Africa and India, with Dorsey and Jay-Z intentionally stepping again from governance to permit an impartial board full decision-making authority.
The inaugural board — composed of Obi Nwosu, Ojoma Ochai, Carla Kirk-Cohen, and Abubakar Nur Khalil — was tasked with constructing the group’s operational and monetary basis earlier than enabling a structured handover to a successor board.
Btrust’s long-term mission of bitcoin growth
Over a multi-week transition interval that concluded April 30, 2026, the incoming and outgoing boards collaborated carefully to make sure continuity throughout governance, monetary oversight, and operations. The handover included funds opinions, documentation consolidation, and the initiation of an impartial audit designed to strengthen accountability.
“Today marks an important milestone for Btrust,” stated CEO Abubakar Nur Khalil, who was formally named to the highest govt position in late 2025 after serving in an interim capability. “We are confident the new board will strengthen our impact and safeguard our long-term mission.”
The brand new board brings deep and complementary experience spanning Bitcoin infrastructure, power programs, and open-source software program growth. Their appointment comes at a pivotal second for the group, which has steadily expanded its footprint throughout the International South.
In 2023, Btrust acquired Qala, a Bitcoin and Lightning Community developer coaching agency, rebranding it because the Btrust Builders Programme to speed up the pipeline of open-source contributors from Africa. Extra lately, Btrust has signaled growth into Latin America as a part of its broader international technique.
With the governance transition now full, Btrust strikes ahead with renewed institutional readability. The group’s core mission — making certain the Bitcoin ecosystem stays open, inclusive, and resilient by diversifying who builds it — stays unchanged. The brand new board is anticipated to information grantmaking technique, strengthen oversight of the Builders Programme, and deepen Btrust’s presence in underrepresented developer communities worldwide.
