The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) has introduced a brand new spherical of grants from its Bitcoin Development Fund, distributing 1 billion satoshis (10 BTC) to over 20 initiatives worldwide. The grants purpose to assist open-source Bitcoin growth, mining decentralization, privateness instruments, and academic initiatives for people dwelling beneath authoritarian regimes, with a concentrate on Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
The most recent cohort consists of various initiatives advancing Bitcoin’s function as a monetary and human rights empowerment instrument.
NetBlocks, a digital rights watchdog group, displays and stories on web shutdowns in real-time. Authoritarian regimes usually use these shutdowns to suppress protests, throttle dissent, and limit entry to monetary instruments. HRF’s assist will improve NetBlocks’ monitoring, documentation, and analysis capabilities to bolster web and monetary fredom.
TollGate, a mission developed by ISP c03rad0r, transforms strange WiFi routers into decentralized web service suppliers utilizing Bitcoin and ecash. This peer-to-peer networking instrument permits customers to bypass centralized ISPs, providing an alternative choice to state-controlled web entry. With HRF funding, TollGate will proceed advancing its mission of constructing a censorship-resistant web that empowers people to speak freely.
Vinteum is a nonprofit Bitcoin analysis and growth heart based mostly in Latin America. It focuses on coaching and funding builders to contribute to the Bitcoin protocol and ecosystem. With assist from HRF, Vinteum plans to develop its developer teaching programs, sponsor contributors, and strengthen Latin America’s Bitcoin growth group, serving to the area construct monetary alternate options to fragile fiat techniques.
BTCPay Server is an open-source, self-hosted Bitcoin fee processor that enables people and organizations to just accept Bitcoin with out counting on third events. That is particularly vital in regimes the place fee processors are weaponized to silence NGOs and activists. HRF’s grant will assist scale BTCPay’s attain, enhance usability, and enhance international entry to censorship-resistant funds.
Africa Bitcoin Institute (ABI), supported by Rwandan activist Anaïse Kanimba, bridges the hole between Bitcoin adoption and coverage in Africa. ABI conducts analysis and supplies coverage suggestions to advertise monetary autonomy. With HRF’s backing, ABI will will promote monetary autonomy and solidify Bitcoin’s function as a pillar of financial freedom
Bitcoin Core Graphical Person Interface (GUI) – Working a full Bitcoin node is a cornerstone of monetary sovereignty, however the technical interface generally is a barrier. Bitcoin-core/gui-qml, a mission supported by developer Go Qu, modernizes the Bitcoin Core interface to make it extra intuitive, particularly for cell customers in creating areas. HRF funding will assist ongoing growth to decrease the barrier to entry for node runners globally.
Rkrux is a Bitcoin Core contributor centered on code assessment, bug testing, and enhancing documentation. His contributions assist keep Bitcoin’s resilience. HRF’s grant will permit Rkrux to proceed his work, making certain that the Bitcoin community stays sturdy, safe, and censorship-resistant for customers all over the world.
Elsat is a developer contributing to the Nostr ecosystem, together with initiatives like Damus, Nostrability, and Zap.retailer. These instruments provide decentralized messaging, improved app interoperability, and peer-to-peer software program monetization. HRF’s grant will assist ongoing growth aimed toward strengthening free expression and monetary independence for customers beneath authoritarian regimes.
Relay Wizard, created by developer J the Code Monkey, simplifies the method of establishing Nostr relays. These relays are important to decentralized communication on the Nostr protocol. The instrument permits non-technical customers to function their very own servers, contributing to a extra resilient, censorship-resistant communication infrastructure. HRF’s grant will advance growth and deployment of this instrument.
Waye is a assist initiative co-founded by Bitcoin Core developer Amiti Uttarwar and operational architect Anna Sides. It supplies psycho-social assist for open-source builders constructing freedom tech. By addressing burnout and isolation amongst contributors, Waye strengthens the ecosystem’s human basis. HRF funding will assist Waye develop its attain, particularly to builders from the International South.
Hashpool is a self-hosted mining pool developed by vnprc that helps decentralization in Bitcoin mining. Moderately than counting on centralized entities, miners are rewarded with ecash tokens, enabling prompt, personal payouts. HRF’s assist will additional Hashpool’s growth and promote a extra distributed and censorship-resistant mining panorama.
Cashu KVAC is a protocol improve for Cashu, a Chaumian ecash system that permits extraordinarily robust monetary privateness. Developed by lollerfirst, this enchancment enhances privateness by lowering information storage and hiding transaction quantities. HRF’s grant will assist additional growth, reinforcing monetary privateness protections for weak customers.
Self-Custody Analysis: Brandon Black (Rearden) is conducting analysis into the challenges of self-custody for Bitcoin customers in authoritarian regimes. His findings will inform new instruments and schooling that make safe, personal Bitcoin utilization extra accessible. HRF’s grant will fund this analysis and the event of academic assets.
Secure Channels is a mission by Tony Klausing that introduces fiat-pegged balances to the Lightning Community, serving to customers keep away from Bitcoin’s volatility whereas sustaining full custody. With HRF assist, the mission will develop its integrations and consumer outreach, enabling people to transact freely with out counting on centralized stablecoin issuers.
Bitsacco, developed by okjodom, is a Fedimint-based platform that modernizes Kenya’s SACCO (Financial savings and Credit score Cooperative Group) mannequin utilizing Bitcoin and Fedimints. It permits community-based monetary teams to function independently of banks. HRF’s grant will fund Bitsacco’s growth, coaching, and native deployment.
The Core, based by Kenyan educator Felix Mukungu, supplies sensible Bitcoin schooling via workshops, meetups, and digital content material. It focuses on self-custody, Lightning utilization, and node operation. HRF’s assist will permit The Core to develop its attain throughout Kenya and past.
Bitcoin Infants, based by Naomi Wambui, addresses toddler malnutrition and monetary illiteracy via a novel program combining diet assist and Bitcoin schooling. Moms obtain weekly Bitcoin stipends and coaching to realize long-term monetary safety. HRF funding will scale this system’s attain to extra households in want.
East Asia Bitcoin Developer Apprenticeship Program: Led by Calvin Kim, this program trains Korean and Japanese builders in open-source Bitcoin growth. Apprentices achieve hands-on expertise and contribute to main initiatives. HRF’s assist will develop entry and mentorship alternatives, serving to bridge the regional expertise hole and supporting defectors from authoritarian governments.
Bitcoin Week at TalentLand 2025: At TalentLand, Latin America’s largest tech convention, Bitcoin Week will introduce hundreds of attendees to Bitcoin via workshops and hackathons. Organized by Tremendous Testnet and the Bitcoin and Lightning Guadalajara group, the initiative highlights Bitcoin’s function in monetary empowerment. HRF’s grant will assist develop this system.
Base58’s Bitcoin Dwell Motion Function Play (LARP), created by Lisa Neigut and David Rodriguez, gives an immersive studying expertise the place individuals simulate the Bitcoin community. By performing out transactions and node operations, learners achieve a deeper understanding of Bitcoin. HRF’s assist will fund facilitator coaching and international growth, notably in underserved areas.
BTCenEspañol is a number one supply of Spanish-language Bitcoin schooling. With a aim of reaching over a million learners and coaching 100 instructors, the platform is increasing throughout South America. HRF’s grant will assist instructor coaching, course growth, and outreach in authoritarian-affected areas.
Growing Nonprofit Adoption of Bitcoin: Researcher Daniel Batten is finding out how nonprofits can use Bitcoin to beat monetary censorship. His mission supplies data-driven insights and sensible steerage for NGOs working in hostile environments. With HRF’s funding, the initiative will assist NGOs adopting Bitcoin in areas the place conventional banking is compromised.
Bitcoin for Good, led by activist Hadiya Masieh, gives hands-on coaching to nonprofits on how you can settle for Bitcoin. The aim is to allow NGOs to bypass monetary restrictions and keep independence. HRF’s grant will fund workshops, technical help, and organizational integration assist.
Since its launch in 2020, HRF’s Bitcoin Development Fund has distributed greater than $7.8 million in BTC to 284 initiatives in 62 international locations. The following spherical of grants will probably be introduced on the seventeenth annual Oslo Freedom Discussion board, going down Might 26–28, 2025, in Oslo, Norway.
The HRF is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) group that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a concentrate on closed societies. The HRF continues to lift assist for the Bitcoin Development Fund, and donors can discover extra information on how you can donate right here. Functions for grant assist by the HRF could be submitted right here.
