Btrust Builders

What does it mean to contribute to Bitcoin open-source projects in the age of Al?

Al can help developers investigate bugs, explore solutions, and write code. Turning that work into a useful contribution still requires technical judgement, testing, and an understanding of the project's expectations.

Our latest article looks at where Al can help, how projects approach its use, and the responsibilities that remain with contributors.

Read the full article here: https://blog.btrust.tech/bitcoin-open-source-contribution-in-the-age-of-ai/

Four more Btrust Builders pathway cohorts have wrapped up, and it’s been exciting to see our community keep learning, building, and growing. 🚀

Between May and July, developers came together for Rust for Bitcoiners 🦀, Language Clubs, Mastering Bitcoin, and Bitcoin CLI, working through technical material, supporting their peers, and putting their skills into practice.

Across the four cohorts, we recorded 204 enrollments and 87 graduations. Some graduates are now continuing their journey through the open source fellowship.

We’ve put together a full recap of the learning, community, and achievements across these cohorts, plus what’s coming next, including October’s Rust for Bitcoiners and Language Clubs cohorts.

Read the full update here: https://blog.btrust.tech/celebrating-our-q2-q3-2026-pathway-cohort-graduates

Our 2026 open source fellowship is officially underway! 🚀

We kicked off the 12-week fellowship on Monday, bringing fellows, the team, and faculty together to get everyone aligned for the journey ahead.

This week, fellows are exploring Bitcoin’s foundations, security model and development history, before diving into SegWit and its impact on scalability.

They’ll work through the study materials, discuss key concepts with peers, participate in homegroup discussions, and reflect on what they’re learning as they continue building their Bitcoin protocol knowledge.

Over the next 12 weeks, fellows will deepen their understanding of Bitcoin and Lightning, learn open-source practices, work alongside mentors and maintainers, and make meaningful contributions to open-source projects.

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Last year, we launched our first open source bootcamp to help emerging developers take their first steps into Bitcoin open source.

Since then, some participants have gone on to fully funded open-source careers, while others have started projects of their own. That impact inspired us to take the program further.

We’re excited to introduce the 2026 open source fellowship, a 12-week program designed to help builders deepen their knowledge, learn open-source practices, and make meaningful contributions to projects.

From 24th August to 13th November 2026, fellows will: 🔸 Explore Bitcoin and Lightning protocols 🔸 Learn how to navigate and contribute to Bitcoin Core 🔸 Work with mentors on selected open-source projects 🔸 Engage with maintainers 🔸 Build a public proof-of-work portfolio

Fellows will also receive a stipend during the program.

Read the full announcement to learn more about the fellowship and what participants will be working on: https://blog.btrust.tech/introducing-the-2026-open-source-fellowship

In part 2 of the series, we continue following the work of Btrust Builders alumni beyond the program.

This time, we meet Isaack Njama, Theophilus Isah, Fidel Otieno, devgitotox, and

, five alumni whose work spans different corners of the Bitcoin ecosystem, from building products and open-source infrastructure to contributing to Bitcoin Core, Lightning, and supporting the developers coming behind them.

Their journeys have taken different turns, but the work continues.

Read the full story on our blog: https://blog.btrust.tech/builders-beyond-the-program-what-btrust-builders-alumni-are-working-on-today-part-2

What happens after Btrust Builders?

For some alumni, it means contributing to Bitcoin Core, while for others, it means researching lightning⚡ infrastructure, maintaining wallet tooling, building merchant solutions, and helping more developers contribute to open source.

In the first part of this series, we take a look at what five Btrust Builders alumni are working on today and the different ways they're contributing across the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Read the full story here: https://blog.btrust.tech/builders-beyond-the-program-what-btrust-builders-alumni-are-working-on-today-part-1

The end of a program is not always the end of the story.

Months after the 2026 ₿OSS Challenge, Abraham Ujah, Jolade Okunlade, Winterrdog, Mubarak Abdullateef, Aaliyah Junaid, Usman Umar Garba, Ikechukwu Obunadike, Susan Githaiga, Nkatha Kaburu, Covenant Irene Ufia and CECILIA ORJI are still finding different ways to contribute to Bitcoin open source.

Some are reviewing PRs and contributing to established projects. Others are building new applications, improving developer tools, exploring Lightning infrastructure, mentoring the next generation of developers and deepening their understanding of Bitcoin’s technology.

In our latest article, we catch up with these 11 builders to learn what they are working on now, what they have learned since the challenge and how the experience continues to shape their journeys in Bitcoin open-source development.

Read the full story on our blog: https://blog.btrust.tech/celebrating-11-african-builders-beyond-the-2026-boss-challenge

Today, we wrapped up the final study group session of the second Bitcoin CLI Live cohort of 2026. 🎉

This week, participants completed their journey through Bitcoin script by exploring advanced scripting concepts, including conditionals and other opcodes that expand what's possible when building Bitcoin applications.

They also examined real-world Bitcoin scripts, learning how different scripting patterns are used to create more powerful and flexible spending conditions.

Over the past six weeks, the cohort has progressed from setting up Bitcoin Core and learning the basics of bitcoin-cli to creating transactions, working with multisigs and PSBTs, and writing increasingly sophisticated Bitcoin scripts through hands-on exercises and collaborative discussions.

While the live sessions have come to an end, the journey isn't over just yet. Participants will now focus on completing their capstone projects before the final evaluation process begins.

Congratulations to everyone who made it to the final week. 🚀

Today, we wrapped up the week 7 study group session, and with it, the second Mastering Bitcoin live cohort of 2026! 🎉

For the final week, participants explored Bitcoin security and second-layer applications, examining best practices for protecting bitcoin, managing private keys, and understanding the trade-offs involved in securing digital assets.

They also looked beyond the base layer to explore how second-layer technologies help Bitcoin scale while preserving its core principles.

Over the past seven weeks, participants have built a strong foundation in bitcoin through weekly readings, partner discussions, and collaborative study sessions.

With the live cohort now complete, the next step is the evaluation process before publishing the final list of graduates.

Congratulations to everyone who made it this far. 🔥

Today, we wrapped up the week 5 study group session of the Bitcoin CLI live cohort. ⚡

This week, participants took a deeper dive into Bitcoin Script by exploring Pay-to-Script-Hash (P2SH) transactions and script-based timelocks.

The cohort learned how P2SH makes it possible to embed more complex spending conditions into Bitcoin transactions, including multisignature and SegWit scripts.

They also explored how timelock opcodes like CheckLockTimeVerify (CLTV) and CheckSequenceVerify (CSV) can be used to control when bitcoin can be spent, enabling more advanced and flexible transaction workflows.

Through hands-on technical exercises, partner discussions, and collaborative learning, participants gained practical experience writing and working with these more advanced Bitcoin scripting features.

Today, we wrapped up the week 6 study group session of the Mastering Bitcoin live cohort. ⚡

This week, participants explored the blockchain and mining & consensus.

The cohort examined how blocks are linked together to form Bitcoin's immutable ledger, how miners validate transactions and secure the network through proof of work, and how consensus allows thousands of independent nodes to agree on a single version of the blockchain without relying on a central authority.

As always, participants met with their study partners ahead of the session to discuss the readings before coming together to share insights, ask questions, and unpack these concepts during the group study.

We've just wrapped up the week 4 study group session of the Bitcoin CLI live cohort. ⚡

This week, participants explored more advanced ways of building Bitcoin transactions by working with timelocks and OP_RETURN, learning how transactions can be scheduled for future execution or used to store small amounts of data on the blockchain.

The cohort also took its first deep dive into Bitcoin Script, the scripting language that powers Bitcoin's spending conditions.

Participants learned how scripts are used to authorize transactions, explored common script types like P2PKH and P2WPKH, and began writing and testing their own scripts to better understand how Bitcoin transactions are validated.

As always, the week combined hands-on technical exercises, partner discussions, and collaborative learning, giving participants the opportunity to apply what they learned and deepen their understanding together.

We've just wrapped up the week 5 study group session of the Mastering Bitcoin live cohort. ⚡

This week, participants explored transaction fees and the Bitcoin network, gaining a deeper understanding of how transactions are prioritized for inclusion in blocks and the factors that influence confirmation times.

They also examined how bitcoin nodes communicate, validate, and relay transactions across the network, and the different ways users interact with Bitcoin through full nodes and lightweight clients.

As always, participants met with their study partners ahead of the session to discuss the readings before coming together to share insights, ask questions, and learn from one another during the group study.

We've just wrapped up the week 3 study group session of the Bitcoin CLI live cohort. ⚡

This week, participants explored multisignatures (multisigs) and partially signed bitcoin transactions (PSBTs).

The cohort learned how multisigs enable multiple parties to jointly control bitcoin, improving security and shared custody. They also explored how PSBTs make it possible for multiple participants to collaborate on creating, funding, and signing bitcoin transactions, including workflows that integrate with hardware wallets.

Alongside the technical exercises, participants worked through these concepts with their study partners before coming together to share insights, discuss use cases,and deepen their understanding during the group study session.

Most people think learning about bitcoin is about understanding the technology. For many developers, the biggest shift happens much earlier, it starts with them unlearning what they thought they already knew.

Through the self-paced pathways, developers went beyond the headlines and into the protocol itself. They ran nodes, challenged long-held assumptions, and for some, made their first open-source contributions along the way.

In this latest post, 13 developers share what surprised them, what humbled them, and how the experience changed the way they see bitcoin entirely.

Their reflections are honest, personal, and a reminder that real learning often begins with admitting what you got wrong.

Check out their reflections here: https://blog.btrust.tech/in-their-own-words-reflections-from-the-q1-2026-self-paced-tracks

We've just wrapped up the week 4 study group session of the Mastering Bitcoin Live Cohort. 📚⚡

This week, participants explored authorization & authentication and digital signatures, two fundamental concepts that underpin Bitcoin security.

The discussions focused on how Bitcoin uses scripts and cryptography to define spending conditions, prove ownership of funds, and authorize transactions without revealing private keys.

Participants also learned how digital signatures protect the integrity of transactions and make trustless payments possible.

As always, the learning extended beyond the readings. Through partner discussions, breakout sessions, and group conversations, participants unpacked these concepts together, asked thoughtful questions, and connected the theory to real-world bitcoin transactions.

We've just wrapped up the week 2 study group session of the Bitcoin CLI live cohort. ⚡

This week, participants learned how to create and send bitcoin transactions directly from the command line using bitcoin-cli.

They explored different ways of constructing transactions, from simple sends to raw transactions, while gaining a better understanding of transaction fees, SegWit, and the trade-offs involved in different approaches.

The cohort also looked at what happens after a transaction is broadcast. Participants explored the mempool and learned how to manage stuck transactions using Replace-by-Fee (RBF) and Child-Pays-for-Parent (CPFP), giving them a practical understanding of how transaction fees and confirmation strategies work in Bitcoin.

As always, the week combined hands-on technical exercises, partner discussions, and group conversations, giving participants the opportunity to put theory into practice and learn from one another.

Another cohort in the books! 🦀🎉

Today, we officially wrapped up the first Rust for Bitcoiners cohort of 2026, making it the second pathway cohort to conclude this week.

Over the past six weeks, participants have explored Rust through the lens of Bitcoin development, building practical skills while learning core programming concepts, memory safety, ownership, and writing performant code for Bitcoin applications.

With the live sessions now behind them, the final stage begins: completing their capstone projects. Once those are submitted, the evaluation process will begin ahead of graduation.

That's a wrap on the first Language Clubs cohort of 2026! 🎉

Over the past six weeks, participants have built their understanding of key concepts, and learned together through discussions, weekly exercises, and collaborative study.

With the live sessions now complete, participants will now work on their capstone projects before the final evaluation process begins.

We just wrapped up the week 3 study group session of the Mastering Bitcoin live cohort. ⚡

This week, participants explored wallet recovery and transactions.

The cohort examined how modern bitcoin wallets generate and recover keys, the role of recovery seeds and backups, and why proper wallet recovery is critical to securing bitcoin over the long term.

They also dove into bitcoin transactions, learning how value moves across the network, how transactions are structured, and the key components that make them valid and secure.

Through partner discussions, breakout sessions, and group conversations, participants unpacked these concepts together, shared insights from the readings, and connected the theory to real-world bitcoin usage.

Yesterday, we wrapped up the first study group session of the second Bitcoin CLI live cohort of 2026. 🚀

Over the week, participants explored the foundations of Bitcoin, learned how to set up and run a Bitcoin Core node on a VPS, and gained a practical understanding of the different Bitcoin networks: mainnet, testnet, and regtest.

They also got hands-on with bitcoin-cli, learning how to interact directly with their nodes, verify their setups, and use basic wallet commands.

Through technical exercises, partner discussions, and group conversations, participants took their first steps toward understanding Bitcoin from the command line up.

Just wrapped up the Week 2 study group session of the Mastering Bitcoin Live Cohort 🎉

Over the past week, participants explored Chapter 3 (Bitcoin Core: The Reference Implementation) and Chapter 4 (Keys and Addresses), building a deeper understanding of the software that powers the Bitcoin network and the cryptographic foundations behind ownership and transactions.

Before today's session, participants met with their assigned study partners to work through discussion questions, challenge each other's thinking, and prepare additional questions for the group. During the study session, breakout groups led engaging conversations, shared insights from their readings, and unpacked some of the more technical concepts together.

One of the most rewarding parts of the cohort continues to be seeing learners teach, question, and learn from one another.

Just wrapped up the first study group session of this year's second Mastering Bitcoin live cohort. 🥳

Over the next few weeks, participants will be building strong Bitcoin fundamentals in a focused, community-driven environment as they work through Mastering Bitcoin together.

This week, we explored the foundations of Bitcoin, covering the introduction and how Bitcoin works chapters. Participants also connected with their study partners, discussed key concepts, and prepared to lead conversations that deepen their understanding of the material.

Looking forward to seeing the discussions and insights that emerge over the coming weeks. 🚀

We just wrapped up the opening session for Rust for Bitcoiners cohort. 🦀

The session introduced the pathway and what participants can expect over the next couple of weeks.

The pathway is designed for developers who already understand the basics of Bitcoin and want to build the Rust skills needed to contribute to Bitcoin open‑source projects.

Throughout the pathway, participants will work through carefully selected Rust learning resources, follow a structured weekly rhythm, and get support from peers, chaperones and faculty along the way.

Alongside the curriculum, builders will complete practical tasks that reinforce Rust fundamentals and connect them to real Bitcoin use cases, especially in high‑performance and security‑critical systems.

The Q1 2026 Btrust Builders pathway cohorts have officially wrapped, and we couldn’t be prouder of everyone who showed up, put in the work, and came out the other side a stronger builder.🎉

Across two pathways, developers from 24 countries spent between 7 and 8 weeks going deeper into Bitcoin’s technical foundations. They worked through Bitcoin's technical infrastructure, from transaction creation and node management to open-source workflows and protocol-level concepts, building the kind of foundational knowledge that turns genuine curiosity into meaningful contribution.

This cohort also made history: women represented 34% of the Mastering Bitcoin track, the highest we’ve seen so far. It’s a milestone that reflects our ongoing commitment to making Bitcoin development accessible, inclusive, and representative of the communities it’s meant to serve.

For many of these graduates, it’s the beginning. A starting point for deeper technical exploration, open‑source contribution, and long‑term involvement in shaping the future of Bitcoin development across Africa and beyond.

Read the full Q1 2026 pathway vohort recap on the blog: https://blog.btrust.tech/celebrating-the-q1-2026-pathway-cohort-graduation

And that's a wrap for the Q1 2026 Mastering Bitcoin live cohort! 🎉

Over the last 7 weeks, we’ve worked through key chapters of Mastering Bitcoin and built a deeper understanding of how the Bitcoin protocol functions under the hood.

This week we wrapped things up with chapter 13: Bitcoin security and chapter 14: second‑layer applications.

Chapter 13 focused on how users can safely protect their bitcoin. Unlike traditional financial systems where banks secure accounts on behalf of users, bitcoin gives individuals full control over their funds through private keys. Because of this, security becomes the user’s responsibility. The chapter covered important practices such as protecting private keys, creating reliable backups, and reducing reliance on third parties. It also introduced approaches like hardware wallets and multisignature setups that can help improve the security of stored funds.

In chapter 14, we explored how systems can be built on top of Bitcoin to make transactions faster and more scalable. The chapter introduced several building blocks within bitcoin transactions, such as timelocks, multisignature scripts, and programmable spending conditions, which enable more advanced applications. It then explained payment channels, which allow users to transact many times off‑chain while only recording the opening and closing transactions on the blockchain. This concept forms the foundation of networks like the lightning network ⚡, where payments can be routed through multiple channels to enable fast and low‑cost transactions.

Throughout the week, participants reviewed the assigned materials, collaborated with their partners, and worked through discussion questions to deepen their understanding.

During the live session, participants shared insights with the group, and the faculty guided discussions around key ideas from the readings.

We just wrapped up week 5 of the Bitcoin CLI live cohort.🧑🏾‍💻

This week the cohort went deeper into Bitcoin scripts and explored how more advanced spending conditions are built into transactions.

In chapter 10, participants learned how Bitcoin scripts are embedded into P2SH (Pay-to-Script-Hash) transactions. This introduced a new way to lock funds using custom scripts while keeping the transaction itself simple.

The cohort explored how P2SH works, how multisig scripts are constructed, and how different SegWit script variations interact with these structures. By the end of the chapter, participants understood how funds sent to a P2SH address can later be unlocked by revealing and satisfying the script.

In Chapter 11, the focus shifted to timelocks inside Bitcoin scripts. Participants learned how scripts can control when funds become spendable using two important opcodes: CheckLockTimeVerify (CLTV) and CheckSequenceVerify (CSV).

These tools allow developers to create more flexible conditions, such as delaying spending until a certain block height or enforcing relative time delays.

Throughout the week, participants completed technical exercises, collaborated with their assigned partners, and prepared discussion responses.

During the live study session, participants shared their insights and the faculty helped guide group discussions around the week's topics.

We just concluded week 6 of the Mastering Bitcoin live cohort. 📚

This week focused on understanding how the Bitcoin blockchain works and how new blocks are created through mining and consensus.

Participants explored the structure of the blockchain, including how blocks store transaction data, how blocks are linked together using cryptographic hashes, and how the block header contains the key information used to secure and validate each block.

The cohort also examined merkle trees and how they efficiently organize transactions inside a block, allowing nodes to verify transactions without needing to download the entire blockchain.

In addition, we studied the mining⛏️ process and Bitcoin’s proof‑of‑work consensus mechanism, learning how miners compete to solve cryptographic puzzles, how difficulty adjustments keep block production consistent, and how block rewards and transaction fees incentivize miners to secure the network.

We also discussed how consensus emerges across the distributed network, ensuring that all nodes agree on the valid chain while maintaining Bitcoin’s decentralized and trustless design.

Throughout the week, participants reviewed the assigned materials, collaborated with their partners, and worked through discussion questions to deepen their understanding.

During the live session, participants shared insights with the group and the faculty led the discussion on key ideas from the readings.

We’ve just wrapped up week 3 of the Bitcoin CLI live cohort.

Over the past week, participants explored chapters 6 and 7, diving deeper into how Bitcoin transactions can be expanded beyond the basics through multisignatures and Partially Signed Bitcoin Transactions (PSBTs).

The focus was on understanding how multiple parties can collaboratively create and authorize transactions. Participants learned how to create and manage multisig wallets, spend from them, and think through real-world use cases where shared control of funds is essential.

They also worked through the PSBT workflow, gaining hands-on experience with constructing, funding, and signing transactions across different stages.

Throughout the week, participants applied these concepts through practical exercises and met with their study partners to discuss key ideas, compare approaches, and deepen their understanding.

We then came together for the live session, where participants shared their insights, walked through their solutions, and led discussions on the challenges and possibilities unlocked by multisigs and PSBTs.

This week we wrapped up Week 4 of the live cohort, continuing our deep dive into how Bitcoin enforces rules and verifies transactions.

Over the past week, participants studied chapters 7 and 8 of Mastering Bitcoin, met with their learning partners to discuss the material, and then came together for the group session.

The week began with a closer look at authorization and authentication in Bitcoin. Instead of relying on identities, Bitcoin uses scripts to define the conditions for spending funds. The group explored how these scripts are evaluated, and how transactions are only valid when those conditions are satisfied.

From there, the conversation moved into Bitcoin Script itself. Participants looked at how the stack-based language works, how input and output scripts are combined during validation, and how different script types like P2PKH, multisig, and P2SH are used in practice. The group also discussed timelocks and how they can restrict when funds are spendable.

After building a foundation with scripts, the cohort shifted into digital signatures. Participants learned how signatures prove ownership of funds, authorize transactions, and protect transaction data from being altered. The group walked through how signatures are created and verified using private and public keys.

The discussions also covered the differences between ECDSA and Schnorr signatures, and why Schnorr offers improvements in simplicity, efficiency, and privacy. Participants explored how signatures can commit to different parts of a transaction using SIGHASH flags, enabling more flexible transaction designs.

A key focus was the importance of randomness in signing. The group reflected on how reusing a nonce can expose a private key, reinforcing how small implementation details can have serious consequences.

By the end of the session, participants had a clearer picture of how Bitcoin enforces spending conditions and verifies transactions without relying on trust. The discussions helped connect scripting and signatures into one coherent system that underpins how Bitcoin works.

We’ve just wrapped up week 2 of the Bitcoin CLI live cohort.

Over the past week, participants worked through chapters 4 and 5 of the course, continuing to build practical experience interacting with Bitcoin through the command line.

The readings and exercises focused on how transactions are sent using bitcoin-cli, and how developers can better understand and manage transactions once they’ve been broadcast to the network.

Throughout the week, participants practiced the concepts through hands‑on exercises and met with their study partners to discuss the key ideas from the chapters.

We came together today for the live session with faculty, where participants shared what they learned, walked through their questions, and discussed some of the challenges they encountered while working through the exercises.

This week we wrapped up week 3 of the live cohort of the Mastering Bitcoin pathway, continuing our deep dive into how Bitcoin works under the hood.

Over the past week, participants studied chapters 5 and 6 of Mastering Bitcoin and met with their learning partners to talk through the material before joining the group session with faculty.

The week began with a closer look at bitcoin wallets and recovery. Bitcoin wallets don’t actually store bitcoins. Instead, they store the keys that give someone control over the bitcoins recorded on the blockchain. The group discussed how early wallets generated keys independently, which meant users had to back up their wallets frequently to avoid losing access to funds.

From there, the conversation moved to how modern wallets solve this problem using deterministic key generation. Participants learned how a single random seed can be used to generate many keys and addresses, making it possible to recover an entire wallet from one backup. The group also explored hierarchical deterministic (HD) wallets, which organize keys in a tree structure and allow wallets to create new addresses while keeping private keys secure.

The discussions also touched on recovery phrases, often called seed phrases, and why backing them up safely is essential. Participants reflected on how these recovery systems help users protect their funds while still making wallets practical to use.

After exploring wallets and recovery, the cohort moved into bitcoin transactions and how value actually moves across the network. Instead of coins being physically transferred, Bitcoin works by updating a shared record that shows which keys control which bitcoins.

Participants unpacked how transactions are structured, looking at the roles of inputs and outputs. Inputs reference previously received funds, while outputs define where the bitcoin will go next and the conditions required to spend it.

The group also explored several deeper parts of the transaction structure, including scripts, witness data, and Segregated Witness (SegWit). These components help verify that transactions are authorized and make the system more efficient and secure.

By the end of the session, participants had a clearer picture of how wallets manage keys and how transactions move value through the network. The discussions helped connect the ideas from earlier chapters about keys and cryptography with the practical mechanics of sending and receiving bitcoin.

We've just concluded week 2 of the live cohort for the Mastering Bitcoin pathway. 📚

Over the past week, participants studied chapters 3 and 4 of Mastering Bitcoin, discussing the material with their learning partners before coming together for our live session with the faculty.

The conversations focused on how Bitcoin actually works behind the scenes. We explored Bitcoin Core as the reference implementation, what it means to run a full node, and why independent verification is such an important part of the network.

We also examined how developers interact with Bitcoin Core through tools like the command line and JSON‑RPC.

From there, we moved into the foundations of Bitcoin cryptography. Participants unpacked how private and public keys work, how signatures prove ownership, and how addresses are derived to make sending and receiving bitcoin possible.

Week by week, it’s all starting to come together. On to the next! 🚀

This week we kicked off the first live cohort of the Mastering Bitcoin program, bringing together participants, faculty, and the Btrust team for the start of a deep dive into how Bitcoin actually works.

Over the course of the week, participants explored the foundations of Bitcoin through the opening chapters of Mastering Bitcoin by Andreas M. Antonopoulos.

The discussions started with understanding Bitcoin not just as digital money, but as a system made up of several technologies working together.

The group unpacked how Bitcoin enables value to move across the internet without relying on centralized intermediaries, and how the network itself is built around open protocols that anyone can run and verify.

From there, conversations moved into the mechanics of how the system operates. The group unpacked key components of the Bitcoin ecosystem, including wallets, cryptographic keys, transactions, the peer-to-peer network, and miners.

To make these ideas more concrete, participants also walked through the lifecycle of a Bitcoin transaction, from creation in a wallet, to broadcast across the network, validation by nodes, and eventual inclusion in the blockchain.

Over the next few weeks, participants will continue building their understanding step by step, moving from these first principles toward the deeper technical layers of the protocol.

As the Btrust Builders program continues to grow, we’ve learned that scale should never come at the cost of quality or faculty well‑being.

That’s why our 2026 pathways introduce a new hybrid engagement model designed to serve more developers without compromising the learning experience.

In 2026, each pathway runs in two formats: a high‑touch live cohort and an open self‑paced track. This approach allows us to combine structure and flexibility, giving every developer a way to learn that fits their experience, schedule, and goals.

The live cohort is more in-depth. Each one is capped at around 100 learners, guided by chaperones, and built around weekly sessions, breakout groups, and feedback loops.

It’s designed for developers who are ready for structure, accountability, and peer discussion. Live cohorts provide strong signaling for fellowship readiness, making them a great fit for learners seeking an intensive, guided experience.

The self‑paced track is the default mode and just as central to the Builders experience. It gives learners full access to all pathway content, a dedicated community channel, pacing guides to help them stay consistent, and scheduled office hours for support.

It’s an intentional, supported route for independent learners who want to move at their own speed and still remain connected to the Builders community.

Every participant, live or self‑paced, is part of one Builders ecosystem. You can start self‑paced, join a live cohort later, and, when ready, progress toward the Open Source Fellowship. The goal is to make sure learning never stops, regardless of where you begin.

We’ve also refined how developers are selected into live cohorts to maintain both diversity and readiness. These filters are applied intentionally but never rigidly, readiness and quality always come first.

Both Q1 2026 Pathways, Mastering Bitcoin and Learn Bitcoin from the Command Line, will follow this hybrid model.

Learners can choose the path that fits them best. Those who want structure and accountability can join the live cohort, while those who prefer independence and flexibility can dive into the self‑paced track with full Builder support.

This model helps us reach more learners, sustain our faculty, and keep the Builders learning experience consistently excellent as we scale across Africa.

Learn more about the pathways and the hybrid model here: https://pathways.btrust.tech/index

Bitcoin’s open‑source ecosystem only thrives when contributors are supported not just to learn, but to stay, grow, and lead.

In 2026, we’re evolving Btrust Builders into a scaled, high‑quality contributor pipeline designed for long‑term impact. This year’s program builds directly on the insights from our 2025 Builders experience, with clearer structure, stronger systems, and a deeper commitment to sustained open‑source contribution.

The 2026 Builders journey is designed as one continuous path. Developers enter through open applications or via the BOSS challenge, move through structured learning pathways, accelerate through a selective Open Source Fellowship, and progress toward grants, long‑term contribution, and ecosystem roles.

What makes Builders 2026 different is our focus on durable outcomes. We care about retention as much as graduation. We care about whether developers are still contributing six to twelve months later. And we care deeply about creating a program that is sustainable for both participants and faculty.

This year includes multiple entry points, clearly defined pathways, an always‑on Resource Hub, a ten‑week Open Source Fellowship, and a calendar that creates a steady rhythm of learning, contribution, and outcomes throughout the year.

If you’re a developer interested in contributing to Bitcoin open‑source, or someone exploring what that journey looks like, we invite you to learn more.

Read the full blog to understand the 2026 program design, explore the Builders Pathways, check out the 2026 program calendar and apply to join this year’s cohorts: https://blog.btrust.tech/introducing-the-2026-btrust-builders-program/

If you’re not ready to apply yet, the Builders Resource Hub (https://pathways.btrust.tech/resource-hub) is always available and designed to help you start learning and making your first contributions.

In 2025, we took a major step forward in strengthening Africa’s Bitcoin developer pipeline through the Btrust Builders program. 🚀

Over the course of the year, 493 developers across Africa and beyond were supported through Builders pathways, selected from 1,800+ applications, a 180% increase from the previous year.

Developers joined from 15+ countries, spanning West, East, Central, and Southern Africa, with additional participation from South America, Europe, and South Asia.

We evolved from a single‑cohort program into a continuous, modular learning pipeline, supporting developers at different stages; from first exposure to Bitcoin, through hands-on technical learning, and into real open‑source contributions.

In 2025, we delivered: • Foundational learning through Mastering Bitcoin • Hands‑on technical practice via Bitcoin from the Command Line • Protocol‑level development in Rust for Bitcoiners • Programming fundamentals through Language Clubs (Python & C++) • Advanced open‑source onboarding through Start Your Career in BOSS

To bridge learning and contribution, we also launched our first Open Source Bootcamp. Over four weeks, 38 developers from 7 countries submitted 103 code contributions, opened 50+ pull requests, and saw 12 PRs merged, including 3 to Bitcoin Core.

The impact went well beyond training. Several Builders alumni transitioned into fully funded open‑source work, supported by

and

, contributing to projects like Bitcoin Core, LDK Node, BlueWallet, Bitcoin Dev Kit, and Rust‑Payjoin. Others went on to start their own Bitcoin projects, applying what they learned to build new tools and infrastructure in the ecosystem.

We also launched the Builders Resource Hub, which has since been widely shared across the Bitcoin developer ecosystem as a go‑to learning library for open‑source contribution, tooling, and deep technical study. Check it out here: https://pathways.btrust.tech/resource-hub

In recognition of this work, the

team named Btrust Builders the 2025 African Bitcoin Project of the Year at the 2025 nostr:nprofile1qqsx4kgvrpme9927f4zvsxvw6z24snlj84w9fksu5yp06nyagu2vd8gpzamhxue69uhkummnw3ezuan4d3cx2mfwvdhk6tcpzpmhxue69uhkummnw3ezumt0d5hsz9rhwden5te0dehhxarj9cmrqvpwwa6xvtccjqhqt.

All this was made possible by the dedication of faculty and chaperones, many of whom are alumni themselves; mentors who gave their time, experience, and patience; and the core Builders team, including Stephanie Titcombe, the program lead, and Kelvin Isievwore, the engineering lead, who carried the vision from design through delivery.

Just as importantly, the wider Builders community, learners, alumni, contributors, and supporters, shaped the culture that made collaboration, accountability, and growth possible.🧡

We’ve shared what worked, what we learned, and how Builders has grown into a long‑term contributor pipeline helping decentralize Bitcoin development.

➡️ Read the full blog for more: https://blog.btrust.tech/strengthening-africas-bitcoin-developer-pipeline-reflections-from-2025/

Last call 🚨

Today’s the final day to apply for the BOSS Challenge by Chaincode Labs.

If you’ve been thinking about getting into Bitcoin open-source development, this is your sign.

Apply to join the 2026 cohort here: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/chaincodelabs/jobs/4067627009

1 day to go! 🚨

Thinking about a career in Bitcoin open-source development?

The BOSS Challenge by Chaincode Labs is designed to help developers take their first steps into the Bitcoin open-source ecosystem.

Alumni from previous cohorts have gone on to build funded careers in open-source development.

Applications close tomorrow, and you have until January 12 to complete the preliminary challenge (Saving Satoshi).

Apply to join the 2026 cohort here: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/chaincodelabs/jobs/4067627009

Only 3 days left to apply for the 2026 ₿OSS Challenge 🚨

Applications close on December 31st, and once you’ve applied, you’ll have until January 12th to complete the @savingsatoshi challenge.

Learn more and apply to join the cohort here: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/chaincodelabs/jobs/4067627009

“The ₿OSS program was intense, fast‑paced, and fun. It changed my life.” Chuks

Meet Chuks, a software engineer from Lagos 🇳🇬, one of the outstanding 2025 ₿OSS alumni whose journey embodies what the program is all about: growth, contribution, and impact.

With over eight years of experience building and maintaining complex software systems, Chuks joined the BOSS Challenge eager to expand his understanding of Bitcoin and Lightning Network development.

The program helped him dive deep into open‑source collaboration, system architecture, and critical protocol work, areas that now define his career.

Since graduating, Chuks has contributed extensively to key Bitcoin and Lightning open‑source projects, including Lightning Dev Kit (LDK), LDK‑Node, and SimLN, where his improvements have strengthened code reliability, testing infrastructure, and payment protocols.

He’s also building PeepsWire, a Lightning‑powered video calling application showcasing how Bitcoin can drive real‑world innovation.

Today, Chuks continues to work full‑time in the ecosystem through the

starter grant, accelerating his work on BIP 353 integration (Human‑Readable payment addresses) and improving simulation tools that help developers test and advance the Lightning Network.

Chuks’ journey started with the ₿OSS program, and now continues through funded open‑source work that’s shaping the future of Bitcoin engineering.

Ready to begin your open‑source journey? Applications for the 2026 ₿OSS Challenge, by Chaincode Labs, are open.

This structured, hands‑on program helps new developers take their first steps into Bitcoin open‑source, gain mentorship, and build a path toward sustainable, funded careers, just like Chuks did.

🗓️ Applications close: December 31st, 2025 🗓️ Program starts: Week of January 12th, 2026

📝 Apply for the 2026 cohort: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/chaincodelabs/jobs/4067627009

🔗 Learn more about the program: https://blog.btrust.tech/btrust-builders-chaincode-labs-partner-again-for-the-2026-boss-challenge/

“The ₿OSS challenge really helped me think deeply about Bitcoin and learn more about it and open‑source development.” Rita, 2025 ₿OSS alumna.

Meet Rita, a Lagos🇳🇬‑based software developer and one of the 2025 ₿OSS alumni.

Before joining the program, Rita already had over three years of experience building and improving fintech and logistics solutions. But her time in the ₿OSS program became a turning point.

Through the program, she deepened her understanding of Bitcoin technologies and the Lightning Network, contributing to major open‑source projects like LDK Node, Warnet, and CircuitBreaker; critical components that underpin the scalability and resilience of

grantee, Rita is continuing her work full‑time on LDK Node and Warnet, focusing on improving transaction lifecycle management, payment tracking, and developer tools to make Bitcoin infrastructure even more reliable and user‑friendly.

Rita’s journey is a great example of what’s possible through the BOSS Challenge, created by Chaincode Labs. This is a structured, hands‑on program designed to help developers start building open‑source Bitcoin projects and grow into funded contributors.

Ready to build your own Bitcoin story? Applications are ongoing for the 2026 BOSS cohort. If you’re a developer passionate about learning, contributing, and building for Bitcoin, this is your chance.

🗓️ Applications close December 31, 2025 🗓️ Program starts the week of January 12, 2026

🔗 Learn more about the program: https://blog.btrust.tech/btrust-builders-chaincode-labs-partner-again-for-the-2026-boss-challenge/

📝 Apply for the 2026 cohort: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/chaincodelabs/jobs/4067627009

Meet Shammah Agwor, one of the 2025 BOSS alumni, a passionate software engineer from Port Harcourt, Nigeria 🇳🇬, who has steadily grown into an active Bitcoin open‑source contributor.

Shammah’s journey began long before joining the BOSS program. With a background in security engineering and years of experience in backend systems, he discovered his true calling in Bitcoin open‑source development.

Through the program, he deepened his work in Rust‑Payjoin, a privacy‑enhancing Bitcoin project focused on improving transaction privacy and disrupting common input ownership heuristics.

Today, Shammah continues to contribute full‑time to Bitcoin open-source. His work on Rust‑Payjoin includes major improvements like metrics collection for adoption tracking, caching mechanisms for performance, and better code structure for maintainability, all critical to strengthening Bitcoin’s privacy layer and reliability.

Shammah’s ongoing impact as a

‑funded grantee reflects what’s possible for African developers who take that first step into the ₿OSS ecosystem.

Ready to start your own Bitcoin open‑source journey? Applications are now open for the 2026 ₿OSS Challenge, in partnership with Chaincode Labs.

This is your chance to gain hands‑on experience, mentorship, and a pathway into the global Bitcoin open‑source community, just like Shammah did.

🔗 Learn more about the program: https://blog.btrust.tech/btrust-builders-chaincode-labs-partner-again-for-the-2026-boss-challenge/

📝 Apply for the 2026 cohort: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/chaincodelabs/jobs/4067627009

A week after the

, we’re still feeling the excitement. 🙌🎉

This year was especially meaningful as we were recognized as the African Bitcoin Project of the Year, a huge honor we're grateful to the

team for.

Some of our community members also hosted workshops, we connected with builders from across the world, and the sessions throughout the conference were incredibly insightful. The conversations opened up fresh perspectives and sparked exciting ideas.

We’re grateful to

for the chance to be part of it, and we’re already looking forward to the next one.

Till then, we keep building 🚀

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Thank you so much! This means the world to us.🥹🧡 From the bottom of our hearts, we're grateful.

To our builders, faculty, chaperones, mentors, and the entire community, this award is yours. We wouldn't have achieved this without your dedication, belief, and hard work.

We're honoured to keep building for, and with, all of you. 💪🚀

We recently had the pleasure of participating in the 2025 #BtrustGathering in Mauritius🇲🇺.

Our faculty, several alumni, now

grantees, and top students from the 2025 pathways were all represented.

Our program lead, Stephanie Titcombe, walked attendees through our 2025 program report, highlighting achievements like the program redesign (https://pathways.btrust.tech/) and the strengthened support plan for builders in the BOSS program.

We also spent time collaborating with builders and Global South programs to explore ideas that will help us refine and elevate our work going into 2026.

It was great finally meeting people we’ve only worked with online and reconnecting with familiar faces.

Looking forward to the work ahead. 💪

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We’re excited to partner with Chaincode Labs once again for the 2026 BOSS (Bitcoin Open‑Source Software) Challenge. 🚀

The ₿OSS Challenge is a structured, hands‑on program designed to help developers take their first steps into Bitcoin open‑source development.

Here’s how it works: 🔸 Month 1: A fully guided, hands‑on learning experience featuring coding exercises, mentorship, and technical discussions led by Bitcoin open‑source contributors. 🔸 Months 2 & 3: Top performers continue with advanced mentorship and project work through Chaincode Labs, while other participants engage in partner‑supported pathways to keep learning and building.

This program has already helped developers across Africa launch into meaningful open‑source careers. Several participants from the 2025 cohort are now Btrust-funded grantees contributing full‑time to Bitcoin and Lightning projects.

If you’re a developer ready to learn, build, and contribute to Bitcoin open‑source software, this is your opportunity.

🗓️ Applications are ongoing until December 31st, 2025. 🗓️ Program starts the week of January 12th, 2026.

Learn more about the partnership and program in our latest blog post: https://blog.btrust.tech/btrust-builders-chaincode-labs-partner-again-for-the-2026-boss-challenge/

👉 Apply to join the 2026 ₿OSS Challenge cohort here: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/chaincodelabs/jobs/4067627009

Last Saturday, BitDevs Kano 🇳🇬 held their first Bitcoin and Lightning-powered hackathon exploring open-source solutions for EdTech challenges in Nigeria.

Over 50 participants spent the day forming teams, building prototypes, and exchanging ideas on how blockchain and Lightning technology can improve access and transparency in education. Mentors guided the process, and quick lightning talks sparked fresh thinking between coding sessions.

The event highlighted Bitcoin’s potential in tackling real-world challenges while strengthening Kano’s growing developer community.

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Behind every successful Btrust Builders cohort is a faculty team whose dedication carries the program forward. 🧡

This year, many of them, alumni themselves, returned to mentor, teach and walk alongside participants, turning their own experiences into guidance for the next wave of open‑source Bitcoin and Lightning developers.

We’re proud to celebrate this collective of builders and mentors who made this year’s journey so meaningful. Their stories are inspiring, and their contributions remind us that the heart of Btrust Builders lies in its people.

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👉 Read more about them on our blog: https://blog.btrust.tech/celebrating-our-faculty-the-heart-of-btrust-builders/

We’re excited to share Bitcoin Core Principles by

🚀

This course goes beyond how Bitcoin works to explain why it was designed with decentralization, absolute scarcity, and immutability, and why the base layer changes slowly on purpose.

During the course you’ll cover: • The philosophy of decentralization and the trade-offs that keep Bitcoin neutral. • Why scarcity matters, how the timechain protects history, and why finality is social as much as technical. • Fungibility, privacy, and scalability across layers. • How change happens: BIPs, social consensus, activation paths, real case studies. • The developer ethos: humility, ossification, and building for the long term.

Participants will engage in socratic, discussion-led sessions rather than passive lectures. They’ll also work through curated readings and hands-on workshops to cement their understanding. There will be experienced facilitators to guide participants through the sessions.

Application deadline is October 10th, 2025

Classes start on October 13th and will be happening every Monday & Wednesday.

The course is offered in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

🔗 Learn more, apply and share with a friend: https://www.libreriadesatoshi.com/courses/bitcoin-core-principles

We're super excited to announce the graduates of our first-ever Rust for Bitcoiners and Language Clubs cohorts. 🥳🎉

These talented developers from over 15 countries dedicated themselves to acquiring the core skills needed for open-source Bitcoin projects.

We've captured all the highlights, insights from the cohorts, and what's next in our full recap, which you can read here: https://blog.btrust.tech/q2-2025-btrust-builders-pathways-graduation/

If you're interested in joining upcoming cohorts, keep an eye out on our Discord and application page for details: https://www.btrust.tech/builders/apply https://image.nostr.build/d22726ca21d9580c3a07746acf3de1ec715a1ba68dd0b4891bf9c0312b0ec2c0.jpg

Do you get frustrated with how today’s digital payments seem to demand a tradeoff; forcing you to give up your privacy, pay high fees, or worry about data breaches every time you accept a transaction?

Many merchants and shoppers feel boxed in by systems that leave a trail of personal information behind with every tap or scan, making privacy feel like a thing of the past.

But what if you didn’t have to choose between fast, modern payments and the anonymity of cash?

In our latest blog, Tobechi, a

grantee, introduces Cashu, a digital cash protocol that lets merchants enjoy the best of both worlds.

With Cashu, you can accept Bitcoin-backed payments instantly and privately, without exposing customer data or risking chargebacks.

The blog breaks down exactly how Cashu works, explaining the roles of tokens, wallets, and mints in this ecosystem. He explores ways businesses can benefit from Cashu. You’ll also find a simple guide on how to start accepting Cashu payments using BTCPay Server so you can quickly bring digital cash into your store.

Curious how Cashu can transform your business and give your customers true payment privacy? Check out the full blog post here: https://blog.btrust.tech/e-cash-for-commerce-how-cashu-empowers-merchants-via-bitcoin-2/

We did it! Our very first Open-Source Bootcamp brought together 38 developers from Africa and Brazil, equipping them to make contributions to Bitcoin open-source projects like Bitcoin Core and BTCPay Server.🚀

Over 4 weeks, this diverse group submitted 103 pieces of code, learned from experienced maintainers, and gained the skills and confidence to shape the future of open source.

👏 Kudos to everyone who joined, and an extra congratulations to those who made it to the end.

🔗 Check out our blog to see their journey, impact, and see what’s coming up: https://blog.btrust.tech/celebrating-our-first-open-source-bootcamp/

Unlock the future of Bitcoin node performance with our newest blog, Schnorr and Steady Wins the Race: The Case for Batch Validation.

Oghenovo dives deep into how BIP340 Schnorr signatures and batch verification are transforming the efficiency of Bitcoin Core, explaining the math behind it, the use of multi-scalar multiplication, and the real benchmark data that demonstrates faster block verification times.

As Taproot continues to gain traction and new technologies like Silent Payments, MuSig2, and FROST drive even greater Schnorr adoption, these optimisation techniques become essential to keep Bitcoin scalable, private, and secure.

If you want to understand the mechanics of batch validation or see the real-world impact on block validation speed, this article covers that and sets the stage for the next era of Bitcoin scalability.

Read the full article here: https://blog.btrust.tech/schnorr-and-steady-wins-the-race-the-case-for-batch-validation/

Last week, BitDevs Gitega 🇧🇮 hosted its very first meetup!

The community came together to explore Bitcoin and open-source development, with the team introducing BitDevs and breaking down the basics of Bitcoin and Lightning⚡.

If you're in Gitega, come learn, build, and connect with fellow enthusiasts.

For more info, visit: bitdevsgtga.org

Here’s to the first of many! 🚀

Last Saturday, BitDevs Lagos 🇳🇬 hosted another meetup, bringing the community together for a hands-on and insightful session.

Peter introduced the Bitcoin Development Kit (BDK) and the BDK CLI tool, showing how these can be used to build Bitcoin applications, manage wallets, sync data, and handle transactions with ease.

Chigala then dove into Bitcoin scripting. He explained what OP_Codes are, how Bitcoin scripts operate using a stack-based model, and demonstrated how to construct scripts using different OP_Codes. With Bitscript (https://www.bitscript.app/), attendees had an interactive playground to experiment and test scripts themselves, making complex ideas more accessible.

The meetup also marked Bitcoin Pizza Day, with plenty of pizza, great company, and vibrant conversations all around. 🍕

BitDevs Lagos remains one of the most active and longest-running BitDevs communities in Africa, thanks to the dedication of the organizers and the energy of everyone who attends.

A huge thank you to Peter, Enyeazu, Tobechi and everyone who joined. See you at the next one!

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BitDevs Uyo 🇳🇬 recently held its inaugural meetup, marking the latest BitDevs location to be supported by Btrust. 🚀

Participants explored the why behind Bitcoin, dove into hands-on wallet setups, shared sats with each other, and learned how wallets, transactions, and nodes work under the hood.

The meetup also introduced everyone to the wider Builders community and shared opportunities to get involved in open source development.

A huge thank you to the BitDevs Uyo organizers for a great start, and kudos to all the speakers who made the day so insightful.

Check them out and follow them on X through their website: https://bitdevsuyo.org/

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After a long pause, BitDevs Kampala 🇺🇬 made a comeback last Friday. The meetup brought together over 40 developers, students, and Bitcoin enthusiasts for an evening of learning and connection.

The session, hosted by Jemimah Nagasha and MC’d by Wafoyo Angella, featured speakers Angella Mulikatete and Brindon Mwiine.

Topics ranged from Bitcoin 101 and common misconceptions to getting started in Bitcoin open-source.

A highlight of the evening came from Builders pathways alumni who shared their learning journeys.

BitDevs Kampala is back, and there's more to come. You can follow them on X, join their community, and stay updated here: https://www.bitdevskla.org/

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We’re excited to announce our first Bitcoin Open Source Bootcamp! 🚀

The bootcamp officially kicks off today with our inaugural cohort selected from the recently completed Builders pathways: BOSS, Mastering Bitcoin and Bitcoin CLI cohorts.

The Open Source Bootcamp is a 4-week intensive program designed to upskill developers and guide them toward making meaningful contributions to open-source Bitcoin projects.

This cohort will spend the next month: • Setting up their Bitcoin development environments • Learning to navigate and review Bitcoin Core • Exploring real-world Bitcoin open-source projects • Making their first meaningful contributions to the ecosystem

Participants will also receive weekly mentorship, feedback from experienced faculty, and guidance on preparing proposals for the

Starter Grant, which supports promising new contributors in continuing their open-source journey.

The goal is to grow a diverse, capable pipeline of Bitcoin open-source developers committed to building long-term.

The first cohorts of the 2025 Btrust Builders Pathways have officially graduated. 🎉🎓

Over the past two months, developers from across Africa took part in Mastering Bitcoin and Learn Bitcoin from the Command Line. These programs were designed to build foundational Bitcoin knowledge and technical skills for open-source contribution.

We’ve captured the highlights, cohort insights, and what’s next in our full recap. You can read it here: https://blog.btrust.tech/q1-2025-builders-pathways-graduation/

Applications are now open for the next round of Builders Pathways starting in June. This round includes Rust for Bitcoiners and Language Clubs. The two programs are built to support developers at different stages of their Bitcoin journey.

Apply for the June cohorts here: https://btrust.homerun.co/btrust-builders-application/en

We’re excited to announce the first-ever BitDevs meetup in Kano 🇳🇬, happening this Saturday.

📍 Location: Enovate Lab 📅 Date: Saturday, 19th April 2025 🕐 Time: 1pm - 3pm WAT 🔗 RSVP here: https://lu.ma/957ftrkb

Come connect, learn, and build with like-minded individuals.

Do you want to contribute to Bitcoin open-source projects, but you're not sure where to start?

The BOSS (Bitcoin Open Source Software) pathway is a 3-month immersive program that helps developers make real contributions to Bitcoin projects. 🚀

It’s not just a learning program. It’s a launchpad into the world of open-source Bitcoin development.

This pathway includes: ✅ Deep technical learning. You get to work on real Bitcoin open-source challenges. ✅ Mentorship from Bitcoin developers. Get professional feedback and guidance. ✅ Exposure to real-world Bitcoin development workflows. ✅ A structured approach to making meaningful contributions to Bitcoin Core & related projects.

This program is rigorous and hands-on. It’s designed for developers with programming experience, but there are no strict prerequisites, just a passion for Bitcoin and a willingness to learn.

The 2025 BOSS cohort is already in session, and applications for the next intake will open in late 2025 for the 2026 cohort. If you’re serious about getting involved in Bitcoin open-source development, this is your chance to make an impact.

Who Should Apply? 🔹 Developers with at least one year of programming experience. 🔹 Anyone excited about a challenge and ready to work on real Bitcoin projects. 🔹 Those willing to dedicate at least 10+ hours per week to deep technical learning.

This isn’t a beginner’s program, but if you’re ready to take your skills to the next level, BOSS will get you there.

Learn more about the program and join our community here: https://www.btrust.tech/builders/apply

📢 Applications for the 2026 cohort open in late 2025. Join the waitlist today and be the first to know when applications go live; https://btrust.homerun.co/btrust-builders-application/en

Bitcoin development requires more than just blockchain knowledge. You need strong coding skills to contribute effectively to open-source projects.

That’s why we’re introducing Language Clubs, a self-paced program designed to help developers sharpen their programming skills in Bitcoin-relevant languages.

This Pathway Covers: ✅ Hands-on learning in key programming languages like Python, JavaScript, and C++. ✅ A structured peer-learning environment; no formal curriculum, just developer-driven learning. ✅ Real-world exercises & projects to improve coding ability. ✅ A supportive community of learners helping each other grow.

This pathway does not operate as a traditional coding bootcamp. Instead, Builders acts as a coordinator, grouping developers by their target programming language and guiding them through existing resources and projects.

The first cohort of Language Clubs is launching soon, and we’re looking for developers who want to level up their coding skills for Bitcoin development. Whether you're a beginner looking to get started or an experienced developer refining your skills, this pathway is for you.

Who should join? 🔹 Developers who want to improve their coding skills in languages essential for Bitcoin development. 🔹 Programmers looking for structured peer-learning & real-world coding experience. 🔹 Anyone who wants to write better code and contribute to Bitcoin open-source projects.

📢 Want to be part of the first cohort? Join the waitlist here: https://www.btrust.tech/builders/apply

Rust has become a crucial language in Bitcoin development, offering security, memory safety, and high performance. Whether you want to contribute to Bitcoin Core, BDK, LDK, or other Rust-based Bitcoin projects, mastering Rust is essential.

That’s why we’re launching Rust for Bitcoiners, a 4-6 week intensive track designed to help developers gain practical experience with Rust and apply it to Bitcoin development.

This pathway covers: ✅ Fundamentals of Rust programming; ownership, borrowing, memory safety. ✅ How Rust is used in Bitcoin development; exploring projects like BDK & LDK. ✅ Building Bitcoin-related projects using Rust. ✅ Best practices for writing secure, efficient Rust code for Bitcoin applications.

This isn’t just a Rust bootcamp. It’s a focused track for developers who want to apply Rust to real Bitcoin use cases.

We’re launching the first-ever Rust for Bitcoiners cohort soon, bringing together developers eager to master Rust for Bitcoin development. Participants will: 🔹 Work in structured peer-learning groups. 🔹 Engage in hands-on exercises & Rust-based Bitcoin projects. 🔹 Get mentorship from experienced Rust developers.

Who should apply? 🔹 Intermediate to advanced developers who want to write Bitcoin software in Rust. 🔹 Programmers looking to contribute to open-source Bitcoin Rust projects. 🔹 Developers eager to build secure and efficient Bitcoin applications.

Want to be part of the first cohort? The waitlist is now open: https://www.btrust.tech/builders/apply https://image.nostr.build/fd100905a5861a7ab10f3d723d42ed88911a0e1f0dbf35b7a6b88871492b2e8e.jpg https://image.nostr.build/fd100905a5861a7ab10f3d723d42ed88911a0e1f0dbf35b7a6b88871492b2e8e.jpg

Understanding Bitcoin theoretically is great, but nothing beats practical experience.

That’s why we created the Learn Bitcoin from the Command Line pathway. It is a 7-week intensive track designed to help developers interact directly with Bitcoin Core using the command-line interface (CLI).

Participants in this pathway gain real-world experience by working with actual Bitcoin transactions, nodes, and scripting tools.

This pathway covers: ✅ How to run a Bitcoin full node and contribute to the network. ✅ Hands-on practice with Bitcoin Core CLI commands (bitcoin-cli). ✅ Learning how to analyze transactions, UTXOs, and scripting concepts. ✅ Real-world exercises & problem-solving scenarios.

The program follows a peer-learning format, where developers work in structured study groups to solve challenges, practice Bitcoin CLI commands, and engage in discussions to reinforce their understanding.

The first Bitcoin CLI cohort started March 17, 2025, with 68 developers enrolled.

Among participants, 80.9% are male, while 19.1% are female.

Nigeria 🇳🇬 has the largest representation, with 36 developers, followed by Kenya 🇰🇪 with 15, Benin 🇧🇯 with 3, and Ghana 🇬🇭 with 2.

If you're ready to get hands-on with Bitcoin Core, join the waitlist today.

📢 Apply here: https://www.btrust.tech/builders/apply

#Bitcoin #BitcoinCore #BtrustBuilders #BitcoinCLI

Over the next couple of days, we'll go over each of the five pathways and give an overview of what each entails. First up is Mastering Bitcoin.

Bitcoin is more than just a digital currency, it’s an entire technological movement. To build on Bitcoin, you need a deep understanding of its foundations, and that’s exactly what the Mastering Bitcoin pathway offers.

This 8-week structured learning track is designed for developers, designers, and Bitcoin enthusiasts who want a comprehensive study of Bitcoin’s inner workings.

Using Mastering Bitcoin (3rd Edition) by Andreas Antonopoulos as our primary resource, participants work in peer-learning study groups to discuss Bitcoin concepts and engage in hands-on learning.

This Pathway Covers: ✅ How Bitcoin works; from cryptographic keys to network architecture. ✅ The mechanics behind wallets, transactions, and mining. ✅ Bitcoin scripting & programming concepts to deepen your technical knowledge. ✅ Decentralization & security.

Participants attend weekly discussion calls, prepare presentations based on Socratic discussion questions, and engage in partner discussions.

Our first cohort is ongoing. It kicked off on March 10th, 2025. The cohort launched with 96 developers enrolled, making it our largest cohort yet. The group is diverse, with developers joining from different parts of Africa.

Among participants, 80.2% are male (77 participants) and 19.8% are female (19 participants). The majority hail from West Africa (62.5%), followed by East Africa (29.2%), with smaller groups from Southern Africa (2.1%), Central Africa (1%), and the Indian Ocean region (1%).

Nigeria has the largest representation, with 55 developers enrolled, followed by Kenya with 18 participants, Tanzania with 4, and smaller groups from Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, and Malawi. The most active city is Lagos, Nigeria, with 28 developers, followed by Nairobi, Kenya, with 16.

Join the waitlist and start your Bitcoin learning journey.

📢 Apply for the next cohort here: https://www.btrust.tech/builders/apply

#Bitcoin #MasteringBitcoin #BtrustBuilders #BitcoinEducation

The Bitcoin open-source ecosystem needs more skilled developers, and we’re creating new opportunities to learn, build, and contribute.

That’s why we’re launching the Btrust Builders Pathways; a structured learning framework designed to help developers at every stage of their journey gain the skills needed to contribute to Bitcoin open source.

Below are the five unique learning tracks. They are all free to join. https://image.nostr.build/b59321771811d06d1b802cb18f3f3174301f7dffcbb0284c319ff57f1a3de3ff.jpg https://image.nostr.build/6fa7f4bd1b780a01ad32213d4e887a534add7de42c078d32cb6b6a99caefe9f5.jpg 🔹 Mastering Bitcoin – A structured 8-week dive into Bitcoin fundamentals. 🔹 Learn Bitcoin from the Command Line – 7 weeks of hands-on Bitcoin Core CLI training. 🔹 Rust for Bitcoiners – 4-6 weeks to master Rust for Bitcoin projects. 🔹 Language Clubs – A self-paced space to improve your coding skills for Bitcoin development. 🔹 Start Your Career in BOSS – A 3-month immersive program focused on making real contributions to open-source Bitcoin projects.

The first two cohorts (Mastering Bitcoin & Bitcoin CLI) are already live. You can join the waitlist for the next cohort. Pathways are optional. You can still apply for BOSS in 2026 without completing any pathways.

Join the waitlist for the future cohorts here: https://www.btrust.tech/builders/apply

Want more details about each pathway? Check out our full announcement blog here: https://blog.btrust.tech/introducing-the-btrust-builders-pathways/

#Bitcoin #BitcoinDevelopment #BtrustBuilders

Btrust Builders is now on #Nostr

We're training experienced African developers to contribute to open-source Bitcoin & Lightning development.

Our program helps engineers level up, contribute, and build sustainable (funded) careers in Bitcoin.

Follow us for updates on developer resources, learning opportunities and the work of African Bitcoin builders.

Let's go! 🚀