My First Bitcoin

📢 𝐌𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 $𝟏 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 #𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝

May 13, 2025 – We are proud to announce that My First Bitcoin has received a $1 million grant from #startsmall. With this financial support from Jack Dorsey's philanthropic initiative, we will continue to serve grassroots Bitcoin education initiatives worldwide.

This grant accelerates our work in the creation and distribution of free and open-source Bitcoin education materials and infrastructure. It will not only help us improve existing resources, such as the Bitcoin Diploma, Bitcoin Intro Course, and teacher training workshops, but also to scale our digital platforms like our Online School and Community Hub.  

As a non-profit, founded in 2021, we have grown from a local project into a global movement. Besides creating curricula and frameworks, our team has directly taught tens of thousands of in-person students, as we workshop and refine our materials based on real world feedback.

In 2023, we launched the Independent Bitcoin Educators Node Network, providing a space for others to join us on our mission. The network spans 65+ projects from 35+ countries, including circular economies, meetup organizers and other grassroots projects. All commit to the same six pillars: that their education is independent, impartial, community-led, Bitcoin-only, quality, and focused on empowerment over profit.

While we support that network, it is now self-governing. We always seek to give power-to, rather than have power-over.

John Dennehy, founder and Executive Director of My First Bitcoin, explains:

“The revolution of Bitcoin education is that it teaches students HOW to think, not WHAT to think. Funding from sources with their own incentives is the greatest vulnerability that threatens that. Education will be captured by whoever funds it. We will never take any government money and frequently turn down funding from corporations and companies. The subtle influence of funding has ruined fiat education and we need to create alternative models for the revolution of Bitcoin education to realize its full potential.”

Funding for Bitcoin education must be transparent.

This grant is a huge win for all of us. For Bitcoin itself, but even more for Independent Bitcoin Education as a whole. It enables us to serve the global community better than ever before. It shows everyone what can be achieved if you stay close to your values. “My First Bitcoin is a proof-of-concept for all independent Bitcoin educators that if you stay on the mission, even when it's challenging, then you will come out the other side even stronger,” added Dennehy.

Arnold Hubach, Director of Communications of My First Bitcoin, continued:

"Open source money deserves open source education. Over the past few years, we’ve seen growing demand for our resources around the world, and we remain committed to serving everyone in the Bitcoin space who needs support. This funding enables us to plan further into the future and continue being the first-stop provider of free educational tools."

We’re grateful to #startsmall for believing in our mission and for understanding that Bitcoin education should always be free from external influence. We’re also grateful to the community for helping us to arrive at this point where we are ready to receive such a grant. You lead us to where we are today. You have been our primary funding source. You will continue to lead us forward.

We will always serve the community.

We’re also grateful for our amazing team and their proof of work. The grant will accelerate the work that they are already doing, such as curricula development, teacher training programs, the expansion of the global network, building online platforms, and providing in-person classes.

We will continue to lead by example, we will continue to push the limits, and we will continue to reimagine what’s possible. We do not seek to please power in this world, we seek to create a proof-of-concept for a better one where the individual is empowered and able to think critically.

If you are an educator in need of tools or infrastructure; please contact us. If you can help us continue to build out these tools and maintain this growing global movement; please contact us. If you are aligned with our mission and are a supporter of independent Bitcoin education, please donate.

We work for the public. In public.

Read the full Press Release on our website:

👉 https://myfirstbitcoin.io/my-first-bitcoin-receives-1-million-grant-from-startsmall-to-advance-independent-bitcoin-education-around-the-world/

Hi, I’m Dalia Platt, the head of curriculum for

I’ve been working on the next version of the #BitcoinDiploma🎓📜 which is being translated into 5 languages & is being taught in over 10 countries🗺️

Here’s how we got here, and where we’re going next.

Growing up in #Colombia🇨🇴, I witnessed stark contrasts between privilege and poverty.

My family's emphasis on #education🏫 and traveling made me deeply aware of the inequality surrounding us.

During university, a humble woman's generosity exposed me to the true face of poverty🙏

In her makeshift home atop a dirt mound, she served me her only piece of chicken in a powerful act of selflessness.

It marked me deeply.

Atop that mound, I realized the need for financial inclusion, especially for the unbanked population like her 🏦🚫

Every day, she climbed that mound for the money she needed to survive. I wished for an easier way. Discovering #Bitcoin sparked an idea. Could this be the solution?

Yet, understanding this revolutionary technology felt like climbing an even steeper hill.

As a math enthusiast and educator, I grappled with Bitcoin's intricacies.

My struggle to comprehend #Bitcoin fueled my desire to make the journey easier for others.

My grandparents’ story further strengthened my resolve.

They fled Europe with hope, arriving penniless in #Colombia🇨🇴, leaving behind their hard-earned assets.

If #Bitcoin existed then, they wouldn't have had to abandon everything😔

Their ability to start anew ignited my belief inBitcoin's potential as a borderless🗺️ store of value.

Fueled by these experiences, I seized the opportunity to create the curriculum for @myfirstbitcoin_

Learning about #Bitcoin should be enjoyable, interactive, and accessible to everyone🎮

We designed the curriculum to be flexible and #OpenSource, constantly evolving with valuable feedback from the community.

Collective intelligence and creativity were our guiding principles 💡✅

hrough #Bitcoin, my hope is to bridge the gap between the financially privileged and the underprivileged.

I envision a world where everyone, regardless of their background, has access to financial services and opportunities 🚀📈

This journey is a tribute to resilience, a commitment to equality, and an open invitation for everyone to join us.

Let's work together to make poverty and inequality a thing of the past🌟

With #Bitcoin as our tool, we can create a future where we get individuals and communities around the world to #startsmall on their journey to empowerment and liberty💪🕊️

Working together with teams like @LookingGlassEdu ,
@AmityAge , @BitcoinEkasi , @LakeBitcoin , @BitcoinJungleCR , @FREEMadeiraOrg , @BitcoinBeachBR , @Bitcoinbeach , @RecklessNode , @FreeMarketKids and many more, give me hope this future is possible.

t's time to rewrite the narrative and build a world where opportunity knows no boundaries.

Join us as we pave the way towards a more inclusive and equal future. Let's make a difference together.

If you want to join the movement, reach out!

Hey there, I'm Dax

My early struggles in life led me to discover & become a #Bitcoin miner in 2010 ⚙️.

That early discovery allowed me to pursue my dreams as a music producer 🎹

Now I am the CTO👨‍🔧 of the coolest NGO in #ElSalvador:

Growing up was tough for me. My dad left when I was a kid, and it was just my mom, sister, and me.

School was hard—I was always labeled as problematic 😵‍💫

It wasn't until my teenage years that I was diagnosed with ADHD, which explained my struggles.

After high school, I dreamed of going to college but my family simply couldn't afford it.

Faced with a difficult decision, I chose to prioritize my sister's education over my own 💪

I dropped out of university and started looking for a job to support my family👨‍👩‍👧

My dad re-entered my life, and with his help, I traveled to the US 🇺🇲🗽

Music became my refuge amidst the chaos. It brought me joy and calmness.

I attended a summer camp at @BerkleeCollege & fell even more in love with it.

In 2009 and 2010, #Bitcoin caught my attention.

I was saving for a synthesizer🎹 and stumbled upon this new technology.

I delved into researching and learning about #Bitcoin from online forums & communities. I even started mining Bitcoin in 2010👨‍🔧

But due to financial constraints, I had to prioritize other expenses and stop mining.

Life led me to the biomedical industry, but music remained my passion.

In 2014, I decided to pursue music production at @BerkleeCollege . After graduating, I built my own music studio in 2018.

But the pandemic hit in 2020, and I struggled to make ends meet.

I had to sell everything and move back with my mom 😔 Determined to sustain myself, I offered music production services online. (I still am)

Then, I heard about #Bitcoin's resurgence in #ElSalvador.

It rekindled my interest, and I dived back into learning and exploring its intricacies.

While I couldn't afford expensive mining equipment, I found my place in the #LightningNetwork⚡ I learned about nodes and connections. I even built a Lightning node in #ElSalvador using donated parts. Now you can also open channels with nostr:npub17cyatz6z2dzcw6xehtcm9z45m76lde5smxdmyasvs00r4pqv863qrs4ml3

That's when I discovered nostr:npub17cyatz6z2dzcw6xehtcm9z45m76lde5smxdmyasvs00r4pqv863qrs4ml3 —an organization focused on educating people about #Bitcoin in a simple way.

I reached out and connected with the founder, John

As the CTO👨‍🔧 of nostr:npub17cyatz6z2dzcw6xehtcm9z45m76lde5smxdmyasvs00r4pqv863qrs4ml3 , my mission is to make #Bitcoin accessible to everyone 🗺️

I want to empower individuals, especially those in disadvantaged situations, by educating them about its life-changing potential.

#startsmall #buildconsistently #growbig

Breaking down complex technical concepts into understandable language is a challenge, but seeing how it transforms lives keeps me motivated.

I believe education and awareness can create a more inclusive and equitable future.

That’s why we created the #BitcoinDiploma

Everyday,I'm grateful to be part of a movement that empowers individuals and change the world. we spoke with a large #Bitcoin mining group in #ElSalvador Volcano Energy who are assisting us in the first nostr:npub17cyatz6z2dzcw6xehtcm9z45m76lde5smxdmyasvs00r4pqv863qrs4ml3 bitcoin mining operation & creating educational materials.

Through education, we can pave the way for a better future. I'm passionate about making a difference and showing others the possibilities #Bitcoin holds. #Bitcoin is unity. #Bitcoin is peace. This is a global movement to give power back to the people.

Join us on this journey of empowerment and change.

Together, we will change the world.

We instantly clicked, and I became the CTO👨‍🔧 #Lightning node!🔽

Hey, I’m

I am the community builder of

in #ElSalvador & I also run BitDriver, the first taxi business in the country that operates solely on the #BitcoinStandard.

I’m on a mission to change the world.

Here’s my story:

I used to work in the boring world of banks, “helping” people with loans and credit cards🥴 But one day, I took a trip to El Zonte & I discovered #Bitcoin from a lady who sold us a bag of ice. We bought it out of curiosity, not knowing how this episode would change my life

During the pandemic, I saw a newspaper story about Bitcoin being called “digital gold”. I wanted to learn more, but it was hard to find information in Spanish. I searched on Facebook but I couldn't find any helpful groups but scams.

In 2021, our president Nayib Bukele announced #Bitcoin as legal tender in #ElSalvador. I was SHOCKED about it & started explaining to my family and friends what this meant. Little did I know, my life was about to change. One day I lost my job and started driving for Uber.

But one of those trips changed everything. Four foreigners got in, and we heard news about protests against #Bitcoin adoption.

One of the passengers was John Dennehy, founder of nostr:npub17cyatz6z2dzcw6xehtcm9z45m76lde5smxdmyasvs00r4pqv863qrs4ml3 , and he asked me if I could give him an interview.

That’s how I became the first student of nostr:npub17cyatz6z2dzcw6xehtcm9z45m76lde5smxdmyasvs00r4pqv863qrs4ml3 and received classes directly from John I quickly understood everything about #Bitcoin . This was just the beginning.

Then, I had an idea: I wanted to offer my taxi service and accept #Bitcoin. It felt like magic once I began doing it! my first announcement for AdoptingBTC2021

That’s how I became the first driver in #ElSalvador to accept #Bitcoin & named my company ‘Bitdriver’ From working in the traditional financial system to being able to provide transportation services for the huge amount of people visiting #ElSalvador

Working on education at nostr:npub17cyatz6z2dzcw6xehtcm9z45m76lde5smxdmyasvs00r4pqv863qrs4ml3 has changed my life. And just as I change, I want the lives of my people, of my country to change, and that can only be achieved with education and patience.

We knew we had to #startsmall before we expanded, but now we’re ready to go to the next level.

We’ve received donations and support from Jack , Greg Foss, Bitcoin Beach, Blink Wallet , Bitfinex , Looking Glass and PayStand

And we are just getting started.

Onward!