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 intention to assist open-source Bitcoin improvement, mining decentralization, privateness instruments, and academic initiatives for people dwelling underneath authoritarian regimes, with a concentrate on Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
The most recent cohort contains numerous initiatives advancing Bitcoin’s function as a monetary and human rights empowerment device.
NetBlocks, a digital rights watchdog group, screens 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 strengthen web and monetary fredom.
TollGate, a undertaking developed by ISP c03rad0r, transforms extraordinary WiFi routers into decentralized web service suppliers utilizing Bitcoin and ecash. This peer-to-peer networking device 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 improvement middle 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 increase its developer education schemes, sponsor contributors, and strengthen Latin America’s Bitcoin improvement group, serving to the area construct monetary options to fragile fiat programs.
BTCPay Server is an open-source, self-hosted Bitcoin fee processor that permits people and organizations to just accept Bitcoin with out counting on third events. That is particularly important 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 gives 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) – Operating a full Bitcoin node is a cornerstone of economic sovereignty, however the technical interface could be a barrier. Bitcoin-core/gui-qml, a undertaking supported by developer Go Qu, modernizes the Bitcoin Core interface to make it extra intuitive, particularly for cellular customers in creating areas. HRF funding will assist ongoing improvement to decrease the barrier to entry for node runners globally.
Rkrux is a Bitcoin Core contributor targeted on code overview, bug testing, and enhancing documentation. His contributions assist keep Bitcoin’s resilience. HRF’s grant will enable Rkrux to proceed his work, guaranteeing that the Bitcoin community stays sturdy, safe, and censorship-resistant for customers around the globe.
Elsat is a developer contributing to the Nostr ecosystem, together with initiatives like Damus, Nostrability, and Zap.store. These instruments provide decentralized messaging, improved app interoperability, and peer-to-peer software program monetization. HRF’s grant will assist ongoing improvement aimed toward strengthening free expression and monetary independence for customers underneath 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 device permits non-technical customers to function their very own servers, contributing to a extra resilient, censorship-resistant communication infrastructure. HRF’s grant will advance improvement and deployment of this device.
Waye is a assist initiative co-founded by Bitcoin Core developer Amiti Uttarwar and operational architect Anna Sides. It gives 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 increase its attain, particularly to builders from the World South.
Hashpool is a self-hosted mining pool developed by vnprc that helps decentralization in Bitcoin mining. Relatively than counting on centralized entities, miners are rewarded with ecash tokens, enabling prompt, personal payouts. HRF’s assist will additional Hashpool’s improvement and promote a extra distributed and censorship-resistant mining panorama.
Cashu KVAC is a protocol improve for Cashu, a Chaumian ecash system that allows extraordinarily sturdy monetary privateness. Developed by lollerfirst, this enchancment enhances privateness by decreasing knowledge storage and hiding transaction quantities. HRF’s grant will assist additional improvement, reinforcing monetary privateness protections for susceptible 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 training that make safe, personal Bitcoin utilization extra accessible. HRF’s grant will fund this analysis and the event of instructional sources.
Stable Channels is a undertaking 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 undertaking will increase its integrations and person 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 improvement, coaching, and native deployment.
The Core, based by Kenyan educator Felix Mukungu, gives sensible Bitcoin training via workshops, meetups, and digital content material. It focuses on self-custody, Lightning utilization, and node operation. HRF’s assist will enable The Core to increase its attain throughout Kenya and past.
Bitcoin Babies, based by Naomi Wambui, addresses toddler malnutrition and monetary illiteracy via a singular program combining diet assist and Bitcoin training. Moms obtain weekly Bitcoin stipends and coaching to attain 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 improvement. Apprentices achieve hands-on expertise and contribute to main initiatives. HRF’s assist will increase 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 1000’s of attendees to Bitcoin via workshops and hackathons. Organized by Super Testnet and the Bitcoin and Lightning Guadalajara group, the initiative highlights Bitcoin’s function in monetary empowerment. HRF’s grant will assist increase this system.
Base58’s Bitcoin Live Action Role Play (LARP), created by Lisa Neigut and David Rodriguez, gives an immersive studying expertise the place members simulate the Bitcoin community. By appearing out transactions and node operations, learners achieve a deeper understanding of Bitcoin. HRF’s assist will fund facilitator coaching and international enlargement, notably in underserved areas.
BTCenEspañol is a number one supply of Spanish-language Bitcoin training. With a objective 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 improvement, and outreach in authoritarian-affected areas.
Rising Nonprofit Adoption of Bitcoin: Researcher Daniel Batten is learning how nonprofits can use Bitcoin to beat monetary censorship. His undertaking gives 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 learn how to settle for Bitcoin. The objective 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 nations. The subsequent spherical of grants might be introduced on the seventeenth annual Oslo Freedom Discussion board, going down Could 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 boost assist for the Bitcoin Improvement Fund, and donors can discover extra data on learn how to donate here. Functions for grant assist by the HRF could be submitted here.