Btrust

Highlights from the 2025 #BtrustGalaDinner ✨ We called, and you answered. The theme for the night was elegant, and attendees showed up and showed out. It was a night filled with joy, and incredible energy! The evening kicked off with aperitifs and light bites at the backstage lounge, setting the tone for relaxed networking and easy conversations. As guests made their way into the hall, the host, Paul Eke, got things started with ice-breakers, followed by a welcome address from @Abubakar Nur Khalil. @Obi 🔅 then shared a moving farewell, representing the outgoing inaugural Btrust Board. Since 2021, this board has been responsible for overseeing the delivery of Btrust’s mission, guiding the organization through its formative yea rs and setting the foundation for future success. We celebrate and thank them for their vision and leadership. The night also saw us celebrate the 2025 cohort of the Btrust Builders pathways, recognizing top students for their dedication, growth, and excellence throughout the program. A special moment was dedicated to celebrating Abubakar Nur Khalil and formally welcoming him into the office of the CEO. Under his leadership, Btrust has experienced a period of significant growth and transformation, moving from early groundwork to executing at scale. This includes expanding our programs, launching new partnerships, growing our developer reach, strengthening our grants review and delivery processes, and refining our internal systems and team structure. We wrapped up the evening with great food, drinks, dancing, and conversations, the perfect close to an unforgettable year. Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the night truly special. We hope to see you soon 🧡

Highlights from this year's @Africa Bitcoin Conference in Mauritius 🇲🇺. On day one, our CEO, @Abubakar Nur Khalil, delivered his keynote on Btrust in 2026, sharing our achievements in 2025 and our strategic roadmap for the year ahead. Later that day, Abubakar Sadiq Ismail led a technical workshop on building a Bitcoin Node using the libbitcoinkernel library, introducing Bitcoin Core’s upcoming consensus engine. Day two featured a presentation on BTCPay Server plugins by Tobechi Chukwuleta, highlighting how plugins expand merchant tools and create new business opportunities. In the afternoon, Raj, CEO of @bitshala, spoke about training Bitcoin developers in India 🇮🇳 and the Global South, outlining a roadmap for developer growth and contribution. Day three brought education and collaboration to the fore, with Tuedon Tuoyo kicking off the BOSS Challenge by Chaincode Labs, giving participants a practical entry point into Bitcoin open‑source contribution. Applications for the BOSS Challenge are open until December 31st, offering aspiring developers a chance to join a hands‑on, skill‑building journey. Apply to join the 2026 cohort here:

Chaincode Labs

The final day was also a moment of pride for our community, as Abubakar Nur Khalil was named most impactful African Bitcoiner of 2025, and @Btrust Builders was recognized as the African Bitcoin project of 2025. A huge thank you to the @African Bitcoiners team for the recognition. As a sponsor, we also had a booth which was a point for conversations, and learning about our programs, with visitors leaving with exclusive merch and new ways to get involved. We are proud of the incredible representation from our ecosystem at #ABC2025 and grateful to everyone who interacted with us in Mauritius. We’re looking forward to the work ahead as we continue building the future of open‑source Bitcoin development across the Global South.🧡 #ABC25

We recently had the pleasure of sponsoring and taking part in this year’s @Africa Bitcoin Conference, held from December 3–5 at the Caudan Arts Centre in Port Louis, Mauritius 🇲🇺. The Africa Bitcoin Conference brings together builders, businesses, innovators, policymakers, and community members from across Africa and beyond, all working to advance Bitcoin on the continent. This year, we brought in over 90 people from across our ecosystem, including the Btrust team, grantees, members from @Btrust Builders, @bitshala, @npub13s0k...5g70, @La Librería de Satoshi, #BtrustDeveloperDay speakers, and more, to attend the conference, lead sessions, and connect with the wider Bitcoin community. Beyond the sessions and conversations, we had a great time reconnecting, learning, and building alongside the community. Huge thanks to the Africa Bitcoin Conference organisers for the amazing event and for the work that went into making it a success. #ABC25 #ABC2025

On November 29 and 30, we hosted our annual #BtrustGathering at the Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel in Port Louis, Mauritius 🇲🇺. This year’s theme, mapping the future ofnopen‑source collaboration across the Global South, set the tone for two days of deep learning, open conversation, and collective action. We welcomed around 75 participants from across our community, including the Btrust team, grantees, and members from @Btrust Builders, @bitshala, @La Librería de Satoshi and @npub13s0k...5g70. Together, we explored the evolving landscape of open‑source Bitcoin development and how collaboration can accelerate progress across the Global South. Two days of exchanges, workshops, and genuine connection reminded us of the power of community and what’s possible when developers across the Global South co‑create the future of open‑source Bitcoin development. We’re deeply grateful to everyone who joined us, and we’re looking forward to the work ahead of us.

"This is my first time outside India 🇮🇳 to an international bitcoin conference or gathering. The bar has been set really high for me now." Paperpsych from @bitshala. Day two of the 2025 #BtrustGathering built beautifully on the momentum from day one, diving deeper into collective learning and collaboration.

Day one of the #BtrustGathering began with an engaging opening plenary by Stephanie Titcombe, followed by the state of Btrust address from our CEO, @Abubakar Nur Khalil, who shared a thoughtful year‑in‑review, key milestones from 2025, and the outlook for 2026. The morning continued with the 2025 program reports, where @Btrust Builders, @npub13s0k...5g70, @bitshala, and Libreria de Satoshi presented updates on their work, growth, and the impact they’ve created in supporting open‑source Bitcoin development across the Global South. In the afternoon, participants joined cross‑organization working groups to explore opportunities for collaboration on joint programs, developer connectivity, localization, and technical cooperation. Discussions also covered shared initiatives, developer exchange and communication, grants and sustainability, as well as community growth, storytelling, and brand alignment. These sessions were energetic and idea‑driven, with groups sharing thoughtful outputs that reflected the strength of cross‑community collaboration. The day captured the essence of what the gathering stands for; connection, transparency, and collective progress. It was a powerful reminder of how much can be achieved when builders from across the Global South come together to advance open‑source Bitcoin development.

New to bitcoin? Stop by the Bitcoin 101 booth at the #BtrustDeveloperDay to get guided, hands‑on help from our team.  Our booth will walk you through the fundamentals of bitcoin, what it is, how it works, and why it matters, while helping you set up your wallet. You’ll get to explore user‑friendly tools like Wallet of Satoshi and @Blink Wallet and learn how to send, receive, and secure your bitcoin with confidence. Our team will be available throughout the event to answer questions, share practical tips, and help you take your first steps toward bitcoin ownership and financial independence. 👉 Register to attend the Developer Day here: https://clooza.com/events/BTRUSTDEVELOPERDAY 

Toby Nwuba, co-founder of @Minmo will join #BtrustDeveloperDay to co-lead the workshop, build a @Tando.me in 20 minutes, alongside Isaack. Toby is a software engineer and entrepreneur focused on building open, accessible Bitcoin payment infrastructure across Africa. Before founding Minmo, he spent seven years at Goldman Sachs, where he led engineering initiatives in data platforms. His passion lies in expanding open financial access, advancing federated custody solutions, and growing developer ecosystems that encourage local innovation. With Minmo, Toby is demonstrating how Bitcoin and Lightning can transform payments in emerging markets, empowering agents and developers to create real-world solutions that bridge digital and local economies. 👉 RSVP now to secure your spot: https://clooza.com/events/BTRUSTDEVELOPERDAY

We’re happy to have @Pins joining us as a speaker at the upcoming #BtrustDeveloperDay! ⚡ Pins is a @npub13s0k...5g70 grantee currently contributing to LND (Lightning Network Daemon). His journey into Bitcoin development is a powerful example of passion meeting persistence. After starting his career as a software developer, Pins transitioned to commercial and sales roles in cybersecurity within major tech companies. Yet, his love for Bitcoin and open-source software reignited his drive to get back to hands-on coding. Over the past two years, Pins has dedicated himself to relearning programming and has been actively contributing to the LND codebase. At Developer Day, Pins will lead a hands-on workshop titled Taproot Lightning Channels from Scratch, designed for developers eager to dive deep into the Taproot transactions required to create and operate simple Taproot channels. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn directly from Pins and strengthen your understanding of how Bitcoin’s latest protocol upgrades expand the possibilities of the Lightning Network. RSVP now to secure your spot: https://clooza.com/events/BTRUSTDEVELOPERDAY

@Abubakar Nur Khalil, Btrust CEO and Bitcoin Core contributor, joins the #BtrustDeveloperDay lineup to share insights on the future of Bitcoin development across Africa. Abubakar is one of the leading voices shaping the continent’s Bitcoin ecosystem, and also serves as CEO of @Recursive Capital, a bitcoin-focused venture fund fueling innovative projects across the global Bitcoin landscape. Through his leadership at Btrust, he drives initiatives that empower developers in the Global South with training and mentorship, helping cultivate the next generation of Bitcoin builders. Beyond his technical and community-building work, Abubakar contributes to Forbes Digital Assets, where he shares thoughtful analysis on Bitcoin’s evolution and highlights key developments within Africa’s growing Bitcoin space. Join Developer Day to hear Abubakar’s vision for a decentralized, sustainable Bitcoin ecosystem and the work being done to unlock Africa’s potential in global Bitcoin development. 👉 Secure your spot here: https://clooza.com/events/BTRUSTDEVELOPERDAY