Do you get frustrated with how todayโ€™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 didnโ€™t have to choose between fast, modern payments and the anonymity of cash? In our latest blog, Tobechi, a @Btrust 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. Youโ€™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: image
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.๐Ÿš€ 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. ๐Ÿ‘ Kudos to everyone who joined, and an extra congratulations to those who made it to the end. ๐Ÿ”— Check out our blog to see their journey, impact, and see whatโ€™s coming up:
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:
Last week, BitDevs Gitega ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฎ 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 Lightningโšก. If you're in Gitega, come learn, build, and connect with fellow enthusiasts. For more info, visit: bitdevsgtga.org Hereโ€™s to the first of many! ๐Ÿš€
Last Saturday, BitDevs Lagos ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ 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 (), 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. ๐Ÿ• 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!
BitDevs Uyo ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ recently held its inaugural meetup, marking the latest BitDevs location to be supported by Btrust. ๐Ÿš€ 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/
After a long pause, BitDevs Kampala ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌ 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 MCโ€™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:
Weโ€™re excited to announce our first Bitcoin Open Source Bootcamp! ๐Ÿš€ 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: โ€ข Setting up their Bitcoin development environments โ€ข Learning to navigate and review Bitcoin Core โ€ข Exploring real-world Bitcoin open-source projects โ€ข 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 @Btrust 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. image
The first cohorts of the 2025 Btrust Builders Pathways have officially graduated. ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ“ 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. Weโ€™ve captured the highlights, cohort insights, and whatโ€™s next in our full recap. You can read it here: 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:
Weโ€™re excited to announce the first-ever BitDevs meetup in Kano ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ, happening this Saturday. ๐Ÿ“ Location: Enovate Lab ๐Ÿ“… Date: Saturday, 19th April 2025 ๐Ÿ• Time: 1pm - 3pm WAT ๐Ÿ”— RSVP here: Come connect, learn, and build with like-minded individuals. image