Highlights from this year's in Mauritius 🇲🇺. On day one, our CEO, , 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 , 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: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/chaincodelabs/jobs/4067627009 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 was recognized as the African Bitcoin project of 2025. A huge thank you to the 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 , 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 , , , , #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

Final call 🚨🚨 The next chapter of Btrust is being written-and this is your opportunity to be part of it. We’re looking for mission-driven leaders ready to contribute to governance, strategy, and long-term impact. Learn more & apply: https://forms.gle/Bi8S2BGuT4Amu9Az8

This year’s #BtrustDeveloperDay in Mauritius 🇲🇺 was one for the books! 🎉 We welcomed over 260 attendees, far more than we’d expected, making it our biggest and most vibrant edition yet. This event was truly special, not just for the work that went into it, but for the connections and collaborations we made along the way. A huge thank you to all our speakers, booth exhibitors, and attendees for showing up, sharing knowledge, and making this year’s Developer Day an incredible success. 🙏 With 30+ speakers, hands-on workshops, live demos, lightning talks, and even games, the day was filled with energy, learning, and collaboration. From deep technical sessions on Bitcoin development, Lightning, privacy, and infrastructure to discussions on education, inclusion, and open‑source growth in Africa, there was something for every builder. We’ll be sharing a detailed recap and blog post soon, but for now, we just want to say thank you for being part of this growing community of Bitcoin builders. 🧡

We’re celebrating Duncan Dean, whose journey as a long-term Btrust grantee left a lasting mark. During his time with Btrust, Duncan led major progress on dual-funded channels in Lightning Dev Kit, contributed to the BOLTs specifications, and represented our community across global stages, from Nairobi 🇰🇪 to Cape Town 🇿🇦, Oslo 🇳🇴, Prague 🇨🇿, and Seoul 🇰🇷. Beyond his technical contributions, Duncan championed open-source collaboration and mentorship across Africa and beyond. Read the full story and discover what’s next for Duncan: https://blog.btrust.tech/celebrating-duncan-deans-journey-with-btrust/

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 , , and . 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 . Day two of the 2025 #BtrustGathering built beautifully on the momentum from day one, diving deeper into collective learning and collaboration.

Day two of the #BtrustGathering began with an opening plenary, where participants shared takeaways and reflections from day one and discussed what to look forward to. The morning continued with a session on rethinking developer funding and support, facilitated by Kelvin Isievwore. This session explored how developers across the Global South are supported, financially and beyond, through existing funding mechanisms, mentorship, travel opportunities, and access to tools. We brainstormed practical ways to build fairer, more sustainable models that empower developers long‑term. Next came an insightful session on finding your lane and building credibility in open-source, by Edil Medeiros. This conversation encouraged developers to navigate their open‑source development journeys with authenticity, confidence, and resilience. We then had a thought‑provoking panel on AI, facilitated by Kelvin Isievwore and featuring Abubakar Nur Khalil, Raj, Bruno Ely Reis Garcia, Federico Zupicich, and Leonardo L. The panel unpacked how AI is reshaping open‑source contributions, from enhancing reviews and documentation to transforming developer workflows, and discussed both the opportunities and trade‑offs it brings to Bitcoin development. After a productive morning of discussions and learning, we took a break to take group photos and lunch. In the afternoon we moved into the mapping Global South FOSS priorities workshop, facilitated by Abubakar Nur Khalil. Participants worked collaboratively to define shared priorities, align regional outcomes, and begin drafting a collective 2026 roadmap for open‑source growth across the region. We closed the day, and the gathering, with a heart‑to‑heart fireside chat on lessons from the field. This conversation, featuring Kelvin Isievwore, Nymius, Abubakar Sadiq Ismail, Stratosphere and Marcello Pinsdorf, highlighted real‑world experiences, challenges, and lessons from the community, with candid reflections on sustaining motivation, balancing life and contribution, and navigating burnout. With the Gathering coming to a close, participants left inspired and energized, ready to carry the spirit of collaboration, learning, and open‑source excellence into the year ahead.

Day one of the #BtrustGathering began with an engaging opening plenary by Stephanie Titcombe, followed by the state of Btrust address from our CEO, , 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 , , , 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.

Highlights from day one of the 2025 #BtrustGathering 🎉 Day one of set the tone for the work that's to come in 2026. It was a day focused on sharing progress, celebrating program highlights, and reflecting on our collective impact across the ecosystem.