According to a press release sent to Bitcoin Magazine, today the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) announced its latest Bitcoin Development Fund grant.
Currently, Satoshis (8 BTC), which is over $8874,000 at the time of writing, is granted in 22 different projects around the world, focusing on open source development, education initiatives, Bitcoin mining decentralization, and privacy tools for human rights advocates living under an authoritarian regime. The main focus of these grants is mainly in Latin America, Africa and Asia
Although the HRF did not disclose the amounts each project specifically received, the next 22 projects are today’s grant recipients worth 8 btc or 800 billion in total Satosh.
Monster
In an authoritarian regime, centralized exchanges carry out strict identity verification and frequently freeze user accounts. In these environments, Mostro, a peer-to-peer exchange built on the decentralized NOSTR protocol, offers a private and censored way to access Bitcoin. This will allow human rights advocates and the public to freely trade. With HRF support, developer Catrya will improve Mostro’s ease of use by serving dissidents in search of economic freedom.
Sudabit
As war and hyperinflation destroyed Sudan, traditional banking and remittance systems collapsed. Millions of Sudan have no reliable ways to save, send or receive money. Sudabit, currently under development by Sudan Hodol, is the country’s first private Bitcoin on and off-ramp, offering a critical financial lifeline with few remaining options. With HRF support, Sudabit will allow daily Sudan to build critical financial infrastructure amid the humanitarian and financial crisis while also having access to independent Bitcoin that is not permitted directly from local currency.
Stringer News
Authoritarian regimes silence independent media, controlling public narratives and restraining opposition. Stringer News, an open media platform founded by war reporter and author Anjan Sundalam, uses Bitcoin and Nostr to help reporters and human rights advocates publish without fear of censorship. Bypassing traditional publishing gatekeepers, we ensure critical reporting reaches global audiences, even from the depths of authoritarian regimes. With the support of HRF, Stringer News amplifies the voices of frontline journalists and protects the flow of truth under dictatorship.
Today’s price
As Vladimir Putin is fighting Ukraine, it hides the financial pain of the home. Today’s prices are a project launched by the Anti-Corruption Foundation, which tracks rising prices across national essential products and services and publishes data on open and accessible websites. The project helps Russians see through national propaganda and stand up to the hidden financial sacrifices of Putin’s war. With this grant, today’s price expands its tools and research, exposing the true costs of war and challenging the Kremlin story.
Instamouse for Bitcoin and Lightning
Contributing to the Bitcoin codebase may require specialized tools and complex setups. A barrier for developers to resource-limited environments. Created by software developer Bryan Bishop (Kanzure), Instamouse breaks down these barriers in a browser-based environment for open source Bitcoin development. By reducing hardware requirements and simplifying access, it opens the door to a more inclusive environment that enables more people around the world to contribute to Bitcoin. This grant will help Instamouse not truly allow Bitcoin development.
Seed Signer
Most commercial hardware wallets are expensive, unique and traceable. This poses a barrier to oppositional independence in weak economies and surveillance agents regimes. SeedSigner is a fully customizable DIY Bitcoin hardware wallet that anyone can build with affordable off-the-shelf components. It provides dissidents with a modest, low-cost way to protect Bitcoin. Lead developer Keith Mukai’s HRF funding expands support for languages in Europe, Asia and other, as well as the continued feature development and guidance for new contributors.
SpaceBear’s contribution to Payjoin
Bitcoin allows human rights advocates to receive unstoppable payments. But making these payments private is the next important step. Payjoin is a technique that allows senders and recipients to batch Bitcoin transactions, break the heuristics of common chain analysis, and improve default privacy. This is essential for surveillance activists who urgently need financial privacy without attracting attention. With HRF support, developer SpaceBear is pushing for Payjoin to default privacy to Bitcoin and protect civil society under tyranny.
Pada One Wallet
When authoritarian regimes devalue currency or impose capital controls, people often turn to Bitcoin. However, without experience, many people have a hard time using it safely. Padawan Wallet, a free open source mobile app by developer Thunderbiscuit, helps to fill that gap. Use Bitcoin Test Network Coin to simulate real payments in a risk-free environment. Users can practice creating transactions, secure wallets, and explore savings without putting real funds at risk. With HRF support, Padawan will be launched on iOS to expand access to safe, hands-on Bitcoin learning for millions of people facing financial uncertainty.
Brink
Without continued support for Bitcoin development and its contributors, networks risk slower innovation, greater centralization and long-term security challenges. Brink, a nonprofit organization led by executive director Mike Schmidt, addresses this with funding and guidance from open source developers working on Bitcoin’s software infrastructure. Through grants and fellowships, Brink helps keep protocols safe, decentralized, and freely accessible. With this grant, Brink further strengthens the foundation that makes Bitcoin a tool for economic freedom.
Coin Center
As dictators increasingly treat code as a crime, open source developers face an increase in sanctions, litigation and legal threats. Coin Center, a non-profit research advocacy organization led by Peter Van Valkenburgh’s research director, defends the right to build and use open digital asset networks such as Bitcoin. It promotes policy analysis, supports strategic litigation, and educates lawmakers to protect the technology that governs freedom. With HRF support, Coin Center continues to organize the global legal environment where critical tools can be built for at-risk human rights advocates.
Bitcoin Design Foundation
A decline in user experience is a major barrier to Bitcoin adoption. An inconsistent wallet experience and a steep learning curve can block new users, especially in high-risk environments. The Bitcoin Design Foundation is a nonprofit founded by UI designers Christoph Ono, Mogashni Naidoo and Daniel Nordh, and funds open source design, UX research and community initiatives by making Bitcoin products more intuitive. With HRF support, the foundation will expand its grants and education programs to keep ease of use a priority and keep Bitcoin open to everyone.
Embron
Bitcoin mining is dominated by several companies producing their own hardware that has been closed, threatening the resilience and accessibility of the network. 256 Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works to change it. Based on the Open Source Vitax Project, Envelone produces open source mining hardware, open to anyone, especially those living under a repressive regime. With HRF support, Envelone reduces entry barriers, disrupts its own ecosystem, and makes Bitcoin mining more accessible to people in closed society.
2025 Frost Developer Support
For nonprofits operating under authoritarian rules, securing Bitcoin is important for survival. If your private key (controls access to Bitcoin) is compromised, you can seize your funds and dismantle the movement. Blockchain Commons is a nonprofit organization that supports the development of frost development (flexible round and optimized Schnorr threshold signatures). This enhances multiple signature wallets (bitcoin wallets with multiple private keys) by increasing security, private and flexibility for shared custody. The grant will help Blockchain Commons build critical infrastructure to maintain operational and financial resilience of civil society groups under dictatorships.
ECASH UX Improvement Project
ECASH allows for fast, private payments that withstand surveillance. However, a relatively inadequate user experience limits recruitment, especially for human rights advocates who need it the most. The ECASH UX Improvement Project, led by UX designer Erik Cativo, makes clients more intuitive and accessible based on protocols such as CASHU and FedImint. When integrated with decentralized platforms like Nostr, these tools allow dissidents to personally trade and communicate outside the reach of dictators. With this grant, the project will help transform ECASH into a user-friendly solution for those navigating financial oppression.
Bitcoin Summer
For students living under tyranny, contributing to open source Bitcoin development can feel out of reach due to limited access, mentorship and opportunities. Summer of Bitcoin, a program founded by Adi Shankara, connects university students with an open source Bitcoin project. We offer mentorship, training and paid internships. Together with students from 74 countries, we develop a new generation of contributors who are committed to privacy, freedom and financial sovereignty. With this grant, the program will continue to help students in oppressive environments acquire the skills to build the tools their communities need.
Entropy | Bitcoin Education
Around the world, people who need Bitcoin most often lack access to clear and appealing education on how to safely use it. Entropy is an education initiative led by open source developer D++ who addresses this through gaming workshops, bootcamps and hands-on learning, focusing on financial inclusion and personal sovereignty. These programs provide students with knowledge to control their money. With HRF support, D++ documents and improves this education model to make it replicable and accessible to communities at the highest risk of financial suppression.
event
In an authoritarian regime, organizing directly can be dangerous (especially when dictators want to limit the flow of information and money). Evento, an event platform created by Brianna Honkawa D’Estries, is designed to help individuals and communities gather and collaborate safely. Embedding accessibility and censorship resistance into its core by integrating Freedom Technologies such as Bitcoin and immediately integrating NOSTR. With the support of HRF, Evento offers activists, nonprofits and grassroots moves a reliable way to frame them even when freedom of assembly is under attack.
Brandon Odywall’s contribution to Bitcoin Core
Bitcoin’s security and reliability depends on the developers who review, test and maintain the code. Brandon Odiwuor is a proven contributor to Bitcoin Core, regularly reviewing major code changes and submitting improvements to Bitcoin’s major software implementation. His work helps ensure that Bitcoin is stable, robust and withstands censorship for those living under an authoritarian regime. With this support, Brandon is strengthening the foundation that makes Bitcoin a means of achieving individual freedom and a free society.
Satoshi sister circle
Despite the rise in global adoptions, women, especially in Africa and the world majority, are undervalued in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Founded by Charlene Fairpo, CEO of Mango Digital Strategy and author of Bitcoin Leap: How Bitcoin Transforms Africa, Satoshi’s sister circle fills this gap by supporting African women pursuing a career in Bitcoin. Through mentorship, networking and wellness support, the initiative is building a pipeline of women leaders throughout the space. With HRF funding, Satoshi Sister Circle will expand its reach and help shape the more inclusive future for Bitcoin.
Bitcoin Month: Empowering young people in the Global South and authoritarian regime
In many authoritarian regimes, young people bear the brunt of economic mismanagement and economic oppression. Liberty’s Bitcoin Month Students are a global education campaign that teaches young people how to use Bitcoin for rude payments and inflation-resistant savings. The project combines face-to-face and virtual learning through a network of coordinators from over 110 countries. With the support of HRF, the initiative will expand its reach, train more volunteers and provide youth with the skills of freedom.
Bitcoin Pidgin & Bitcoin Anambra
In Nigeria, the lack of Bitcoin education in local languages remains a major barrier to adoption of Bitcoin, excluded from a tool that could provide financial freedom for many. Bitcoin Pidgin and Bitcoin Anambra, led by entrepreneur Kester Ezikeme, teach Bitcoin at Pidgin English, Nigeria. The initiative will provide practical Bitcoin education by building a circular economy in the state of Anambra. With HRF support, we will expand access to educational materials and expand grassroots financial literacy across the country.
Bitcoin Boma
In Malawi, sustained inflation, currency devaluation and high poverty rates do not deprive many of them of stable financial security. Bitcoin Boma, led by co-executive director Grant Gomwa, addresses this by using Bitcoin education to promote financial resilience. Online courses, community meetups and local outreach will help nonprofits understand and use decentralized tools to build financial independence amidst financial difficulties. With HRF support, Bitcoin Boma expands its programme in one of the world’s most economically vulnerable regions.
The HRF is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization (c)(3) that promotes and protects human rights worldwide, with a focus on closed societies. HRF continues to gather support for the Bitcoin Development Fund, and interested donors can find more information on how to donate Bitcoin here. Since its launch in 2020, BDF has donated $8.5 million in Bitcoin to 298 projects in 62 countries around the world.
Applications for HRF grant support can be submitted here.
The Posthuman Rights Foundation has donated 800 million Satosh to 22 global Bitcoin, first appeared in Bitcoin magazine and offers a free project written by NIK.
