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- The Human Rights Foundation has announced a grant of $1B satoshis to support the development of open-source software aimed at enhancing privacy and security.
- This initiative is part of a broader movement toward integrating cryptocurrency and blockchain solutions into human rights advocacy and increasing crypto adoption globally.
The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) has launched a new initiative through its Bitcoin Development Fund, designed to support the global expansion of open-source Bitcoin projects. The foundation has allocated 1 billion satoshis, equivalent to 10 BTC, to over 20 projects across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
This program is a key element of HRF’s larger mission to empower individuals and communities living under oppressive regimes. By providing these vital resources, the foundation is helping to ensure that people in authoritarian environments have access to secure, privacy-focused tools for financial transactions, safeguarding their autonomy in the face of growing surveillance and repression.
Promoting Free Access to Information and the Internet
One notable recipient is NetBlocks, an organization that focuses on monitoring and analyzing internet connectivity and censorship. HRF’s funding will help NetBlocks expand its real-time monitoring and reporting efforts.
TollGate is a decentralized internet project developed by ISP c03rad0r that transforms standard Wi-Fi routers into peer-to-peer internet providers.TollGate emphasizes privacy and anonymity, operating without requiring personal information or compliance with centralized regulations. TollGate will continue to develop censorship-resistant infrastructure with the grant to provide greater autonomy and privacy for users.
Vinteum, a non-profit Bitcoin research and development center, is committed to supporting Bitcoin developers in Brazil and across Latin America. Similarly, The Core and Base58’s Bitcoin LARP are Bitcoin education platforms focused on raising awareness through education, content creation, and training on the Lightning Network. With HRF’s support, the initiatives will expand their educational programs, sponsor developers, and contribute to Bitcoin’s global growth and adoption.
Supporting Financial Tools for Activists
The HRF supports BTCPay Server, an open-source payment processor that helps individuals and NGOs accept Bitcoin payments independently. HRF is advancing financial empowerment across Africa by supporting initiatives like the Africa Bitcoin Institute (ABI) in Rwanda, led by Anaïse Kanimba, which promotes financial sovereignty. In Kenya, HRF backs BitSacco, a platform modernizing cooperative savings, and Bitcoin Babies, founded by Naomi Wambui, which provides Bitcoin stipends and financial education to vulnerable families.
Several decentralization-focused projects have also received support, including Hashpool, a self-hosted mining pool that rewards miners with ecash to enhance privacy and decentralization. Lollerfirst’s Cashu KVAC strengthens the Cashu ecash protocol by improving data efficiency and privacy, with HRF funding ensuring its growth, especially for vulnerable users. Additionally, Bitcoin-core, founded by Go Qu, is making Bitcoin’s user interface more intuitive for mobile and new users in developing regions, overcoming barriers to adoption caused by low technical literacy.
The Relay Wizard project aims to simplify setting up Nostr relays, which are key to the decentralized Nostr protocol for social networking and communication. Additionally, HRF’s grant will support Elsat, another Nostr ecosystem contributor, that is developing decentralized applications for private messaging and app monetization.
Waye, a support initiative co-founded by Amiti Uttarwar and operational architect Anna Sides, will use HRF funding to provide mental health resources, particularly for developers in the Global South. Rkrux, a Bitcoin Core contributor specializing in code review, testing, and documentation, will use HRF’s support to continue ensuring the Bitcoin protocol remains secure, resilient, and accessible to everyone.
Research and Community Programs
HRF is backing research initiatives, including Stable Channels, led by Tony Klausing, which seeks to integrate fiat-pegged balances into the Lightning Network to drive further innovation. Additionally, Self-Custody Research, a project focused on overcoming the challenges of securely storing Bitcoin in authoritarian regimes, will use the funding to develop practical solutions and tools for at-risk users.
East Asia Bitcoin Developer Apprenticeship trains developers from Korea and Japan to contribute to open-source Bitcoin development. The HRF funding will expand mentorship opportunities and support defectors from repressive governments in these regions.
Bitcoin Week at TalentLand 2025, organized by Super Testnet and the Bitcoin and Lightning Guadalajara community, will bring Bitcoin education to Latin America’s largest tech conference. Workshops and hackathons will help spread knowledge of Bitcoin’s potential for financial freedom. Finally, Bitcoin for Good, led by activist Hadiya Masieh, is working to provide nonprofits with the tools and knowledge to accept Bitcoin donations and operate free from financial censorship.
