The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) has revealed a fresh allocation of 1.3 billion satoshis through its Bitcoin Development Fund, supporting 22 innovative projects globally that aim to enhance financial freedom and resist censorship in authoritarian settings.
Announced exclusively to Bitcoin Magazine, this funding cycle will bolster open-source Bitcoin advancements, decentralized mining frameworks, privacy-focused financial solutions, and grassroots educational programs spanning Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
According to HRF, these initiatives focus on refining the Bitcoin protocol itself while broadening access to permissionless currency for activists, journalists, nonprofits, and everyday individuals confronting political oppression.
The comprehensive list of beneficiaries for Q4 2025 is as follows:
Decentralizing Bitcoin
Stratum V2 (Reference Implementation)
A significant portion of Bitcoin mining still depends on outdated communication protocols that restrict miners from selecting their own transactions. This centralizes block creation within mining pools and raises censorship concerns. Stratum V2 addresses this by empowering individual miners at home to construct their own block templates. HRF’s grant supports developer bit-aloo’s full-time efforts in enhancing Stratum V2 through performance evaluations, integration tasks, and code upkeep—restoring autonomy within existing pool systems.
Braidpool
Mainstream mining pools operate under centralized control where operators manage reward distribution and transaction choices—posing risks of censorship. Braidpool counters this by introducing a peer-to-peer open-source pool design enabling participants to collaboratively build blocks and share rewards without relying on a central authority. With HRF backing software developer Mohd Zaid will advance this democratic model promoting decentralization and transparency.
Bitcoin Education Initiatives
Open Money & Closed Access (OMCA)
In regions affected by conflict or limited connectivity where formal banking is inaccessible or unsafe for storing value or transferring funds securely offline-first tools are vital. OMCA develops low-cost private transaction tools based on Bitcoin alongside resilient local financial infrastructure tailored for high-risk environments enabling users during instability periods greater security in saving & transacting.
Learning Bitcoin from the Command Line
This program equips developers with practical knowledge about how Bitcoin functions via hands-on curricula available in multiple languages. Funding allows curriculum updates aligned with recent software changes ensuring an expanding global contributor base maintains accessibility & resilience across the network.
Voices Uncensored: A Platform Supporting Azerbaijani Human Rights Defenders
Azerbaijani activists face state surveillance including frozen bank accounts & blocked donations.Voices Uncensored—a platform led by former political prisoner Elchin Mammad—leverages uncensorable bitcoin payments paired with localized training materials.HRF funding empowers defenders’ privacy, financial independence, & resilience amid repression.
Bitcoin Famba (Mozambique)
Mozambican citizens grapple with inflation,debt,and restricted economic freedoms.Bitcoin Famba promotes accessible education around bitcoin usage fostering local circular economies.HRF support enables dissidents plus ordinary people access permissionless,censorship-resistant money achieving autonomy despite political/economic challenges.
Indonesia ’ s bitcoin communities :& nbsp ;Bitcoin Indonesia& ;Bitcoin House Bali
Facing increasing surveillance,inflation,and censorship Indonesians benefit from training provided by these pioneering groups teaching how bitcoin protects income,preserves autonomy,navigates restrictive banking.HRF grants expand workshops/meetups/media outreach making bitcoin practical nationwide tool for freedom .
The Bitcoin Learning Center
Located in Chiang Mai , Thailand , this center educates students across Southeast Asia including Burma , Laos , Southern China about combating financial repression using decentralized finance . Funding boosts outreach so more people living under authoritarian rule gain access to open financial technologies .
The Advancement of Core Development
Devgitotox
Tanzanian developer Devgitotox contributes significantly towards improving wallet upgrades,node connectivity,and testing tools essential for maintaining robust secure codebase.Moreover,supporting her work encourages women participation within core development community.
Stratospher This South Asian contributor enhances node communication validation logic cryptographic components fortifying protocol resilience against surveillance/disruption.With HRF aid her efforts ensure bitcoin remains dependable tool preserving economic liberty worldwide.
Sovereign Engineeringn
nSovereign Engineering fosters long-term innovation around freedom tech integrating platforms like Nostr ecash.It supports projects such as Blossom which decentralizes data storage npub.cash offering nostr-native lightning addresses.This funding sustains ongoing breakthroughs protecting civil rights amidst oppression.
nnu004fpenSats Initiative Inc.n
nAn essential nonprofit distributing resources transparently throughout ecosystem.OpenSats strengthens operations channeling funds toward builders developing freedom tech keeping it accessible secure under tyrannical regimes.
nnLighning Network Growth
nnAfrica Free Routing Lightning Developer Bootcamp
nnAfrica sees rising interest but lacks affordable quality education.Africa Free Routing organizes bootcamps combining theory hands-on mentorship nurturing developers contributing censorship-resistant lightning applications.This grant expands bootcamp reach across Ethiopia Uganda Burkina Faso fostering continent-wide empowerment.
nnPu00726gramming Lightning
nnThis multilingual self-paced course teaches programming skills needed build upon Lightning network addressing shortages hindering growth.Support ensures scaling global community sustaining open payment infrastructure crucial for activists operating under repression.
nnThe Future Of Freedom Technologies
Zapstore
Centralized app stores controlled by dictatorships censor critical apps.Zapstore built atop Nostr protocol offers decentralized app marketplace allowing independent uploads verified directly bypassing gatekeepers.HRF support guarantees worldwide dissidents,journalists,civil society unhindered access.
Validating Lightning Signer(VLS)
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Typical lightning nodes store private keys locally risking theft.VLS separates key management validating each transaction before signing providing true self-custody even amid digital threats.Funding lowers barriers enabling safe use even where rights endangered.
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Peer-to-peer mobile app facilitating anonymous BTC trades avoiding centralized exchange surveillance.Empowered human rights advocates can acquire bitcoins privately thanks to HRFs assistance.
Dhananjay
Open source dev Dhananjay created ngx_l402 module allowing websites accept direct BTC payments circumventing traditional finance blockade.Grants accelerate embedding uncensorable payment methods into internet infrastructure preserving free web.
BTCPay Server
Under oppressive regimes conventional fundraising faces freezes/surveillance.BTCPay Server leverages permissionless BTC foundation letting NGOs/dissidents receive direct crypto donations into self-managed wallets.Renewed backing ensures crowdfunding remains resistant everywhere.
Bitika
Kenya struggles acquiring bitcoins.Bitika bridges gap enabling purchases via M-Pesa directly into lightning wallets simplifying adoption.Expanding services enhances Kenyans’ sovereignty over finances amid growing monitoring.
Threads Of Freedom Graphic Novel App
Targeted at youth especially females living under tyranny Threads Of Freedom uses culturally relevant storytelling combined with interactive learning explaining importance/functionality of BTC.Support extends reach helping vulnerable populations safeguard assets maintain independence.
This article originally appeared on “Bitcoin Magazine”, authored by Micah Zimmerman reporting on Human Rights Foundation's latest grants advancing global freedom technology initiatives during Q4 2025.