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Btrust is changing hands. The nonprofit organization dedicated to open-source Bitcoin development has just appointed three new board members — Janet Maingi, Bruno Garcia, and Laurence Aderemi — following an open global call and a multi-step selection process. This marks the end of a governance transition that has been ongoing since the organization’s inception.
The context: In 2021, Jack Dorsey and Jay-Z donated 500 BTC to launch Btrust, with a clear goal from the start. To fund Bitcoin development in Africa and India. And importantly, to step back from governance once the organization was up and running. The inaugural board — Obi Nwosu, Ojoma Ochai, Carla Kirk-Cohen, and Abubakar Nur Khalil — was tasked with building the operational and financial foundation, then passing the baton. Mission accomplished.
A Transition That Took Time, But Was Done Properly
The transition period officially ended on April 30, 2026. During this phase, the two boards — the old and the new — worked together. Budget reviews, document consolidation, and the launch of an independent audit. Btrust says it wants to strengthen accountability. No details on who is conducting this audit or its exact timeline.
The three new board members bring, according to Btrust, expertise in Bitcoin infrastructure, energy systems, and open-source software development. Complementary, not redundant. This is likely intentional — the inaugural board had profiles more oriented towards operations and community, while the new one seems more technical.
Not now, but soon: the new board is tasked with guiding grant strategy, overseeing the Builders Program, and expanding Btrust’s presence in underrepresented developer communities. A vast program.
Qala Becomes Builders, and It’s Central
In 2023, Btrust acquired Qala — a company training Bitcoin and Lightning Network developers — and rebranded it as the Btrust Builders Program. The idea: to accelerate open-source contributions from Africa. Train local developers, integrate them into the Bitcoin ecosystem, reduce dependency on contributors concentrated in a few wealthy countries.
It’s probably the most tangible asset Btrust has today. A training program in operation, trained developers, a recognized brand on the African continent. The new board inherits this.
And the ambition doesn’t stop there. Btrust also wants to expand into Latin America. The source doesn’t specify when or how, but the intention is there. Like, the broader Global South — not just sub-Saharan Africa or India.
What’s interesting in all this is the logic behind it. Bitcoin is often criticized for its very homogeneous contributor base — geographically, culturally. Btrust assumes this weakens the protocol in the long term. Diversifying developers means diversifying perspectives, use cases, development priorities. Not just a matter of equity. A matter of resilience.
The Genesis Principles as a Compass
The appointments followed what Btrust calls its Genesis Principles — a framework emphasizing transparency, fairness, and alignment with the mission. It’s vague as a formulation, but it says something about the organization’s culture: it wants its own internal processes to resemble what it promotes in Bitcoin. Open, verifiable, without favoritism.
The independent audit launched during the transition goes in the same direction. Verify that financial and operational practices meet the announced standards. Again, no details on who is auditing and according to what criteria. But the gesture counts.
Btrust manages significant funds — 500 BTC initially, which represents a considerable sum depending on the rates. The organization does not publish recent figures on its reserves or expenses, at least not in this announcement. Grants awarded to individual developers remain the main visible expense line.
The new board takes the reins at a time when the open-source Bitcoin ecosystem is still seeking to expand geographically. Btrust is one of the few institutional structures explicitly dedicated to this — with funds, an operational training program, and now governance fully independent of its original founders.
500 BTC donated in 2021 by two American celebrities. An African and international board that leads today. The audit underway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the new members of Btrust’s board?
The three new board members are Janet Maingi, Bruno Garcia, and Laurence Aderemi, appointed after an open global call and a multi-step selection process guided by Btrust’s Genesis Principles.
What is the Btrust Builders Program?
It’s the former Qala program, acquired by Btrust in 2023 and rebranded, which trains developers specializing in Bitcoin and the Lightning Network mainly in Africa to accelerate open-source contribution.
What was the initial donation that started Btrust?
Jack Dorsey and Jay-Z donated 500 BTC in 2021 to create Btrust, with the aim of funding Bitcoin development in Africa and India while stepping back from governance themselves.
