Bitcoin Development Fund

HRF grants in bitcoin for privacy, security and education work that makes Bitcoin more useful to people living under authoritarian regimes.

Apply on official site

Time left to apply

UTC

ANY

RollingNo deadline

Applications are reviewed as they arrive. There is no deadline to plan around.

Grant size: Size not published; No published ceiling
Paid in: BTC; Paid in one go
Funding model: Rolling; Apply any time. Reviewed as applications arrive.
Typical decision: 5 weeks; From submission to an answer

Checked Oct 1 against 7 sources. Confirm amounts and dates on hrf.org before you apply.

About the program

The Human Rights Foundation's Bitcoin Development Fund (BDF) supports people and projects that make Bitcoin a better tool for human rights defenders and for people living under authoritarian regimes. It funds work on Bitcoin's privacy, security and decentralization, plus education, community building, translation and design.

On the software side, HRF says it is most interested in Bitcoin Core, Nostr, ecash, Bitcoin utility apps and other freedom tech. It does not fund projects built on other cryptocurrencies, or projects that don't fit HRF's mission of supporting activists and individuals in repressive societies.

You can apply at any time through a short online form. HRF says to expect more information within 4 to 6 weeks, and it announces grantees at the end of each quarter. Grant sizes are decided case by case and are not published per project; recent rounds have given 500 million to 1.5 billion sats split across 16 to 26 projects.

What they fund

Privacy, security and decentralization of Bitcoin, including Bitcoin Core
Nostr, ecash and other freedom tech that complements Bitcoin
Bitcoin education and translation for people in repressive countries
Local and global Bitcoin communities and activist use of Bitcoin
Design and UX work that makes Bitcoin easier for newcomers

Who can apply

Check yourself0 of 4

Software developers, activists, educators, community builders, translators and UX designers
Projects must be Bitcoin-focused; work based on other cryptocurrencies is not funded
Work should serve HRF's mission of helping activists and individuals in repressive societies
Applicants who were turned down before may apply again

Tick what applies to you. Saved on this device only.

How applying works

Submit the form
Send a brief project description through HRF's online application form at any time of year.
Mission review
HRF's team checks how well the project fits the fund's goals and HRF's mission.
Hear back
Expect more information within 4 to 6 weeks of applying.
Quarterly announcement
Selected grantees are announced at the end of each quarter, and HRF supports them for the length of the project.

Sources

Checked on Oct 1 against these pages. Programs change often, so confirm the details on hrf.org before you apply.

About the program

What they fund

Who can apply

How applying works

Submit the form

Mission review

Hear back

Quarterly announcement

Sources

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