2025 was a defining year for Btrust as we focused on strengthening the foundations needed to decentralize Bitcoin development across the Global Majority.
We focused on scaling what works, building stronger pathways for developers to discover Bitcoin, contribute to open‑source infrastructure, and grow sustainable careers.
Here’s a snapshot of what that looked like in 2025:
• 3,800+ developers engaged globally across Africa, Latin America, India, and beyond
• 1,800+ applications to the Btrust Builders program
• $2M+ in grants awarded, with 39.7% going directly to developers
• 18 developer grantees contributing to 15 open‑source Bitcoin projects
• 13 BitDevs communities supported across 9 African countries, hosting 70+ meetups attracting ~1,900 developers
• 16 global conferences attended, with developer grantees speaking at 9
• ~265 attendees at the second edition of the Btrust Developer Day in Mauritius 🇲🇺
A more geographically distributed Bitcoin developer ecosystem is already beginning to emerge, and the Global Majority is increasingly part of shaping it.
Read the full Btrust 2025 Year in Review to see everything we built and learned throughout the year: https://blog.btrust.tech/btrust-2025-year-in-review/
From Kaduna to Bitcoin Core……
For Abubakar Nur Khalil @its__ank__ , it started with a random YouTube video in 2013 from his older brother @khalilnk92 , one that most people would’ve skipped. But that single link became the drive that turned a self taught coder from Northern Nigeria into one of Bitcoin’s most important voices in the world.
By 20, he was contributing to @bitcoin_core . By 22, he joined Jack Dorsey and Jay-Z’s @btrust.tech founding board—making him one of the youngest and most influential figures in global Bitcoin development.
Now today: at just 26, Abubakar is the CEO of Btrust after being the interim CEO from August 2024, leading efforts to fund and train open source developers across Africa, India, and Latin America.
He has a mission which is to tomake sure the future of Bitcoin progress isn’t built in Silicon Valley but in Notthern Nigeria, Lagos, Nairobi, and across the Global South.
Read the amazing story on his growth in the link in our bio…
#cryptocommunity #bıtcoin #cryptocurrency #bitcoinbuilder
@its__ank__ , Btrust CEO and Bitcoin Core contributor, joins the #BtrustDeveloperDay lineup to share insights on the future of Bitcoin development across Africa. 🎉
Abubakar is one of the leading voices shaping the continent’s Bitcoin ecosystem, and also serves as CEO of Recursive Capital, a Bitcoin-focused venture fund fueling innovative projects across the global Bitcoin landscape.
Through his leadership at Btrust, he drives initiatives that empower developers in the Global South with training and mentorship, helping cultivate the next generation of Bitcoin builders.
Beyond his technical and community-building work, Abubakar contributes to Forbes Digital Assets, where he shares thoughtful analysis on Bitcoin’s evolution and highlights key developments within Africa’s growing Bitcoin space.
Join Developer Day to hear Abubakar’s vision for a decentralized, sustainable Bitcoin ecosystem and the work being done to unlock Africa’s potential in global Bitcoin development.
👉 Learn more and secure your spot using the link on our bio.
In July, we put out a call for a Chief Executive Officer, and after a long, thoughtful, and rigorous selection process, we’re excited to share that @its_ank_ has been appointed as the new CEO of Btrust.
Abubakar will be stepping down from his position on the Board to take on this full-time role, where he will report directly to the Btrust Board.
His appointment marks an important new chapter for Btrust as we continue our mission to strengthen and support open-source development across Africa and beyond.
This is a three-year term, with the possibility of renewal by a subsequent board for one additional three-year period.
Read more about the appointment, as featured on Bitcoin Magazine: /builders/btrust-names-abubakar-nur-khalil-ceo
Join us in congratulating Abubakar on this new role and in looking forward to what’s ahead for us.
🎙The Future of Africa’s CBDC & Bitcoin
My guest today is Abubakar Nur Khalil, a Nigerian Bitcoin Core contributor, CEO of the Bitcoin venture fund Recursive Capital, and one of only four board members of Btrust—a nonprofit supporting Bitcoin development in Africa. At just 25 years old, Abubakar is transforming the African Bitcoin ecosystem by training developers, advancing Bitcoin adoption, and supporting decentralized financial solutions.
Topics:
Nigeria’s #CBDC rollout of the #eNaira, why it failed, and accompanying cash shortages, as well as the growing Bitcoin adoption.
Scaling #Bitcoin adoption in Africa, the revolutionary role of Bitcoin mining in electrifying rural communities, and the untapped potential of Bitcoin in empowering Africa’s youth & businesses.
@its__ank__@recursivecapital@btrustteam #africa #nigeria #bitcoinafrica
