Btrust Announces Abubakar Nur Khalil as New CEO
Leadership transitions mark important moments in any organization’s journey, and today, we’re excited to share one of our own.
In July, we put out a call for a Chief Executive Officer. After receiving multiple strong applications and going through a long, thoughtful, and rigorous selection process, we’re happy to announce that Abubakar Nur Khalil 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 a meaningful next chapter for Btrust as we continue our mission to strengthen and support open-source development across Africa and beyond.
About Abubakar Nur Khalil
Abubakar Nur Khalil is a Nigerian Bitcoin Core contributor and a leading voice in advancing open-source Bitcoin development across the Global South.
He served as Interim CEO of Btrust for over a year, beginning in August 2024, while continuing to contribute as a non-voting board member.
Abubakar brings a wealth of experience through his work co-founding Btrust Builders, alongside his many contributions across the African and global Bitcoin ecosystems.
As a respected Bitcoin Core contributor, he embodies the technical excellence, community leadership, and commitment to decentralization that define Btrust.
His background adds credibility and sharp focus to our work, helping us stay true to Bitcoin’s core values and our mission of inclusion and open-source growth.
A Transformative Year of Growth
From August 2024, Btrust underwent one of its most transformative periods yet; a year defined by clarity, structure, and principled execution.
During this time, Abubakar led Btrust through a period of deep growth and change, grounded in a strong commitment to our mission.
Under his leadership, Btrust transitioned from early groundwork into executing at scale, expanding programs across Africa, Latin America, and India; launching new partnerships; significantly growing developer reach; improving how we review and deliver grants; and refining our internal systems and team structure.
We expanded flagship programs, redesigned learning pathways, graduated and onboarded hundreds of developers, and grew our reach to over 3,400 contributors across Africa, Latin America, and India.
Through partnerships with organizations such as Bitshala, Librería de Satoshi, Vinteum and 2140, Btrust extended its collaboration across multiple continents and strengthened the global Bitcoin development ecosystem.
Our grant programs also saw record-breaking growth, surpassing $1.7 million in funding since mid‑2024 to date, with more than half of all support going directly to developers, while our educational and community initiatives expanded into new regions and technologies.
This past year has shown what’s possible with steady, principled leadership. Btrust is stronger, more focused, and better positioned to deliver on its mission.
Above all, Abubakar leads with intention and respect. He is thoughtful in his decisions, transparent in his approach, and empowering in how he works with the team. He invites ownership, values collaboration, and creates space for each person to contribute meaningfully to high-impact work.
“I’m honored to have led Btrust as interim CEO over the past year, building a great team and creating standardized structures for our operations, grants, and collaborations. I look forward to even greater impact in 2026 and beyond, establishing Btrust as the leading Bitcoin grant organization empowering open-source Bitcoin developers from the Global Majority and ensuring that Bitcoin continues to be a money that works for everyone worldwide,“ said Abubakar Nur Khalil.
A New Chapter for Btrust
Abubakar’s transition from interim to full-time CEO signals continuity, and evolution. His leadership and technical vision will guide Btrust into its next phase: scaling our operations sustainably while deepening global partnerships and continuing to empower developers across the Global South.
Over his three-year term, renewable once by a subsequent board, Abubakar will steer Btrust toward building sustainable systems that empower communities and developers everywhere.
“It was through my role on the Btrust board that I first had the opportunity to meet and work with Abubakar, and in that time I’ve come to know him as a smart, articulate, structured leader who is consistently calm under pressure. This is a uniquely challenging role with much to learn, but I believe Abubakar — supported by strong mentors, the board, and an exceptional team — has the capability to continue developing, learning, and advancing Btrust’s mission in the years ahead. I wish him the best of luck in his stewardship of Btrust’s vision and values.” added Obi Nwosu.
We’re confident that under his leadership, Btrust will continue to grow, forge stronger partnerships, and strengthen the decentralized foundations that define our work.
Looking Ahead
We’re grateful to everyone who applied, participated, and supported this process. Each application reflected the collective drive to ensure Bitcoin’s future remains open, inclusive, and community-led.
Join us in congratulating Abubakar Nur Khalil on his new role, and stay tuned as we begin this exciting next phase together.
