Introducing the Btrust Pull Partnership: Opening the Global Stage for Bitcoin Developers from the Global South
In the world of Bitcoin development, talent is everywhere. Yet, for many developers in the Global South, especially across Africa, reaching the highest levels of contribution isn’t just about skill or dedication—it’s about access.
Opportunities to meet global collaborators, speak at conferences, and work alongside seasoned peers are often stalled at the border. Visa challenges mean promising voices go unheard on international stages, and career-defining connections go unmade.
At Btrust, we believe these barriers should never define a developer’s trajectory. That’s why we launched the Btrust Pull Partnership, an initiative designed to bridge worlds: supporting our grantees not only with funding, but with the global exposure, mentorship, and logistical help they need to thrive.
How the Pull Partnership Came to Life
The idea took shape after our successful collaboration with Chaincode Labs last year, where our grantee, Abubakar Sadiq Ismail, worked with leading Bitcoin developers at their New York offices, gained hands-on experience, and successfully navigated the visa process.
Over the years, Btrust’s grant framework has evolved to help developers in the Global South move from promising local talent to globally recognized contributors.
Phase one of this process focused on identifying and funding developers to help them find their footing in open‑source Bitcoin projects. Phase two built on this by sharpening technical skills and leadership through targeted grants and structured mentorship. Now, phase three aims to break down geographical and logistical barriers, enabling African developers to collaborate with global teams, attend key conferences, and bring back critical knowledge to strengthen local ecosystems.
As Btrust CEO, Abubakar Nur Khalil, notes, “Bitcoin as a money provides the ability for developers to receive equal compensation for their valuable work regardless of geographical location. With Pull Partnerships, we aim to enhance this freedom by providing equal growth opportunities for developers, allowing them to thrive without being hindered by visa-related restrictions.”
The Pull Partnership is a flagship example of phase three in action. By pairing Btrust‑funded developers with partners like 2140 in Amsterdam, we not only give them access to world‑class mentorship, but also actively support visa processes, relocation logistics, and integration into global bitcoin communities. This ensures African developers can take the stage internationally while building hubs of excellence back home, inviting future talent to learn, grow, and contribute to Bitcoin’s open‑source future.
It is important to note that the term “Pull” in the partnership, akin to pull requests in open-source development, is intended to emphasize that partner organizations must agree and be willing to collaborate, as Btrust does not foist this participation on them.
Taking the Idea for a Spin
The Pull Partnership model was first piloted with 2140 in Amsterdam earlier this year, building on lessons from our previous collaboration with Chaincode Labs in New York. While Chaincode proved the concept, the 2140 pilot became the blueprint for a structured, formal program backed by clear metrics, milestones, and defined responsibilities.
In this partnership, following the agreement of the partner organization, Btrust places its grantees directly into the partner organization’s professional environment, ensuring they receive meaningful mentorship, access to global networks, and opportunities to contribute to key open‑source Bitcoin projects.
Btrust provides support to cover salaries, employer taxes, and relocation logistics, and helps the visa applications process from official documentation to regular communication to ensure alignment with the goals of the Btrust Open‑Source Cohort (BOSC).
Meanwhile, 2140 employs and hosts the developers in their Amsterdam office, offering technical guidance, career development support, and access to important Bitcoin industry events. Progress is jointly tracked through regular reporting and agreed upon evaluation points, ensuring the placement delivers tangible impact, both for the developers and for the wider Bitcoin ecosystem.
Mutual Benefits
For Btrust, the Pull Partnership removes structural barriers that have long kept African developers from gaining the international exposure needed to thrive. It also ensures those developers bring back skills, networks, and perspectives that strengthen local communities.
For the partner organization, it means working alongside highly skilled and motivated contributors who bring fresh perspectives and enrich projects, while building meaningful ties to a growing developer community in the Global South.
Looking Ahead
The Pull Partnership is just the beginning. One that fits squarely into Btrust’s long‑term vision to establish strong bases in African and Global South cities, where developers from all over the world can come, learn, and grow. In the future, this exchange will be two‑way: collaborations will happen not only abroad, but equally on African—and similar—soil.
“We hope to make Pull Partnerships more than just a Btrust thing, by standardizing it for other Bitcoin grant organizations to get involved." Abubakar Nur Khalil, Btrust CEO added.
With more partnerships planned in the coming years, we view the Pull Partnership as a vital step toward making Bitcoin development truly global, without limits.
