Bitcoin Development Fund
Human Rights FoundationBitcoinAlways open
HRF grants in bitcoin for privacy, security and education work that makes Bitcoin more useful to people living under authoritarian regimes.
Time left to apply
Anytime
Rolling: reviewed as applications arrive
Apply to Bitcoin Development Fund
Applications go through forms.monday.com. Expect a decision in about 5 weeks.
Grant stats
- Grant size
- Undisclosed
- Largest grant
- Not published
- Paid in
- BTC
- Payout
- One payment
- Funding model
- Rolling
- Apply any time. Reviewed as applications arrive.
- Typical decision
- 5 weeks
- From submission to an answer
- Round budget
- Q3 2026 round: 500M+ sats to 16 projects
- Ecosystem
- Bitcoin
Checked Oct 1 against 7 sources. Confirm amounts and dates on hrf.org before you apply.
About Bitcoin Development Fund
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.
Funded before
- Libbitcoinkernel
- WalletScrutiny
- 0xchat
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
Tick what applies to you. Saved on this device only.
How applying works
- 1
Submit the form
Send a brief project description through HRF's online application form at any time of year.
- 2
Mission review
HRF's team checks how well the project fits the fund's goals and HRF's mission.
- 3
Hear back
Expect more information within 4 to 6 weeks of applying.
- 4
Quarterly announcement
Selected grantees are announced at the end of each quarter, and HRF supports them for the length of the project.
Similar programs
More in InfrastructureFAQ
- When does Bitcoin Development Fund close?
- Bitcoin Development Fund has no deadline. Applications are reviewed as they arrive, so you can apply whenever your proposal is ready.
- How much can I get?
- The program doesn't publish a range; amounts are set per proposal.
- How long until I hear back?
- About 5 weeks from submission to a decision, going by the program's own process or past rounds.
- Where do I apply?
- On the official site, forms.monday.com. web3grant links there directly and never takes applications itself.
Sources
Checked on Oct 1 against these pages. Programs change often, so confirm the details on hrf.org before you apply.
- hrf.org/program/financial-freedom/bitcoin-development-fund
- hrf.org/program/financial-freedom/bitcoin-development-fund/grantees
- hrf.org/latest-category/bitcoin-development-fund
- hrf.org/latest/hrf-grants-500m-satoshis-to-16-freedom-tech-projects-worldwide
- hrf.org/latest/hrfs-bitcoin-development-fund-announces-support-for-26-projects-worldwide
- hrf.org/latest/hrfs-bitcoin-development-fund-supports-20-projects-worldwide
- forms.monday.com/forms/57019f8829449d9e729d9e3545a237ea