Btrust, the non-profit organization dedicated to decentralizing Bitcoin open-source development, has announced the appointment of a new Board of Directors, marking the completion of a landmark governance transition and the launch of the organization’s next strategic chapter.
Following a global, open call and a rigorous, multi-stage selection process, Janet Maingi, Bruno Garcia, and Laurence Aderemi have assumed full governance responsibilities, the organization told Bitcoin Magazine.
The selection was guided by Btrust’s Genesis Principles, which prioritize transparency, fairness, and mission alignment — values that have anchored the organization since its founding.
The transition fulfills the original mandate set in 2021, when Btrust was established with a 500 BTC endowment from Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and rapper Jay-Z — a donation valued at approximately $24.5 million at the time of announcement. The gift was intended to fund Bitcoin development across Africa and India, with Dorsey and Jay-Z deliberately stepping back from governance to allow an independent board full decision-making authority.
The inaugural board — composed of Obi Nwosu, Ojoma Ochai, Carla Kirk-Cohen, and Abubakar Nur Khalil — was tasked with building the organization’s operational and financial foundation before enabling a structured handover to a successor board.
Btrust’s long-term mission of bitcoin development
Over a multi-week transition period that concluded April 30, 2026, the incoming and outgoing boards collaborated closely to ensure continuity across governance, financial oversight, and operations. The handover included budget reviews, documentation consolidation, and the initiation of an independent audit designed to reinforce accountability.
“Today marks an important milestone for Btrust,” said CEO Abubakar Nur Khalil, who was formally named to the top executive role in late 2025 after serving in an interim capacity. “We are confident the new board will strengthen our impact and safeguard our long-term mission.”
The new board brings deep and complementary expertise spanning Bitcoin infrastructure, energy systems, and open-source software development. Their appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the organization, which has steadily expanded its footprint across the Global South.
In 2023, Btrust acquired Qala, a Bitcoin and Lightning Network developer training firm, rebranding it as the Btrust Builders Programme to accelerate the pipeline of open-source contributors from Africa. More recently, Btrust has signaled expansion into Latin America as part of its broader global strategy.
With the governance transition now complete, Btrust moves forward with renewed institutional clarity. The organization’s core mission — ensuring the Bitcoin ecosystem remains open, inclusive, and resilient by diversifying who builds it — remains unchanged. The new board is expected to guide grantmaking strategy, strengthen oversight of the Builders Programme, and deepen Btrust’s presence in underrepresented developer communities worldwide.
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