femilonge
Femi Longe

Some of my friends, very brave human rights activists from across East Africa, just joined Nostr.
I'm sharing their npubs below. Please show them some love with your follows and zaps
@npub1xj9…g8ek, @npub1t0l…0fv2, @npub1yl2…auhq, @npub1q65…70vv, @npub14dx…r323, @npub1gy3…clzn, @npub1kk2…rq3x, @npub18am…he7e, @npub1v0y…qfuk, @npub1wgq…dzet, @npub12c9…q3hc, @npub1c24…v3m8, @npub1gpu…0nwu, @npub1txe…a68n, @npub1yn2…9k5d, @npub1mk4…385m, @npub1djk…9fhz, @npub1hn2…zppr, @npub1743…t4ac,

2026-06-21 09:47:41 GMT

The client is not the protocol...

2026-06-21 09:46:23 GMT

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Happening shortly in Nairobi.
Memorial service for slain protesters

2026-06-21 06:47:42 GMT

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Absolutely agree

2026-06-19 08:03:43 GMT

Hello East Africa

2026-01-14 16:55:47 GMT

HRF’s Bitcoin Development Fund Announces 1.3 Billion Satoshis (13 BTC) Support for 22 Freedom Tech Projects Worldwide
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/human-rights-foundation-1-3b-satoshis
The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is pleased to announce 1.3 billion satoshis in grants from its Bitcoin Development Fund (BDF). This round of grants supports projects advancing open-source software development, censorship-resistant communications, mining decentralization, and financial privacy for the more than 5.9 billion people living under authoritarian regimes. Grantee projects will improve the underlying Bitcoin protocol, pilot Bitcoin-based payments for dissident support, and provide grassroots Bitcoin education across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. These efforts strengthen the global freedom technology ecosystem, helping human rights defenders, journalists, nonprofits, and everyday citizens connect, organize, and achieve financial freedom in the face of repression.
@npub17xv…c9as’s grantees for the fourth quarter of 2025 include:
Stratum V2 (Stratum Reference Implementation)
Much of Bitcoin mining still relies on outdated communications protocols that prevent individual miners from choosing the transactions they mine. This leaves block construction in the hands of mining pools, exposing the network to censorship risks. Stratum V2 solves this fault by enabling home miners to build their own block templates. HRF funding will support software developer @npub1vy8…d324's full-time work improving Stratum V2 through performance testing, integration work, and code maintenance, helping individuals regain autonomy within existing pool structures.
Braidpool
Traditional Bitcoin mining pools rely on a centralized structure where the operator controls reward payouts and transaction selection, creating censorship risks. Braidpool addresses this structural centralization by introducing a peer-to-peer, open-source mining pool design where participants collaboratively construct blocks and coordinate rewards without relying on a central operator. With HRF support, software developer @npub1fdj…39e6 will contribute to advancing a new, more democratic mining model that strengthens decentralization and transparency.
Open Money, Closed Access: Building Financial Freedom (OMCA)
In conflict-affected and connectivity-constrained environments, communities are often cut off from formal banking services and safe ways to store or transfer value. OMCA addresses these challenges through Bitcoin-based tools designed for low-cost, private transactions and offline-first use. The program supports the development of local financial infrastructure and resilient communications technologies suited to high-risk contexts. HRF’s support enables individuals to save and transact more securely and discreetly during periods of instability.
Learning Bitcoin from the Command Line
As Bitcoin evolves, open-source developers need up-to-date resources that teach them how the system actually works. Learning Bitcoin from the Command Line by BlockchainCommons teaches prospective developers how Bitcoin works through a hands-on curriculum and across multiple languages. HRF’s funding will allow the project to update its curriculum to match the latest changes to Bitcoin’s software, helping grow the global pool of contributors who keep Bitcoin accessible and resilient.
Voices Uncensored: A Bitcoin-Based Platform for Human Rights Defenders in Azerbaijan
In Azerbaijan, the state routinely targets activists and journalists with surveillance, bank freezes, and blocked donations. Voices Uncensored is a Bitcoin-based platform for human rights defenders led by former political prisoner Elchin Mammad. It pairs uncensorable donations and payments with Azerbaijani-language training and educational resources. HRF’s support will equip Azerbaijan’s human rights defenders with the financial independence, privacy, and resilience needed to continue their work under a repressive regime.
Bitcoin Famba
In Mozambique, citizens face chronic inflation, growing debt, and heavy restrictions on their financial autonomy. @npub1rm5…68pk, based in Maputo-Matola, provides accessible Bitcoin education and fosters local circular economies. HRF funding will help dissidents and everyday people access permissionless and censorship-resistant money to achieve financial independence in a repressive political and economic environment.
Bitcoin Indonesia & Bitcoin House Bali
Indonesians face growing financial surveillance, inflation, and censorship. @npub1y4q…hcr3, Indonesia’s pioneering Bitcoin gathering, along with its Bitcoin education center, Bitcoin House Bali, offers training on using Bitcoin to protect incomes, preserve financial autonomy, and navigate restrictive banking systems. HRF’s funding will expand its workshops, meetups, and media outreach to make Bitcoin a practical tool for financial freedom across the country.
The Bitcoin Learning Center
Across Southeast Asia, millions of people face financial surveillance, exclusion from traditional banking systems, and currency instability. The Bitcoin Learning Center, a physical Bitcoin education hub in Chiang Mai, Thailand, brings students from Thailand, Burma, Laos, and Southern China to learn how to counter this financial repression through Bitcoin. HRF support will expand the center’s educational outreach to ensure more people living under authoritarian regimes gain access to open and decentralized financial tools.
Devgitotox
Bitcoin’s reliability and security depend on a robust codebase. @npub1tum…uma8 is a Tanzanian Bitcoin Core developer contributing to Bitcoin’s primary software implementation. Her work focuses on improving wallet upgrades, fixing issues with how transactions are created and shared, ensuring nodes connect reliably to the network, and building software testing tools. HRF’s support of Devgitotox helps strengthen the Bitcoin codebase while empowering more women to contribute to Bitcoin Core.
Stratospher
Bitcoin’s peer-to-peer network can be vulnerable to surveillance and disruption if weaknesses in transaction relay, validation logic, or cryptographic components are not addressed. @npub1c5d…0pn2,
a Bitcoin Core developer from South Asia, strengthens the protocol by improving how nodes (computers running the Bitcoin software) share and spread information, improving validation and cryptographic systems, and enhancing code quality through reviews and testing. With HRF funding, her contributions will help ensure that Bitcoin remains a robust tool for financial freedom.
Sovereign Engineering
Authoritarian regimes actively suppress financial freedom, leaving human rights defenders in need of open and censorship-resistant financial technologies. @npub1s0v…rmq5 is a long-term development program that supports freedom technologists building on Bitcoin, Nostr, and ecash. Already, the program has catalyzed projects like Blossom, which stores data on public servers in a decentralized manner, and npub.cash, a Nostr-native Lightning address for anyone. With this funding, the program will continue to innovate on freedom technologies that protect civil liberties under repression.
OpenSats Initiative, Inc.
Open and transparent funding is key to sustaining many of the freedom technologies human rights defenders rely on today. @npub10pe…n34f is a public nonprofit organization that supports the projects and the individuals building freedom tech by distributing financial support across the ecosystem. With this grant, OpenSats can fortify its operations and continue channeling resources to the builders who keep freedom tech open, secure, and accessible for people living under tyranny.
Africa Free Routing Lightning Developer Bootcamp
Bitcoin adoption is rising across Africa, but access to quality education and development training is often limited or unaffordable. @npub1j8w…8nud’s Lightning Developer Bootcamps address these mismatches by providing structured programs that combine theory, hands-on workshops, and mentorship to software developers. These same developers can then contribute to the Lightning Network and build censorship-resistant financial tools. With HRF funding, the program will expand to ten bootcamps across Ethiopia, Uganda, Burkina Faso, and beyond to foster a continent-wide network of freedom tech contributors.
Programming Lightning
In many repressive environments, the Lightning Network ecosystem suffers from a shortage of skilled developers, leaving censorship-resistant payment tools underbuilt and unevenly maintained where they are needed most. Programming Lightning is an open-source course that will offer self-paced, multi-language learning with hands-on programming exercises. The curriculum will teach anyone to build on Lightning. This grant will help scale a global community of builders to sustain an open payment infrastructure that activists can use to sustain their work under repression.
Zapstore
Authoritarian regimes can censor freedom-tech apps on centralized app stores to control information and limit tools for communication and organizing. @npub10r8…t2p8 is an app store built on Nostr, a protocol for decentralized communication. On Zapstore, apps can be independently uploaded and verified by users, without being blocked or removed by dictators. HRF’s support will ensure that dissidents, journalists, and civil society around the world have access to freedom tech without gatekeepers.
Validating Lightning Signer
Most computers running the Lightning Network software today store private keys on the node itself. This creates an online setup where a breach can allow attackers to drain a user’s bitcoin. Validating Lightning Signer (VLS) solves this by separating key management from the node and validating every transaction before signing, enabling true self-custody and resistance to breaches. With HRF support, VLS will lower the barrier for people to safely control and use their own money on the Lightning Network, even in places where financial and digital rights are under threat.
Vexl
Dissidents acquiring bitcoin often need to do so privately to protect their identity, donor networks, and personal safety. Yet centralized exchanges often collect vast troves of personal information and monitor user activity. To address this, @npub1mft…rkl3, an open-source mobile app, allows peer-to-peer bitcoin trading without collecting personal data. With HRF’s support, Vexl can provide human rights defenders and civil society in authoritarian contexts a means to acquire Bitcoin without surveillance and absent gatekeepers.
Dhananjay Purohit
Dictators frequently restrict the finances of online platforms and independent media to silence dissent. To overcome this, open source developer @npub1qnw…9r6h built ngx_l402, a web server module that enables websites and applications to accept bitcoin payments directly for web or API access. With HRF’s grant, Purohit’s work can help embed bitcoin payments into the internet infrastructure layer, keeping the web open, uncensorable, and resistant to centralized financial control.
BTCPay Server
Under dictatorships, traditional nonprofit fundraising channels can be censored, surveilled, frozen, or cut off without warning. @npub155m…dcvg uses the permissionless foundations of Bitcoin to work around this. Using this open-source and self-hosted software, NGOs and dissidents can freely accept Bitcoin and Lightning payments directly into their self-custodial wallets. HRF’s renewed support will ensure censorship-resistant crowdfunding in even the most repressive environments.
Bitika
In Kenya, obtaining bitcoin can be challenging. @npub1pcw…eat5 addresses this by allowing users to buy bitcoin directly into their Lightning wallets through M-Pesa (the country’s most widely used financial infrastructure). This makes self-custodial Bitcoin use simple and accessible. This grant will help Bitika improve Kenyans' financial independence by expanding access to censorship-resistant money in an increasingly surveilled payments landscape.
Threads of Freedom: A Bitcoin Graphic Novel and Learning App
Young people, especially women and girls, who live under repressive regimes often lack access to financial education. Threads of Freedom, created by Afghan tech pioneer and founder of the Digital Citizen Fund, Roya Mahboob, provides a culturally-rooted graphic novel and learning app that explains how Bitcoin works and why it matters under tyranny. With HRF support, Threads of Freedom will expand access to education that helps people protect themselves and remain financially autonomous under repression.
About BDF
BDF supports individuals and projects that make Bitcoin and related freedom technologies more powerful tools for human rights defenders operating in challenging political and financial environments. Since launching in 2020, BDF has granted $10.8 million in BTC to 341 projects across 65 countries worldwide.
Learn more about BDF on our website.
HRF is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. Gifts can be made at HRF.org/DevFund, and proposals for support can be submitted to https://hrf.org/bdfapply.
Follow @npub17xv…c9as on Nostr for more updates on this project and all of our other programs designed to promote freedom and human rights around the world.
https://image.nostr.build/5788308b17c148c512314f3da4c2887892263b11d3ce28818f26e404f4c742d8.jpg

2025-10-28 18:08:43 GMT

HRF’s Bitcoin Development Fund Supports 20 Projects Worldwide
The Human Rights Foundation (@npub17xv…c9as) is pleased to announce 1 billion satoshis in grants from its Bitcoin Development Fund (BDF) (https://hrf.org/devfund). This round of grants supports projects advancing open-source development, censorship-resistant communications, mining decentralization, and financial privacy for the more than 5.9 billion people living under authoritarian regimes. Other grantee projects will improve the core protocol, pilot Bitcoin for dissident support, and provide community education programs across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. These efforts strengthen the global freedom technology ecosystem, helping dissidents, journalists, nonprofits, and everyday citizens to connect, organize, and achieve financial sovereignty in the face of repression.
HRF’s grantees for the third quarter of 2025 include:
Nymius
Bitcoin’s transparent ledger is essential to its design, but it also exposes dissidents to surveillance from authoritarian states seeking to monitor transactions and networks. Silent Payments enables individuals to receive Bitcoin through unique, one-time addresses derived from a static public key, but its effectiveness depends on wallet adoption. Nymius, a @npub13dk…gnvc contributor, will integrate Silent Payments into the BDK. With this grant, dozens of wallets and applications built with the BDK will be able to offer users greater financial privacy.
Daniela Brozzoni
Bitcoin nodes (computers running the Bitcoin software) reveal user metadata when connecting with one another. This opens the door for regimes or hackers to track or isolate activists and dissidents running Bitcoin nodes. Nostr:npub1yrvghtsv8rnyquneu65rx59fx8n3fuqntcqnaf9pk98ex6mlat2sjk8nmj is a Bitcoin Core developer who has been researching this vulnerability and publishing mitigation proposals to counter the tactics. With this grant, she will gather community feedback and implement fixes to make the network safer.
Build on Bitcoin (BOB) Buidlers Residency
Every day, users often find freedom technologies difficult to use, which limits their accessibility and impact. @npub1vlk…s68j in Bangkok has supported three cohorts of free and open-source developers to advance Bitcoin’s privacy, decentralization, and mining. With HRF’s funding, a fourth cohort of four developers will improve usability across Bitcoin, Lightning, nostr, and ecash, making freedom tech more accessible to those who need it most.
2140 Foundation
Bitcoin developers, especially those in autocratic countries, often struggle with burnout, isolation, and a lack of incentives to complete long-term projects. The 2140 Foundation (https://2140.dev/), founded by open-source developers Josie Baker and Ruben Somsen, is a co-working space in Amsterdam that provides mentorship, collaboration, and employment to global contributors advancing Bitcoin’s long-term security, resilience, and scalability. With HRF funding, the foundation will support the work of developers from authoritarian states to strengthen Bitcoin as a human rights tool.
Cashu for Community Sovereignty
In many parts of Latin America, governments restrict financial flows by blocking payments, freezing accounts, and, at times, disrupting internet access. Cashu for Community Sovereignty, founded by @npub1f0r…0snx, addresses this with ecash, which enables quick and private payments that even work offline. The initiative will train 10 communities in authoritarian environments to deploy Cashu mints and Lightning Network nodes. With this funding, communities facing repression will develop a stronger infrastructure for financial freedom.
Bhartiya Bitcoin
As India advances a central bank digital currency (CBDC) and financially represses political opposition, Bitcoin offers a path to financial freedom. However, education is often inaccessible to non-English speakers. Bhartiya Bitcoin produces free, culturally relevant Bitcoin content in Hindi, Marwari, Sindhi, and Assamese. With HRF support, Bhartiya Bitcoin will expand into Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, and Malayalam to make Bitcoin more accessible to the more than 1.4 billion people living under increasingly autocratic rule in India.
Bitcoin Education for Lebanon’s Liberty & Empowerment (BELLE)
In Lebanon, a collapsing currency, banking restrictions, and asset confiscations have stripped people of financial stability. The Lebanese Institute for Market Studies (https://limslb.com/?lang=en) is launching BELLE, a project to teach political activists and youth to use Bitcoin to preserve their purchasing power. With HRF support, BELLE will provide Arabic-language workshops, educational videos, and media outreach to strengthen individuals' ability to resist financial repression and secure their financial futures.
Bitcoin Arusha
Tanzania’s government restricts the use of foreign currency and limits dissidents’ banking access, while the local currency depreciates, leaving many citizens trapped in a cycle of poverty. To alleviate this, @npub1uhp…srlr provides culturally rooted, Swahili-language Bitcoin education in northern Tanzania through music, dance, and events. HRF support will strengthen Bitcoin Arusha’s resilience and empower communities through economic opportunities.
Bitcoin for Fairness
Human rights defenders and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) often lack the knowledge to use Bitcoin to bypass repressive financial restrictions. @npub1fqq…qzch is an educational initiative that disseminates Bitcoin knowledge to the global majority. In 2026, BFF will focus its initiatives in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Zambia – countries scarred by currency crises and periods of one-party rule – and deliver workshops, micro-seed funding, mentorship, and educator training. With HRF funding, BFF will empower activists and civic organizations in Southern Africa with censorship-resistant, permissionless financial tools.
Exile Hub
Burma’s military junta uses financial repression, exile, and imprisonment to crush peaceful resistance. Exile Hub’s Bitcoin for Exiles (https://www.exilehub.org/) initiative will pilot a Bitcoin-based financial autonomy program designed to meet the needs of Burma’s democratic movement. With HRF support, the program will offer training, privacy-focused toolkits, and workshops to equip dissidents within Burma and in exile with the tools to survive, organize, and resist the junta’s financial repression.
Pluto Mining
Today, most Bitcoin mining hardware relies on closed-source software that can expose user data and create dependence on third parties. Pluto Mining (https://www.plutomining.io/) is the first open-source mining fleet management platform that gives miners control over their operations without third-party dependence. With HRF support, Pluto will empower individuals in repressive environments to mine Bitcoin privately, independently, and securely, further decentralizing the Bitcoin network.
WantClue
Bitcoin mining is dominated by industrial operations that use proprietary hardware and software. Over time, this could put Bitcoin’s decentralization and accessibility at risk. Bitaxe (https://bitaxe.org/) counters this trend by providing an affordable and open-source miner for individuals. Nostr:npub1vwf2mytkyk22x2gcmr9d7ktprakh6llwpzxqlke8rlv5j0qyx2esf2lxtw maintains the Bitaxe firmware and produces educational content that makes mining more accessible to dissidents and individuals in closed societies. With HRF support, WantClue will strengthen mining decentralization and expand access to self-sovereign financial infrastructure for those under repression.
Peter Tyonum
Developers in adverse political and economic environments need accessible and secure wallet software infrastructure to build freedom tools. Developer @npub1a6v…g0cr contributes to the @npub13dk…gnvc , which abstracts wallet software into usable plug-and-play components and makes it easier for developers to create censorship-resistant tools. With this grant, Tyonum will continue to help developers worldwide create accessible, permissionless Bitcoin applications.
BitScript
An inclusive developer base is essential to Bitcoin’s long-term decentralization. BitScript (https://www.bitscript.app/), a free, open-source Bitcoin developer education program, trains developers in authoritarian and inflationary environments across Latin America and Africa to build protocol-level freedom technologies. Global development helps ensure that Bitcoin serves as a lifeline for people facing repression. HRF’s grant will help BitScript democratize protocol knowledge to ensure the network reflects global needs.
Code Orange Dev School
Many regions lack the technical education to build, maintain, and use Bitcoin. To address this, the @npub1gxq…ydt0 in Indonesia teaches developers and individuals across Asia to contribute to open-source Bitcoin projects, run nodes, and use privacy-enhancing tools like ecash, fedimint, and nostr. HRF’s support will help equip communities with tools to resist authoritarianism.
Demo Lab
As authoritarian governments in Latin America tighten their grip on financial and political power, there is an urgent need for civic and financial education. Demo Lab’s @npub17j8…6sg4 introduces Bitcoin as a tool for financial independence and teaches practical skills for saving and transacting securely. Through this grant, the Freedom Academy will prepare the next generation of Latin Americans to defend democracy and achieve economic sovereignty.
Nostr under Autocracy
In Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro's brutal dictatorship restricts traditional communication channels, prevents journalists from exposing the regime’s brutality, and financially suppresses civil society. Nostr under Autocracy, led by democracy activist Jesús González (https://x.com/jesusgonzalezs?lang=en), will train Venezuelan activists and human rights defenders to use the open-source nostr protocol for private, censorship-resistant communication and payments. With HRF support, this project will help Venezuelan dissidents speak freely online and build movements to resist Maduro’s digital and financial repression.
KernelKind
Dictators restrict communication, manipulate online content, and restrict dissidents’ financial access to silence dissent. @npub1fgz…jeck is contributing to Notedeck a Nostr browser created by Damus that makes it easier to build censorship-resistant apps with integrated Bitcoin payments. Its first app, Columns, introduces modular feeds and a marketplace for user-controlled algorithms, while Dmail will enable private, decentralized messaging with email interoperability. With this grant, Notedeck will continue to merge censorship-resistant communication with financial freedom and foster an ecosystem of apps for dissident communications and transactions.
Eric Holguin
Many people living under authoritarian regimes face censorship, Internet shutdowns, and frozen bank accounts that cut them off from communication and commerce. Nostr developer @npub12gy…3jj5 is working to build censorship-resistant apps with integrated Bitcoin payments by contributing to Damus and Nostr projects that empower individuals to communicate and transact without centralized control. With this grant, he will continue expanding free speech and financial freedom tools for people resisting repression worldwide.
Craig Warmke and Troy Cross
As authoritarian regimes expand financial surveillance and roll out central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), many people remain dangerously unaware of their risks to individual liberties. Transactional Freedom, a forthcoming book co-written by philosophers @npub10af…0xj0 and @npub1n3s…te5l, makes the moral and legal case for recognizing a universal and constitutional right to transact. With HRF support, Warmke and Cross will examine financial repression in authoritarian regimes and its impact on human rights, activism, and financial freedom.
About BDF
BDF supports individuals and projects that make Bitcoin and related freedom technologies more powerful tools for human rights defenders operating in challenging political and financial environments. Since launching in 2020, BDF has grantedifted $9.6 million in BTC to 319 projects across 62 countries worldwide.
Learn more about BDF on our website (https://hrf.org/program/financial-freedom/bitcoin-development-fund/).
HRF is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. Gifts can be made at HRF.org/DevFund, and proposals for support can be submitted to https://hrf.org/bdfapply.
Follow @npub17xv…c9as for more updates on this project and all of our other programs designed to promote freedom and human rights around the world.

2025-03-24 19:37:44 GMT

As a grant maker at @HRF's Bitcoin Development Fund, few things frustrate me more than copycat ideas—projects that look exactly like something we’ve already funded, just transplanted to a different location.
https://m.primal.net/Prlm.jpg
Over the years from my time @CcHUB, I’ve listened to thousands of pitches, and I’ve developed a kind of sixth sense for sniffing out what’s truly original versus what’s just a repackaged version of an existing idea.
So, how do I separate the game-changers from the "me-too" projects? Here’s what goes through my mind (sometimes subconsciously) when evaluating a pitch:
1. The Person Behind the Idea
Who’s driving this? What’s their story, their values, their integrity? A founder’s authenticity and commitment often determine whether a project will succeed or flop. I pay attention not just to what’s said, but also to what’s not said—the nuances matter.
2. The "Why" Behind the Project
Why did the founder choose this problem? The more personal the connection to the issue, the more convinced I am that they’ll stick with it when things get tough. Passion rooted in lived experience beats a generic "I saw a gap in the market" or “It came to me in the shower” every time.
3. The Solution (and Whether It Actually Solves the Problem)
This might sound obvious, but so many solutions are built before the problem is fully understood. I look for ideas that directly address a well-researched, validated need—and a clear theory of change that explains how the solution tackles the problem. No hand-waving, just logic.
4. Progress Made So Far
What have you done with little or no funding? If my grant is the only thing standing between your idea and oblivion, that’s a red flag. I love seeing scrappy, resourceful founders who’ve already made headway—it tells me they’re in it for the long haul.
5. The Right Founder for the Right Audience
Do you really know the people you’re serving? And are you the best person to serve them? If your answer is "this project is for everyone," I’m probably not interested. Impact is about depth, not breadth.
6. A Vision for Success (and Obsolescence)
How will the world be different if you succeed? And—just as important—what’s your plan to not be needed forever? The best solutions aim to solve a problem so thoroughly that they eventually work themselves out of a job.
Of course, these aren’t hard-and-fast rules, and sometimes great projects slip through the cracks. But with limited time and funding, I’d rather bet on ideas that check these boxes—because they’re the ones most likely to create real, lasting change.
What do you think? What’s your approach to spotting original (and fundable) ideas?

2024-12-19 13:45:00 GMT

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NEW: HRF #Bitcoin Development Fund grants 700 million satoshis to 20 projects worldwide!
The grants cover decentralized #Bitcoin mining, technical education, decentralized communications, independent media & privacy-enhanced financial solutions for human rights groups, focusing on key regions in Latin America, Asia, and Africa 🌍🌏🌎🎁
#note1krf…clp4

2024-12-19 13:44:25 GMT

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NEW: HRF #Bitcoin Development Fund grants 700 million satoshis to 20 projects worldwide!
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/human-rights-foundation-donates-700000000-satoshis-to-fund-bitcoin-development-and-projects
The grants cover decentralized #Bitcoin mining, technical education, decentralized communications, independent media & privacy-enhanced financial solutions for human rights groups, focusing on key regions in Latin America, Asia, and Africa 🌍🌏🌎🎁
#naddr1qv…g467 #naddr1qv…g467

2024-09-25 20:11:43 GMT

Day 6 - Walking Away Was Satoshi's Genius Move
https://typeshare.co/femilonge/posts/day-6-walking-away-was-satoshis-genius-move
Picture this...
Imagine a startup founder building a company poised to become a unicorn, then suddenly walking away—leaving all control, shares, and rights to the community. That’s exactly what Satoshi Nakamoto did with #Bitcoin, and it’s the key to Bitcoin’s genius.
A simple act that made all the difference...
Satoshi didn’t just create a groundbreaking digital currency—he removed himself from it, ensuring Bitcoin’s true decentralization. Unlike other cryptocurrencies, where founders hold power or influence, Satoshi’s decision to step away made Bitcoin a currency that belongs to no one and everyone.
Centralization kills money...
Money is a unique public good. It’s something society collectively agrees to use as a representation of value. Our blood, sweat, time, and effort is captured in the value of our money.
Historically, we’ve given governments the power to create and issue money, but this has often led to misuse. Central banks print money excessively, diluting its worth, and ultimately reducing the value of our collective time and effort.
On the other hand, transferring control over money creation to private companies is equally risky. Corporations, driven by profit, can compromise the public good in their pursuit of shareholder gains. We’ve seen this with social media and big tech platforms, where profit motives often lead to exploitative practices.
Centralized control—whether governmental or corporate—isn’t the answer.
A truly decentralized form of money...
This is where Bitcoin stands out.
It is decentralized, peer-to-peer, and immune to both government and corporate control. It has been algorithmically designed with a hard cap of 21 million - no more, no less. No single entity can manipulate Bitcoin’s supply or use it for political or financial power.
By stepping away, Satoshi Nakamoto ensured Bitcoin remains for the people, governed by its community and network, rather than any central authority, not even the currency's creator.
In a world where the management of money has often been flawed, Bitcoin offers a new, decentralized approach—one that’s transparent, secure, and ultimately belongs to everyone.
That’s the true genius of Satoshi Nakamoto.

2024-09-25 20:09:03 GMT

Day 5 - What's this Bitcoin thing & why does it matter? https://typeshare.co/femilonge/posts/day-5-whats-this-bitcoin-thing-and-why-does-it-matter
As the Global Bitcoin Lead on the Financial Freedom team at the @npub17xv…c9as, I’m deeply immersed in the world of Bitcoin.
Just #Bitcoin. Not blockchain, crypto, Web3, or DeFi.
Why Bitcoin and Not the Others?
You might be wondering, “What’s the difference between Bitcoin and all those other terms?” Well, there’s a huge difference, both in spirit & implementation.
In future posts, I’ll dig into that, but for now, I’ve chosen to focus narrowly on Bitcoin. Honestly, it’s enough to keep me busy for a lifetime! Why go searching for what’s not lost (and yes, please read that last part with a Yoruba accent)?
What Bitcoin Really Is
Bitcoin is a decentralized, permissionless, censorship-resistant, open-source, peer-to-peer system of electronic cash.
It was created by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, who didn’t just build it—he handed it over to the community and walked away over a decade ago. By removing himself from the picture, Satoshi ensured Bitcoin’s true decentralization.
Only 21 million Bitcoin will ever exist, with new ones mined approximately every 10 minutes by a global network of computers solving complex mathematical problems. Each Bitcoin can be broken down into 100 million satoshis, and you can send or receive the smallest fractions across the world with ease.
Why I’m Excited About Bitcoin
Most people focus on Bitcoin’s price in relation to fiat currencies like USD, Euro, or Pounds. But for me, the real excitement lies in its ability to transfer value globally without needing a third party like a bank or Visa/Mastercard.
As an African, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges of trading with neighbors using foreign currencies like the USD. Bitcoin, on the other hand, is neutral—it’s not controlled by any one country, it can’t be printed excessively, and central banks can’t devalue it.
No one can block my access to send or receive Bitcoin, no matter where I am in the world.
And perhaps most importantly, there’s no central team that can suddenly steal everything and disappear into the sunset. Bitcoin’s design makes that impossible.
What’s Next for Bitcoin?
We’re still in the early days of Bitcoin, and some of the smartest minds are working on improving the network and addressing real-world challenges using it.
I’m grateful to be part of this journey, especially when it comes to empowering human rights activists and everyday people fighting to hold governments accountable.
I’m here for the long haul, and I’m excited to see where Bitcoin takes us next.

2024-09-23 21:34:12 GMT

Day 4 - My Journey Into Bitcoin: How It All Began
https://m.primal.net/Kzem.jpg
About 2.5 years ago, I embarked on a transformative journey into the world of Bitcoin, and it all started with a simple conversation.
The Spark: A Recommendation Request
I was asked to recommend someone to run operations for Qala, a new program designed to train African software engineers for careers in Bitcoin development.
Up until that moment, I only knew of Bitcoin as a digital currency and investment asset but had no idea about the technology or the community of developers behind it.
The recommendation request triggered my curiosity. After all, how could I recommend someone for something I didn’t fully understand?
Little did I know that this would be the beginning of an exciting journey down the Bitcoin rabbit hole.
A New Realization
I began by downloading The Bitcoin Standard and diving into a few blogs.
The more I read, the more I realized just how vast and revolutionary the Bitcoin ecosystem really was.
It is not just a digital asset; it is an alternative to our broken global monetary system, a system I believed is responsible for many of the challenges facing my beloved Africa.
Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto's peer-to-peer electronic cash system, offers a way out. But for Africa to benefit, we have to engage this new technology as producers, not just consumers—unlike how we have engaged previous waves of technology.
Qala was aiming to equip Africans with the skills to become value creators in the Bitcoin space, but it needed the right leadership and guidance.
Perfect Alignment: My Background in Learning and Development
Having recently stepped away from day-to-day operations at CcHub, I had completed a research-based Master’s in Learning Science at the Paris University School of Interdisciplinary Research. My research & thesis focused on what motivates young adults in Africa to engage in informal learning.
This new Bitcoin program aligned perfectly with my interests in African development, capacity building and education. It wasn’t just a good fit; it felt like a calling.
Taking the Leap
So, instead of recommending someone else for the job, I offered myself… and I got it!
To be continued…

2024-09-22 20:52:19 GMT

Day 3 - Teach, Repeat, Grow: How Teaching Transforms Your Own Learning (https://typeshare.co/femilonge/posts/day-3-teach-repeat-grow-how-teaching-transforms-your-own-learning)
https://m.primal.net/KyfV.jpg
One of the mantras I live by is, “You develop best when you are developing others.”
I deeply believe that teaching others is the most powerful way to deepen your understanding of any subject. This belief has guided me throughout my life and eventually led me to pursue an MSc in EdTech/Learning Science.
Teaching not only benefits those you’re sharing knowledge with, but it also accelerates your own learning and growth.
Here are some reasons why I find teaching as such a transformative practice:
1. Teaching forces you to learn the subject more deeply.
When you teach something, you can’t just gloss over the basics—you need to know the topic inside and out. Preparing to teach others pushes you to dig deeper into the material, helping you discover nuances and details you might not have noticed before. It challenges you to not only understand but also explain concepts in a way that others can grasp. In the process, you gain a richer and more thorough understanding of your subject.
2. Repetition makes knowledge stick.
One of the best ways to make knowledge stick is through repetition, and teaching gives you plenty of opportunities for that. Every time you explain a concept to someone else, you’re reinforcing that knowledge in your own mind. The more you teach, the more ingrained that information becomes, solidifying it in your long-term memory.
3. Answering questions helps you explore new angles.
Students often ask questions that make you think about your subject in new ways. Sometimes their questions lead you to ideas or areas you hadn’t considered before. This back-and-forth exchange not only keeps the material fresh but also expands your own understanding as you explore different aspects of the topic.
Remember, teaching isn’t just about passing on knowledge. It’s about reinforcing your own understanding, deepening your expertise, and continuously learning from the people you’re teaching.
So, if you know something worth sharing, don’t hesitate—start teaching!

2024-09-22 20:50:46 GMT

Day 3 - Teach, Repeat, Grow: How Teaching Transforms Your Own Learning
https://m.primal.net/KyfV.jpg
One of the mantras I live by is, “You develop best when you are developing others.”
I deeply believe that teaching others is the most powerful way to deepen your understanding of any subject. This belief has guided me throughout my life and eventually led me to pursue an MSc in EdTech/Learning Science.
Teaching not only benefits those you’re sharing knowledge with, but it also accelerates your own learning and growth.
Here are some reasons why I find teaching as such a transformative practice:
1. Teaching forces you to learn the subject more deeply.
When you teach something, you can’t just gloss over the basics—you need to know the topic inside and out. Preparing to teach others pushes you to dig deeper into the material, helping you discover nuances and details you might not have noticed before. It challenges you to not only understand but also explain concepts in a way that others can grasp. In the process, you gain a richer and more thorough understanding of your subject.
2. Repetition makes knowledge stick.
One of the best ways to make knowledge stick is through repetition, and teaching gives you plenty of opportunities for that. Every time you explain a concept to someone else, you’re reinforcing that knowledge in your own mind. The more you teach, the more ingrained that information becomes, solidifying it in your long-term memory.
3. Answering questions helps you explore new angles.
Students often ask questions that make you think about your subject in new ways. Sometimes their questions lead you to ideas or areas you hadn’t considered before. This back-and-forth exchange not only keeps the material fresh but also expands your own understanding as you explore different aspects of the topic.
Remember, teaching isn’t just about passing on knowledge. It’s about reinforcing your own understanding, deepening your expertise, and continuously learning from the people you’re teaching.
So, if you know something worth sharing, don’t hesitate—start teaching!
#Teach #Learning #Grow #PersonalDevelopment

2024-09-21 22:35:40 GMT

Day 2: Unlocking Clarity - 3 Simple Questions to Kick Off Any Design Process
Are you about to start a project but feeling unsure where to begin?
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Whenever I start any design process—whether it’s for life, business, a conference, a product, a social service, or even a learning experience—there are three key questions I always ask myself.
These questions help me get my bearings, like figuring out where I am before I begin the journey toward the change I want to make.
Here are the questions:
1. What outcome am I designing for?
We don’t design just for the sake of it. The whole point of designing is to bring something specific to life, a particular goal or vision. You likely have a clear picture in your mind of what that looks like, but it’s important to say it out loud or write it down. Why? Because defining the outcome not only helps you clarify exactly what you’re aiming for, but it also creates something concrete that you can share with others who might join you in the design process.
2. What resources do we have for the design?
Every design is built from the resources available to you. This could be physical objects, people, locations, funds—whatever you can pull from. Think of it like cooking a meal. You need to know what ingredients you already have and what you might need to go out and get. By identifying your resources upfront, you can figure out whether your design is realistic and start planning any necessary prep work before diving in.
3. What constraints do we need to consider?
Constraints are the real-world factors you have to account for. What limitations or requirements must your design meet to work in the context you’re designing for? For example, are there age restrictions, legal requirements, or specific needs of the people you’re designing for? Constraints help you understand the boundaries your design will need to function within.
So, as you get ready to create something new and bring about the change you’re passionate about, remember to ask yourself these three questions. They’ll help you stay grounded and clear before you make your first move.
May the force be with you!

2024-09-21 22:31:28 GMT

Day 1: Why I'm Starting To Write Online
By Femi Longe
Writing and consistently publishing content online is something I’ve always wanted to do, but I’ve failed at it time and time again.
To finally break this cycle, I’ve signed up for a 30-day daily publishing challenge.
Here’s why I’m doing this:
1️⃣ Connecting the Dots:
My career has taken me in many different directions, and along the way, I’ve gone deep into a variety of subjects. One of my strengths is connecting the dots between seemingly unrelated ideas to uncover new insights. I believe these insights could be helpful to others, and the thought that my perspective could help someone crack a problem they’re struggling with right now motivates me to share them.
2️⃣ Leaving Something Behind:
I’m only here for a limited time. My thoughts, experiences, and lessons learned are my chance to leave a legacy. If I don’t put my words out there, they disappear with me, and that would be a shame.
3️⃣ Reaching More People:
I often get asked to mentor people, and while I enjoy those one-on-one conversations, writing gives me the opportunity to share my insights with a much wider audience. It’s not about replacing personal connections—it’s about amplifying my reach and being able to offer value to more people at once.
🌟 Over the next 30 days, I’ll be writing about personal development, social change, design, and Bitcoin.
I’m excited to embark on this journey—and I invite you to follow along! Feel free to reach out with any questions or thoughts along the way.
Let’s do this! 🚀
https://m.primal.net/KxFS.jpg

2024-09-20 05:50:12 GMT

God, forgive me for the times my words have brought hurt rather than hope. I want my words to represent You and to build others up. Let my tongue be quick to give grace, encouragement, and healing. May I speak words that bring life—not only to others, but also to myself. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
https://m.primal.net/KvVc.jpg

2024-09-17 14:54:56 GMT

🧵 NEW: HRF Bitcoin Development Fund grants 1 billion satoshis to 20 projects worldwide!
The grants are focused on global education, privacy, decentralizing mining, and empowering human rights groups with private financial solutions 🌍🌏🌎🎁
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/human-rights-foundation-grants-10-bitcoin-to-20-projects-worldwide
📝📲 African Bitcoiners is helping to onboard Africans to Bitcoin through a “Bitcoin for Beginners” course, free Lightning payment routing for merchants, and the ability to buy airtime & data with Bitcoin. The grant will support operational costs, educational materials & more.
Stratospher, a Bitcoin Core developer working to enhance the P2P network privacy, reviewing critical pull requests in the libsecp library, & mentoring new talent. This grant will support their full-time development efforts 🔒⚙️
Jeff Gardner is working on bringing end-to-end encryption to Nostr Direct and Group Messages without centralized servers. Funding will support ongoing development, allocating bounties to community contributors, and conducting a security audit of the project 🛡️💻
🔐🌐 @Coracle, a Nostr web client, developed by @hodlbod. Recent and planned updates include customizable & shareable feeds, improved DMs for privacy, and encrypted public & private communities. Funding will support the hiring of a full-time developer.
Harbor, an open-source #eCash wallet started by the @MutinyWallet team but now an independent project led by Ben Carman and Paul Miller. Harbor incorporates multiple mints, is Tor-only, & automates fund management. This grant will support the development of Harbor’s 1.0 production release 🕵️‍♂️💸
The 256 Foundation's mission to make Bitcoin mining free & open starts with the #Bitaxe initiative. Bitaxe provides an affordable entry point for home mining. This grant will support improving Bitaxe with an aim of making the Bitaxe available with more ASICs manufacturers. ⛏️
👩🏽‍💻🌍 Kiveclair led by Gloire Wanzavalere in the Democratic Republic of Congo, hosts monthly meetups & training sessions for activists, journalists, & developers around Bitcoin and provides shelter to refugees. Funds will cover the cost of meetups, equipment, and space rental.
Silentium Wallet, a self-custodial, privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet built by @TheSingerLouis, brings privacy preserving Bitcoin donations to activists via Silent Payments. Funds will support the wallet’s infrastructure, including a full cloud node, web server, & hiring a developer. 🛡️📱
BTC Shule, by Belyï Nobel Kubwayo, educates Burundians, in Kirundi & French, to use #Bitcoin for uncensorable payments under Burundi’s authoritarian regime. The grant will support the development of a digital learning platform & educational materials. 📚🏫
🌍💰EttaWallet, an open-source, self-custodial mobile #Lightning wallet built by Collin Rukundo with improved usability & accessibility for Africa. This grant will support further development of the wallet, improve localization efforts, & foster growing a community of users. #Bitcoin
The Tor Project for relay operators to increase network reliability and performance. Funding will allow relay operator to deploy nodes that improve the stability and reliability of onion services and increase network robustness against DOS attacks 🌐
Rikto Xonghoti is developing a Bitcoin circular economy in Assam, India. The project offers online Bitcoin education in Assamese & plans to establish a physical Bitcoin center. The grant will support teacher salaries & acquisition of Bitcoin nodes & mining equipment 💡
Yes Bitcoin Haiti led by @HaitianHODL, empowers Haitians in political & financial crisis with Bitcoin education. The team translates educational materials into Haitian Creole & host workshops. Funding will support salaries, equipment, & producing educational materials 🇭🇹📖
Bitcoin Indonesia is building an education platform in Bahasa Indonesia, hosting the largest local Bitcoin conference & connecting local talent with Bitcoin companies for jobs. This grant will support content creation, community outreach, and operational expenses.
Bitcoin++, a Bitcoin-only dev conference organized by @niftynei featuring long-form lectures & workshops. This grant will cover travel expenses for developers from authoritarian countries to attend the upcoming Bitcoin++ mints ecash conference in Berlin
🛠️ TABConf, a Bitcoin conference hosted by Michael Tidwell in Atlanta, which creates a forum for protocol and application developers to debate and collaborate on Bitcoin. Funds will cover conference expenses & travel costs for developers in need of financial assistance.
🔐 BalticHoneybadger, a non-profit #Bitcoin conference hosted by Hodl Hodl⁩. With its cypherpunk roots, the conference fosters discussions on technologies that support financial freedom, security & privacy. The grant supports travel expenses for activists & conference costs
🇦🇷 LaBitconf, hosted by Rodolfo Andragnes, is the longest-running #Bitcoin conference in #LatinAmerica helping #Argentines explore Bitcoin as a tool for #financialfreedom. Funds will cover travel expenses for software developers and keynote speakers
🇦🇷 Descentralizar, is a one-day #Bitcoin event held in three cities across the #Argentina, offering debates, workshops, and networking opportunities for attendees. The grant will support travel expenses and conference equipment ⚡
🛠️ Satsconf, the largest #Bitcoin-only conference in #SouthAmerica, connects the local community with educators, advocates & developers shaping the future of Bitcoin. Funds will support travel expenses for speakers, event logistics & the hackathon.
Solidarity Summit, Standing with Political Prisoners, an event organized by Hager Eissa will include a #financialfreedom component & a documentary produced on these issues. Funds will cover venue & event logistics, program development, speaker costs, & film production 🎥📢
🌎 HRF is committed to supporting human rights and financial freedom with Bitcoin.
If you are working on a #Bitcoin or adjacent freedom tech software (Nostr, eCash etc), education or adoption project that meets our mandate, submit your application at http://hrf.org/bdfapply 💪

2024-09-14 20:57:59 GMT

- reply

Welcome to Nostr

2024-09-13 10:02:59 GMT

- reply

Which is worse? A shitcoiner or a no-coiner??????
#note107h…20l6

2024-09-06 06:11:31 GMT

God, You made a way for me to be part of Your family. Thank You! The entire concept of family exists because You created it. Help me understand Your heart for the body of Christ and love others the way You love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
https://m.primal.net/KgUw.jpg

2024-09-05 05:51:18 GMT

God, I am so grateful for the good news of Jesus and my eternal relationship with You. Help me each day to share Your Word with those around me so they can experience Your love. Help me to live a life that honors You and inspires others to love You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
https://m.primal.net/Kexw.jpg

2024-09-04 18:52:16 GMT

I’m excited to share that this past Monday marked the start of my second official month as the Global Bitcoin Lead at the Human Rights Foundation (HRF).
As part of the Financial Freedom Program, I have the privilege of leading the Bitcoin Development Fund, which supports developers, designers, educators, and community leaders who are working to make Bitcoin (and adjacent technologies) powerful tools for human rights activists and those living under authoritarian regimes worldwide.
For me, Bitcoin is much more than just a digital asset —it’s a tool for social justice.
When individuals or organizations challenge oppressive regimes, one of the first levers of control these governments pull is financial. They can freeze personal or organizational accounts, cut off customers and advertisers, seize assets, and even threaten lives. For those forced into exile, continuing to support resistance efforts, paying staff, or receiving donations securely becomes a daunting challenge.
The traditional financial system is vulnerable to these pressures. This is where #Bitcoin shines.
As a decentralized, permissionless, and censorship-resistant way to transfer value, Bitcoin offers a lifeline for human rights defenders and democracy advocates globally. From Kabul to Kaduna, Kuala Lumpur to Kentucky, activists rely on Bitcoin to circumvent financial suppression, enabling them to continue their critical work.
Maintaining and advancing these properties in the face of various challenges requires sustained investment in innovation and education. That’s the mission of HRF’s Bitcoin Development Fund, which has been supporting global innovators and educators for the past five years—and now, I am honored to continue advancing this work in my new role.
As assaults on democracy continue to rise, our efforts at HRF are more vital than ever. Together, we are building tools for a world where freedom can thrive.
#Bitcoin #HumanRights #FinancialFreedom #Decentralization #SocialJustice #HRF #GlobalLeadership #Democracy
https://m.primal.net/KeOu.mp4

2024-09-04 06:53:51 GMT

What's the best Nostr app for publishing longform?
Something with UX that'll easily challenge Substack or Medium

2024-03-02 07:27:00 GMT

God, thank You for choosing to forgive me. I don’t deserve Your forgiveness, but I know You are good and loving. I want to be like You, and because You have forgiven me, I want to forgive others. Help me each day to remember Your gift of forgiveness, and release my anger towards those who have wronged me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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