In a landmark transition, the non-profit Bitcoin development organization Btrust has appointed a new Board of Directors, finalizing a governance shift designed to decentralize leadership and expand its mission across the Global South. The new board—comprising Janet Maingi, Bruno Garcia, and Laurence Aderemi—assumes full control after a global, open call and rigorous selection process, the organization confirmed today.
The move fulfills a mandate set in 2021, when Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and rapper Jay-Z endowed Btrust with 500 BTC (worth approximately $24.5 million at the time) to fund Bitcoin development in Africa and India. The founders intentionally stepped back from governance, tasking an inaugural board with building the foundation and then enabling a structured handover to a successor board.
Background
Btrust was established to decentralize Bitcoin open-source development, prioritizing transparency, fairness, and mission alignment. The inaugural board—Obi Nwosu, Ojoma Ochai, Carla Kirk-Cohen, and Abubakar Nur Khalil—focused on operational and financial setup before initiating the handover process. A multi-week transition concluded April 30, 2026, with thorough budget reviews, documentation consolidation, and an independent audit to ensure accountability.
CEO Abubakar Nur Khalil, formally named to the top role in late 2025 after serving as interim, oversaw the transition. “Today marks an important milestone for Btrust. We are confident the new board will strengthen our impact and safeguard our long-term mission,” he said.
What This Means
The new board brings deep expertise in Bitcoin infrastructure, energy systems, and open-source software—critical as Btrust expands its footprint. In 2023, the organization acquired Qala, a Bitcoin and Lightning Network training firm, rebranding it as the Btrust Builders Programme to accelerate developer pipelines from Africa. Now, Btrust signals expansion into Latin America, aiming to ensure the Bitcoin ecosystem remains open and inclusive.
With governance settled, Btrust moves forward with institutional clarity. The board’s immediate priorities include overseeing ongoing projects, deepening partnerships, and scaling developer training across regions. The transition underscores a model where philanthropic funding for Bitcoin development can evolve beyond its original founders.
“We are excited to guide Btrust into its next phase,” said Janet Maingi, one of the new directors. “Our focus is on long-term impact and ensuring Bitcoin’s core infrastructure is built by diverse, independent teams.” Bruno Garcia added, “The foundation laid by the previous board is strong. Our role is to amplify that work globally.”
Laurence Aderemi emphasized, “Btrust’s mission—decentralizing development—is more urgent than ever. We are committed to transparent governance and measurable outcomes.”
For more details on Btrust’s programs, see the Background section. For strategic outlook, jump to What This Means.