Btrust, a non-profit organization dedicated to decentralizing open source Bitcoin development, has announced the appointment of a new Board of Directors, marking the completion of a historic shift in governance and the launch of the organization’s next strategic chapter.
The organization said that following an open global call and a rigorous, multi-stage selection process, Janet Menge, Bruno Garcia and Lawrence Aderemi assumed full governance responsibilities. Bitcoin Magazine.
The selection was made based on Btrust’s founding principles, which prioritize transparency, fairness and mission alignment – values that have anchored the organization since its founding.
This shift fulfills the original mandate set in 2021, when Btrust was established with 500 BTC. Endowment From Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and rapper Jay-Z – a donation of approximately $24.5 million at the time of the announcement. The gift was intended to fund Bitcoin development across Africa and India, with Dorsey and Jay-Z intentionally stepping aside from governance to allow an independent board of directors to have full decision-making power.
Inaugural Board of Directors – consisting of Obi Nwosu, Oguma Ochai, Carla Kirk Cohen, and Abu Bakr Nour Khalil – He is tasked with building the operational and financial foundation of the organization before enabling an orderly handover to a successor board.
Btrust’s long-term mission is to develop Bitcoin
Over a transition period that extended over several weeks and ended on April 30, 2026, the new and incoming boards of directors collaborated closely to ensure continuity across governance, financial oversight and operations. The delivery process included reviewing the budget, consolidating documentation, and initiating an independent audit aimed at strengthening accountability.
“Today marks an important milestone for Btrust,” said CEO Abu Bakar Nur Khalil, who was formally appointed to the top executive role in late 2025 after serving in an interim capacity. “We are confident that the new board will enhance our impact and protect our long-term mission.”
The new board has deep, integrated expertise spanning Bitcoin infrastructure, power systems, and open source software development. Their appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the organisation, which has steadily expanded its presence across the Global South.
In 2023, B Trust acquired Qala, a training company for Bitcoin and Lightning Network developers, has rebranded as the Btrust Builders Program to accelerate its 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 transition now complete, Trust is moving forward with renewed institutional clarity. The organization’s core mission — ensuring the Bitcoin ecosystem remains open, inclusive, and resilient by diversifying those who build it — remains unchanged. The new Board of Directors is expected to guide grantmaking strategy, strengthen oversight of the Builders Program, and deepen Btrust’s presence in underrepresented developer communities around the world.
