Bitcoin++ Developer Conference Heads to Africa for Nairobi Debut
In a major boost for African Bitcoin development, the Bitcoin++ conference is coming to the continent for the first time, scheduled for Nairobi, Kenya, from June 17-20, 2026. The four-day event will focus on open-source Bitcoin development, hosting builders from Africa and around the world to collaborate on advancing the protocol.
Bitcoin++ is a highly technical, developer-centric conference series that brings together Bitcoin Core contributors, Lightning Network developers, and protocol engineers. Unlike general Bitcoin conferences, Bitcoin++ events dive deep into technical specifications, protocol improvements, and low-level implementation details.
The Nairobi edition will feature workshops, technical talks, and hands-on coding sessions aimed at fostering contributions to Bitcoin’s core infrastructure. Topics are expected to include Bitcoin Core development, Lightning Network enhancements, privacy protocols, mining software, and Bitcoin in low-bandwidth environments, particularly relevant for African contexts.
Decentralizing Bitcoin Development Beyond Traditional Hubs
Applications for speakers are now open, with organizers actively seeking diverse perspectives from the Global South. This emphasis on geographical diversity reflects Bitcoin’s core principle of decentralization and recognizes that developers working in different environments bring unique insights to protocol development.
The announcement aligns with growing efforts to decentralize Bitcoin development beyond traditional hubs in North America and Europe. Programs like Btrust Builders, Qala, and Chaincode Labs have been actively training African developers, creating a pipeline of talent capable of contributing to Bitcoin’s open-source codebase.
By hosting in Africa, Bitcoin++ aims to empower local talent and address region-specific use cases that might be overlooked in other development contexts. For instance, African developers are particularly well-positioned to work on challenges like Bitcoin functionality over SMS, offline transaction signing, and optimizations for areas with limited internet connectivity.
The event is expected to draw international attention, further establishing Nairobi as a key Bitcoin development center. Kenya’s capital already hosts regular BitDevs meetups, has a growing community of Lightning Network developers, and benefits from relatively stable internet infrastructure compared to other African cities.
For African developers, Bitcoin++ Nairobi represents an unprecedented opportunity to engage directly with leading protocol developers, contribute to Bitcoin’s technical roadmap, and showcase innovations emerging from African Bitcoin communities.