Global Fuel, Local Impact: HRF Deploys 1.5B Satoshis, Including Grants to African Projects
The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) has announced its latest round of grants from the Bitcoin Development Fund (BDF), totaling 1.5 billion satoshis (approx. 15 BTC). While the 26 grants support projects across the globe—from Asia to Latin America—the inclusion of six key African initiatives highlights the continent’s growing role in building “Freedom Tech.”
These projects are bridging the gap between global protocol development and the daily financial needs of millions in Africa. By connecting Bitcoin to local payment rails like M-Pesa and bypassing the restrictions of the CFA franc, these builders are turning Bitcoin into a practical tool for survival.
The Africa Six: Spotlighting the Grantees
While the 1.5 billion satoshi fund fuels global innovation, these six African projects are specifically focused on solving the “last mile” of adoption.
1. Banxaas (Senegal / West Africa)
The Mission: Breaking the centralized grip on the CFA franc.
Created by Bitcoin developer Nourou, Banxaas is a local platform that allows users in West Africa to exchange instantly between the CFA franc and Bitcoin without needing a bank account or a custodial exchange. HRF’s grant will help finalize the mobile app and integrate more mobile money providers.
2. ChapSmart (Tanzania)
The Mission: Slashing the world’s highest remittance fees.
Tanzanians sending money home often lose a massive percentage to intermediaries. Brian Mosha’s ChapSmart bridges the Lightning Network directly to M-Pesa, enabling instant, low-cost remittances and bill payments that help families preserve their savings.
3. Tando (Kenya)
The Mission: Mainstreaming Bitcoin at the local duka.
Technologist Sabina Waithira Gitau co-founded Tando to make Bitcoin spendable for everyday items. The app lets customers pay with Bitcoin from their own Lightning wallets, while merchants receive Kenyan Shillings via M-Pesa integration.
4. Tapnob (Pan-African)
The Mission: High-utility Bitcoin for daily commerce.
Tapnob focuses on making the transition between Bitcoin and local fiat seamless. Their platform allows users to keep their savings in Bitcoin while having the liquidity to spend exactly what they need for real-life expenses via local bank transfers.
5. Bitcoin Benin (Benin)
The Mission: Infrastructure for a sovereign future.
Bitcoin Benin is establishing a physical Knowledge Hub for technical training and community events. This HRF support will also fund the 2026 Bitcoin Mastermind conference, which aims to bring over 1,000 people together to discuss economic freedom.
6. BTC Shule (Burundi)
The Mission: Cultivating the next generation of builders.
Local technical capacity is the ultimate defense against financial repression. BTC Shule is launching an accelerator program to train Burundian developers in open-source Bitcoin work, ensuring Africa has a seat at the table in protocol development.
Why This Matters: A Multi-Layered Approach
The HRF’s 1.5 billion satoshi commitment is about more than just funding apps; it’s about supporting a multi-layered ecosystem. While some grants in this round go toward global privacy tools and Bitcoin Core security, these six African projects ensure those high-level tools actually reach the people who need them most.
By funding direct P2P ramps, merchant tools, and developer accelerators, the HRF is investing in a future where Bitcoin isn’t just an imported technology—but a homegrown force for financial freedom.