Human Rights Foundation Launches Bitcoin Development Challenge with 20 BTC Reward 🚀
The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a non-profit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally. It has been supporting the development of Bitcoin, the decentralized and censorship-resistant digital currency, since 2020. The HRF believes that Bitcoin can empower individuals and communities who are oppressed by authoritarian regimes and corrupt systems.
To encourage more innovation and improvement on the Bitcoin network, the HRF has recently announced a set of bounty challenges with a total reward pool of 20 BTC, worth over $600,000 at the time of writing. The challenges are open to any open-source developer who can create tools and services that enhance the functionality, privacy, and usability of Bitcoin.
🏆 What are the bounty challenges?
The HRF has selected four specific areas that need more attention and development in the Bitcoin ecosystem. These are:
- Bitcoin UI Kit: A set of design components for builders to use when developing Bitcoin projects. The challenge is to port the existing Bitcoin UI Kit from Figma, a proprietary software, to Penpot, an open-source alternative that allows self-hosting and free access.
- Serverless Payjoin: A protocol that allows two parties to collaboratively create a Bitcoin transaction that hides their individual inputs and outputs, making it harder for third parties to track their spending patterns. The challenge is to create a production-ready version of the payjoin protocol that does not require a public server or a trusted third party.
- Nostr Group Chat: A decentralized messaging system that uses Bitcoin public keys as identities and relay servers as intermediaries. The challenge is to create a Nostr client that supports end-to-end encrypted group chats with three or more users, without leaking any metadata to potential adversaries.
- Silent Payments: A way of sending and receiving Bitcoin transactions without broadcasting them to the public network, using encrypted peer-to-peer communication channels. The challenge is to create a mobile Bitcoin wallet that can send and receive silent payments without running a full node.
Each challenge has a reward of 2 BTC for the first developer who can successfully complete it and meet the requirements. The HRF will also provide feedback and guidance to the developers throughout the process.
🌟 Why are these challenges important?
The HRF has chosen these challenges based on its research and work with activists and dissidents around the world, who face various threats and challenges when using Bitcoin. These include:
- Lack of accessibility: Many people in developing countries or under oppressive regimes do not have access to reliable internet connection, smartphones, or computers. They need tools and services that can work offline, on low-end devices, or with minimal bandwidth.
- Lack of privacy: Many people who use Bitcoin for political or humanitarian purposes do not want their transactions to be traced or monitored by governments, corporations, or hackers. They need tools and services that can protect their identity, location, and spending habits.
- Lack of sovereignty: Many people who use Bitcoin do not want to rely on centralized intermediaries or third parties that can censor, manipulate, or compromise their funds. They need tools and services that can give them full control over their own money.
By solving these challenges, the developers can help improve the security, efficiency, and resilience of the Bitcoin network, as well as empower its users to exercise their human rights.
🙌 How can you participate?
If you are an open-source developer who is passionate about Bitcoin and human rights, you can apply for any of the bounty challenges by filling out this form. You can also check out the detailed specifications and requirements for each challenge on this GitHub repository.
The challenges will run until the end of 2024, or until all the bounties are claimed. Any unclaimed bounties will be converted back into the HRF’s Bitcoin Development Fund, which supports other open-source projects that advance human rights through Bitcoin.
You can also support the HRF’s work by donating to their Bitcoin address or following them on Twitter.
🤔 What do you think? 🤔
We hope you found this article informative and interesting. We think that the HRF’s bounty challenges are a great initiative that can foster more innovation and collaboration in the Bitcoin community, as well as benefit millions of people around the world who use Bitcoin for freedom and justice.
What do you think about these challenges? Do you have any ideas or suggestions for improving them? Do you know any developers who might be interested in participating? Let me know in the comments below!
Sources:
- (1) Human Rights Foundation Launches Bug Bounty Program Worth 20 BTC. | Link
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- (3) The Human Rights Foundation Announces 20 BTC Bounty Challenge For .... | Link
- (4) Human Rights Foundation Launches Bug Bounty Program Worth 20 BTC. | Link
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