Jay-Z and Jack Dorsey-backed Btrust Secures African Bitcoin Talent Company Qala

Btrust, the prominent non-profit founded by Block CEO Jack Dorsey and rapper Jay-Z to bolster Bitcoin development in Africa and India, has successfully acquired Qala, an organization dedicated to training African Bitcoin and Lightning engineers. This strategic acquisition, officially completed on September 1st, marks a significant milestone as Qala now rebrands itself as the Btrust Builders Programme.

This exciting development embodies a true synergy between two entities, both passionately committed to advancing Bitcoin's growth in Africa. Btrust, with its initial endowment of 500 BTC, possesses the necessary financial backing but requires a structural framework to cultivate African Bitcoin talent. Currently, it relies on grants to fulfill its mission. Conversely, Qala boasts the structure but has faced resource limitations in its quest for sustainable growth.

When asked about Qala's foremost challenge, CEO Femi Longe candidly pointed to financial constraints. Qala, designed as a social enterprise, doesn't generate revenue and relies on grants from organizations like the Human Rights Foundation and Coinbase Giving.

"The challenge is that the generosity and opportunities in the Bitcoin space tend to fluctuate with the price of Bitcoin, much like hiring trends, which is our second challenge. During bear markets, Bitcoin companies tighten their belts," Longe explained.

In addition to day-to-day operational funding, Qala requires funds to provide stipends to participants who reach the intensive phase of the program. This stipend ensures their undivided focus on the training program. Moreover, attracting senior-level engineers to transition into Bitcoin development comes with higher costs, as they expect commensurate compensation due to their ability to tackle complex challenges more efficiently than junior and mid-level peers.

Longe added, "While we've successfully attracted junior to mid-level talent, the question remains: how do we entice highly experienced developers to see this as a viable career path? I firmly believe that with the resources we now have access to as part of the Btrust, the opportunities and pathways to attract such senior talents will expand significantly."

Notably, Femi Longe and Stephanie Titcombe, program manager at Qala, will assume roles as program leads for Btrust Builders. The program is shifting its focus towards open-source training and extends an invitation to senior African software developers to participate in Bitcoin and Lightning development.

Btrust Board Member Ojoma Ochai expressed, "We are immensely proud to welcome Femi and his exceptional team to Btrust. With Qala's extensive reach and world-class programs, the organization has made remarkable strides in promoting open-source development in the Global South by advancing education in the region, aligning perfectly with our core mission at Btrust."

Bernard Parah, co-founder and director of Qala, reflected on this partnership, saying, "When we launched our program in 2021, our objective was straightforward: to cultivate a substantial number of African engineers well-versed in Bitcoin's potential to transform the continent. Today's announcement significantly expedites this mission, enhancing our ability to not only grow our current community but also provide them with the resources to actively contribute to Bitcoin's open-source development as a crucial solution to Africa's distinct socio-economic challenges." This bold step forward reaffirms our commitment to fostering Bitcoin innovation in Africa and beyond.