The heart and soul of the Bitcoin movement isn’t found in price charts or corporate boardrooms—it lives in the global network of developers, designers, and visionaries who contribute their time, energy, and expertise to open-source projects. These contributors operate without centralized oversight, driven by a shared belief in financial sovereignty, privacy, and decentralization.
Bitcoin thrives because of open-source innovation. Unlike proprietary software controlled by corporations, open-source tools are transparent, auditable, and community-driven. They empower individuals to take full control of their digital lives—free from surveillance, censorship, and gatekeeping.
At Bitcoin 2024, we recognize that the strength of our ecosystem lies in its contributors. That’s why we’re committed to supporting open-source developers by offering free three-day passes to those who have made a verified commit to qualifying projects before May 1st, 2024. This initiative reflects our mission: to host the most accessible, inclusive, and technically grounded Bitcoin event each year—rooted in the principles of decentralization and open collaboration.
Whether you're building a wallet, designing privacy tools, or advancing Layer 2 protocols, your work fuels the future of Bitcoin. Let’s explore some of the most impactful open-source projects shaping the ecosystem today.
🔐 Wallets: Self-Custody at Your Fingertips
Bitcoin wallets are the gateway to financial autonomy. The following open-source wallets prioritize security, usability, and user sovereignty.
- 10101 – Combines self-custodial on-chain and off-chain functionality with integrated trading features.
- Alby – A browser extension that brings Lightning Network payments directly into web applications.
- Aqua Wallet – Free, open-source mobile wallet for iOS and Android.
- Bitkit – Offers lightning transactions, social profiles, and data streaming widgets.
- Blink – Custodial Lightning wallet with built-in education and merchant tools.
- Blixt Wallet – Focuses on user experience for Lightning transactions.
- Blue Wallet – Popular mobile wallet supporting multisig and hardware integrations.
- Border Wallets – Helps users memorize seed phrases via visual grids.
- Breez Wallet – User-friendly Lightning wallet with podcasting 2.0 support.
- Electrum – Desktop wallet compatible with hardware devices and multisig setups.
- Enuts – Cashu-based e-cash wallet for mobile platforms.
- Etta Wallet – Simple, non-custodial wallet emphasizing accessibility.
- FullyNoded – Connects to your own Bitcoin Core node for full control.
- Krux Wallet – DIY firmware for building custom signing hardware.
- Mercury Wallet – Uses statechains for off-chain Bitcoin swaps.
- Minibits – E-cash wallet powered by the Cashu protocol.
- Mutiny Wallet – Self-custodial Lightning wallet that runs across devices.
- Muun Wallet – Mobile wallet combining on-chain and Lightning payments seamlessly.
- Samourai Wallet – Privacy-focused Android wallet with Tor integration.
- Satsigner – Mobile-first concept for Bitcoin signing.
- Sparrow Wallet – Feature-rich desktop wallet with PayJoin and CoinJoin support.
- Specter Wallet – Works with hardware wallets and your personal node.
- Wasabi Wallet – Privacy-centric desktop wallet with built-in CoinJoin.
- Zeus – Mobile interface for managing your Lightning node.
- phoenix – Self-custodial Lightning wallet by ACINQ.
👉 Discover how decentralized finance is evolving with next-gen tools.
⚙️ Utilities: Infrastructure That Powers the Ecosystem
Behind every great application is robust infrastructure. These open-source utilities enhance privacy, connectivity, and functionality across the Bitcoin network.
- OpenTimestamps – Trust-minimized timestamping using Bitcoin’s blockchain.
- Amethyst – Nostr social client for Android.
- BTC Map – Locate Bitcoin-friendly businesses globally.
- BTCPay Server – Accept Bitcoin payments without intermediaries.
- Bisq – Decentralized peer-to-peer exchange platform.
- Bitaxe – Open-source ASIC miner hardware.
- Bitcoin Core – The reference implementation and backbone of the network.
- Blockchain Commons – Tools for secure key and identity management.
- Blossom – HTTP-based data storage specification.
- Braidpool – DAG-based decentralized mining pool.
- CalyxOS – Privacy-first mobile operating system.
- Cashu – Chaumian e-cash system for Lightning.
- Damus – Nostr client for Apple devices.
- Electrs – High-performance indexer for Bitcoin nodes.
- Fedimint – Community-based Bitcoin custody protocol.
- Frost – Threshold signature scheme for secure multi-party signing.
- Galoy – Bitcoin banking infrastructure for enterprises.
- GrapheneOS – Secure Android-compatible OS.
- Immortan – Lightweight LN implementation for mobile devices.
- Jam – Web UI for JoinMarket with beginner-friendly defaults.
- LNBits – Lightning integration platform for developers.
- LNp2pBot – Telegram-based Lightning trading bot.
- Mempool – Real-time view of the Bitcoin mempool.
- Mostro – No-KYC P2P exchange on Nostr.
- Nostr Wallet Connect – Standardized protocol for connecting Nostr apps to Lightning wallets.
- Nostros – Open-source Nostr client for Android.
- PayJoin – Privacy-preserving payment method that reduces fees.
- RaspiBlitz – DIY full node setup using Raspberry Pi.
- Robosats – Private P2P fiat-to-Bitcoin exchange.
- RoninDojo – Full node with Samourai integration via QR+Tor.
- Snort – Fast Nostr UI built with React.
- Sphinx Chat – End-to-end encrypted messaging over Lightning.
- Start9 – Linux distro optimized for personal servers.
- TBD – Building decentralized web infrastructure.
- Vexl – P2P mobile app for buying and selling BTC.
- coinswap – Rust-based atomic swap implementation.
🔧 Hardware & Frameworks: Building Blocks of Innovation
From DIY hardware to developer frameworks, these projects enable deeper customization and scalability.
Hardware
- Nodl – Easy-to-run 24/7 Bitcoin node.
- Seedsigner – Build-your-own hardware signer (~$50).
Frameworks
- Ark – Second-layer protocol for anonymous off-chain payments.
- AuthLN – Zero-trust cybersecurity solution leveraging Lightning authentication.
- BitVM – Enables smarter Bitcoin smart contracts.
- Bitcoin Design Community – Open resource for UX/UI designers in Bitcoin.
- Bitcoin Dev Kit (BDK) – Cross-platform library for building wallets.
- Core Lightning – Plugin-driven Lightning implementation.
- Joinmarket – Decentralized CoinJoin for enhanced privacy.
- LDK (Lightning Dev Kit) – Rust-based framework for building LN apps.
- LND – Most widely used Lightning implementation.
- Nix-Bitcoin – NixOS modules for secure node deployment.
- Nostr Development Kit (NDK) – Toolkit for building Nostr applications.
- Slashtags – Peer-to-peer identity and data control tools.
- Stratum V2 – Next-gen mining protocol improving efficiency and security.
- Validating Lightning Signer (VLS) – Secure separation of signing keys from nodes.
- acinq (lightning-kmp) – Kotlin-based LN implementation for mobile apps.
- nostr – Simple, scalable decentralized social protocol.
🌐 Non-Bitcoin Projects Supporting the Stack
Some tools aren’t Bitcoin-specific but are essential to the ecosystem:
- Tor Project – Critical privacy layer used by many Bitcoin applications to anonymize traffic.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who qualifies for a free pass to Bitcoin 2024?
A: Open-source contributors who made at least one commit to any listed project before May 1st, 2024 can apply after verifying their contribution.
Q: Can I transfer my existing ticket if I can’t attend?
A: Yes, previously purchased tickets can be transferred, though they are non-refundable.
Q: Are all projects equally prioritized?
A: No. The list is alphabetical and unranked—each project contributes uniquely to the ecosystem.
Q: Is this event only for developers?
A: While we honor developers, Bitcoin 2024 welcomes everyone—from newcomers to experts—who supports open-source values.
Q: How does supporting open-source align with Bitcoin’s ethos?
A: Open-source development embodies decentralization, transparency, and resistance to control—core tenets of Bitcoin itself.
Q: Why focus on pre-May 1st commits?
A: This cutoff ensures fairness and allows time for verification before the event.
👉 See how you can get involved in decentralized innovation today.
Final Thoughts
The open-source community is the engine of Bitcoin’s evolution. Every line of code written, every design improved, and every node deployed strengthens our collective financial future. By recognizing and supporting these contributors, we honor the true spirit of decentralization.
Whether you’re a developer, designer, educator, or advocate—your role matters. Together, we’re not just building software—we’re building freedom.