The Bitcoin Core development team launched a “ Sponsorship Programme ” on Monday that intends to provide an easy access point for the Bitcoin industry to support Bitcoin’s long-time reference client with both funding and other types of contributions.
Bitcoin Core developer and Ciphrex CEO Eric Lombrozo: “The entire ecosystem depends on projects like Bitcoin Core, but most companies haven’t really had a way of contributing resources for this effectively. We want to offer that, and encourage greater involvement in the development process.” Funding
The sponsorship program is not the first attempt to fund Bitcoin development. But over the years, it was difficult to provide a consistent stream of income for the most active contributors to the project, as most companies were hesitant to contribute. And donation and crowdfunding-based methods proved insufficient.
Lombrozo explained: “Funding Bitcoin development has always been a complicated issue. A first attempt to structurally ensure funding for the team, the Bitcoin Foundation, was established in 2012, but ran out of funds last year. Since then, MIT Media Lab’s Digital Currency Initiative pays the salaries of three developers: Wladimir van der Laan, Cory Fields and Gavin Andresen. Others – like myself – fund our work through a company we founded ourselves, while a small number of developers are hired by companies. And some volunteer their efforts.” The sponsorship program is perhaps the most direct way for industry players to help fund the development process yet. Potential sponsors can contact some of the most active developers of the project directly through email, after which arrangements can be set up.
Projects
Along with the announcement of the program, the Bitcoin Core development team published a list of projects that require funding or resources (or both.) These include technical projects to improve the Bitcoin Core software and the Bitcoin protocol in […]
