OpenSats Bitcoin & Nostr Grants
By OpenSats
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Quick Answer
Bitcoin-paid grants from OpenSats for free and open-source Bitcoin, nostr and related work. Three tracks, open to applicants worldwide, pseudonymous applicants welcome.
About this grant
The OpenSats Bitcoin & Nostr Grants come from OpenSats, a US non-profit (a 501(c)(3) public charity) that supports contributors to Bitcoin, nostr and related free and open-source projects. Grants are paid in bitcoin, the page publishes no grant amounts, and the listing is open now with no fixed deadline. OpenSats says its programs are open to applicants worldwide and are "nym-friendly", so an Indian developer, designer, researcher or educator can apply, including under a pseudonym.
What the program offers
OpenSats runs three tracks. The General Grant is funded by donations to the OpenSats General Fund and handed out periodically by the board to high-impact projects in the Bitcoin space. Long-Term Support (LTS) is a limited number of grants for projects that are critical to the Bitcoin ecosystem, aimed at developers and maintainers of Bitcoin Core and similar projects. The RED Token Reimbursement is for security researchers who red-team Bitcoin and related free and open-source software; it covers the cost of AI-model tokens and related computing. The page says this track is always open and applications are being fast-tracked.
The source gives no grant sizes and no payment schedule. Payouts go to a bitcoin address. The value of bitcoin moves, so the rupee value of a payout can change between approval and the day you convert it.
Who can apply
All three programs are open to applicants anywhere in the world. The work must be free and open-source and connected to Bitcoin, nostr or a related technology. Your source code and documents must be publicly available to access, edit and redistribute free of charge, under a proper open-source licence, and educational material must be public under an open licence. Examples the page mentions as welcome include Bitcoin Core contributions, scientific or security research, code review and design or user-experience work.
This suits individual developers, researchers, educators and small open-source teams in India. It does not suit a closed-source product, a startup that wants funding for a commercial service, or a project with no link to Bitcoin or nostr. OpenSats also says it does not discriminate in selection on personal characteristics such as race, religion, gender, disability or veteran status.
How to apply
Choose the track that fits and use its own application page on the OpenSats site. The page asks for applications that are well written, informative and concise, ideally fitting on one page while still giving everything needed to judge the project or the person. OpenSats also keeps a separate application FAQ, which explains what working under a free and open-source licence means. A practical tip: read that FAQ before you write, and point to your public repository and licence in the first few lines.
How applications are judged and what happens next
Every application is reviewed by the OpenSats board of directors. The page names three criteria that are crucial for any successful application. First, Bitcoin: the project should directly affect how useful or widely adopted Bitcoin is, and projects that are not easily funded elsewhere and clearly benefit the community are preferred. Second, free and open-source: areas of interest include secure messaging, merchant acceptance tools and layer-two protocols. Third, transparency and education: funded contributors are expected to share what they know, and mentoring newcomers counts in your favour.
The page gives no review timeline. If you are approved, OpenSats contacts you for what it needs to pay you, which can include tax information depending on where you live, and a bitcoin address.
About OpenSats
OpenSats is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to support contributors to Bitcoin, nostr and related free and open-source projects. The board vets every application, and the General Fund is supported by donations. Its support page and selection page give more detail than the application page.
Things to check before you apply
- The listing does not publish how much a grant is, so do not plan a budget around a figure.
- Payment is in bitcoin only. A practical tip: check how you would convert it in India and what the tax treatment is, and ask an adviser before you rely on it.
- Earlier information on this listing said OpenSats closes applications in March, June, September and December. The application page I could read does not mention closed months, so check the live page before you submit.
- Your work must be public and openly licensed. If part of it must stay private, this is probably not the right funder.
- Only the RED track is described as always open and fast-tracked; the General and LTS tracks are handed out periodically.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
What You Get
Approved projects receive a grant paid in bitcoin. OpenSats does not publish a standard grant size, and keeps each amount private by default. Long-term support grants are available for a small number of projects critical to Bitcoin, and security researchers can claim back LLM token and compute costs through the RED Token Reimbursement track.
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Applications
Rolling basis
Selection Process
The OpenSats board of directors vets every application. Bitcoin impact, free and open-source work, and transparency and education are described as crucial for success. The source gives no review timeline; approved applicants are contacted for payout details.
Application Process
- 1
Apply
Submit a short application for the General, LTS or RED track.
You - 2
- 3
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for OpenSats Bitcoin and nostr grants?
Anyone working on free and open-source projects related to Bitcoin, nostr or a related technology can apply, including developers, designers, researchers, educators and code reviewers. The programs are open worldwide and the page calls OpenSats nym-friendly. The project and its documents must be publicly available under a proper open-source licence.
Can Indian startups and developers apply for OpenSats grants?
Yes. OpenSats says all its programs are open to applicants worldwide, so people in India are eligible. The project must be free and open-source, so a closed commercial startup is not a good fit. The source does not mention any India-specific rule.
How much is an OpenSats grant?
The application page does not state grant amounts or ranges. Awards are decided by the board case by case. Do not assume any figure before you hear from OpenSats.
How does OpenSats pay grants?
Payouts are made to a bitcoin address. If you are approved, OpenSats contacts you for what it needs to pay you, which may include tax information depending on your location. Because bitcoin's price moves, the rupee value can change.
What is the deadline for OpenSats grants, and what if it has passed?
The page gives no application deadline, and the listing is open now. The RED Token Reimbursement track is described as always open. Earlier listing text mentioned closed months, which the page I read does not confirm, so check the live page for the current position.
Is an OpenSats grant a grant or equity?
It is a grant. The source describes funding for open-source contributors and does not mention OpenSats taking any ownership. Your work is expected to stay public and openly licensed.
What do I need to prepare to apply to OpenSats?
Prepare a concise application, ideally one page, explaining how the project helps Bitcoin, why it is free and open-source and how you will share what you learn. Have your public repository or documents and your licence ready. The page does not list further required documents.
What does OpenSats look for when judging applications?
Three things matter most: a direct benefit to Bitcoin, free and open-source work, and transparency and education. Projects that are hard to fund elsewhere and clearly help the community are preferred, and mentoring newcomers is valued.
Do I have to travel to apply for an OpenSats grant?
The source mentions no travel or in-person requirement. Applications are submitted online through the OpenSats site.
Is it free to apply to OpenSats, and when are results announced?
The source does not mention an application fee. It also gives no decision date; the board reviews applications and approved applicants are contacted about payout details.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
