Call for Applications: Open Hardware

Developers and contributors working on Bitcoin, nostr, and adjacent free and open-source projects can apply for a grant during the first two months of each quarter, and our board will review them on a rolling basis.

Twice a year, in the spring and fall, we highlight an area where we would like to see more applications. This fall, we're interested in funding developers working on open-source Bitcoin hardware and the respective firmware that runs on it.

Hardware plays a critical role in Bitcoin mining and self-custody. A lot of what is available in the market is proprietary, limiting who can inspect its design, manufacture devices, or modify the software running on it.

Publishing hardware designs and firmware code under free and open-source licenses enable independent developers and manufacturers to build, study, repair, and improve these devices. OpenSats has supported several projects working to decentralize Bitcoin hardware.

Bitaxe develops open-source Bitcoin mining hardware, with publicly available board designs and firmware that individuals can use to build and operate their own miners.

In Kenya, the Bitshoka project has adapted Bitaxe designs for local manufacturing while researching MicroBT ASICs and publishing hardware specifications for further experimentation.

On the self-custody side, Krux provides open-source firmware that turns inexpensive and easily accessible hardware components into air-gapped Bitcoin signers. The related Krux-Installer project makes it easier to install and verify that firmware, including an update process that allows signing devices to remain offline.

The 256 Foundation has also received OpenSats support for its work on an open Bitcoin mining stack, including hashboards, control boards, and mining firmware. Our Open Hardware for Open Money impact report covers the progress of these projects in more detail, demonstrating how public schematics, manufacturing files, and firmware can provide individuals and small operators more options to build and maintain their own Bitcoin hardware.

We would like to fund more projects like those mentioned above, including new mining and signing devices, firmware, hardware security research, improved manufacturing and testing tools, and efforts to document or replace proprietary components and interfaces with free and open-source ones. Proposals that extend existing projects as well as new approaches to problems that have not been addressed are also welcome.

A strong application should explain the problem being solved, reference the work that’s already completed, and what the developer intends to accomplish during the grant period with the funds. We’re especially interested in projects with a clear plan to publish designs, code, and documentation for anyone to inspect, reproduce, and build upon.

If you're a hardware designer, firmware developer, or researcher working on free and open-source Bitcoin hardware, we encourage you to submit a grant application. Applications go through our standard review process, and our Application FAQ covers timelines, budgets, references, and other common questions.

Grants supporting this type of work will be funded through our General Fund. Thanks to our donors for making this funding possible. If you would like to help us support more developers building open-source Bitcoin hardware, please consider making a recurring donation.