To fund and maintain a sustainable ecosystem of funding for free and open-source projects and contributors—especially Bitcoin-related projects—and to support associated education and research initiatives.
Open Sats Initiative Inc. centers its grantmaking on free and open-source projects tied to Bitcoin and adjacent freedom tech, with a separate stream for education and research. One of its largest recent awards went to Bitcoin Policy Institute, where a $250,000 grant supported a team of economists, technologists, climate scientists, lawyers, and philosophers producing policy-relevant analysis for policymakers, journalists, and the public. The foundation also backed core open-source infrastructure at scale: Bitcoin Dev Kit Foundation received $150,000 in 2025 for free and open source software development, and another $119,042 grant in 2024 for the same purpose. Recent awards show attention to both software and the surrounding knowledge ecosystem, including projects in the nostr ecosystem, Bitcoin tooling, privacy, wallets, and related research. The organization also uses long-term support grants for projects critical to the Bitcoin ecosystem, and it makes periodic waves of grants through several named programs. Its grantmaking is distributed through board-reviewed general funds and dedicated initiatives, rather than through individual giving.
In policy research, Open Sats Initiative Inc. gave $250,000 to Bitcoin Policy Institute to support a multidisciplinary team working on insights for policymakers, journalists, and the public. In software infrastructure, it awarded $150,000 to Bitcoin Dev Kit Foundation for free and open source software development, and $150,000 to Clams LLC for the same purpose. The education stream is visible in a $50,000 grant to Summer of Bits Inc for free and open source software education. The foundation also supports the nostr ecosystem through a dedicated fund, with grantmaking aimed at clients, relays, libraries, NIPs, cryptography, research, education, design, and infrastructure.
Typical grants fall in the $15,754 to $76,636 range, with a median of $25,500. The recent record shows repeat support for some recipients across multiple years, including Bitcoin Dev Kit Foundation, Coracle Social LLC, Payjoin LLC, and Anoncomputer LLC. That pattern fits a funder that uses recurring waves and periodic board-reviewed grants rather than one-off awards alone. It is classified as a regular funder, makes program-related investments, and funds organizations rather than individuals.
$1.4M
$51.3M
$28.8M
$9.9M
Most grants fall between $16K and $77K, with a median of $26K.
25th Percentile
$16K
Median
$26K
75th Percentile
$77K
About 6% of grants go to recipients in TX.
BENJAMIN PRICE
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Open Sats Initiative.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 32 | $2.1M | 97.0% |
| 2 | United Kingdom | 1 |
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Grantmaking is national, with 97.0% of recent grants going to U.S. recipients and 3.0% to the UK. The highest concentration by state is Texas, and recent grants reached recipients in Austin, Nashville, and St Petersburg. Other recipient locations include Troy, Idaho; Sheridan, Wyoming; and Gilmanton, New Hampshire. The recent list also includes one UK recipient, showing that the foundation’s reach is mostly U.S.-based but not exclusively domestic.
It funds free and open-source projects tied to Bitcoin and the nostr ecosystem, along with education and research initiatives. Active programs cover Bitcoin infrastructure, developer tooling, privacy and wallets, mining decentralization, and education or outreach around Bitcoin and freedom tech.
Typical grants fall between $15,754 at the 25th percentile and $76,636 at the 75th percentile, with a median grant size of $25,500. Recent awards also include larger grants such as $250,000 and $150,000.
Yes. The recent grants list includes multiple recipients that appear across years, including Bitcoin Dev Kit Foundation in 2024 and 2025, Coracle Social LLC in 2024 and 2025, Payjoin LLC in 2024 and 2025, and Anoncomputer LLC in 2024 and 2025.
Yes. Several active programs are marked as accepting unsolicited applications, including The Nostr Fund, OpenSats General Grant, Long-Term Support Grants, General Fund / Project Grants, and the OpenSats Education Initiative.
Its grantmaking scope is national, with recent grants mostly going to U.S. recipients and one grant to the UK. The highest grant count is in Texas.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| $17K |
3.0% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Current and upcoming funding from Open Sats Initiative that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: The fund supports contributors working on nostr. OpenSats states that its programs are open to applicants worldwide and that applications should be well written, informative, concise, and aligned with its mission of supporting free and open-source work.
Deadline: Funding opportunities are announced as they arise.
Who can apply: For projects critical to the Bitcoin ecosystem; geared toward developers and maintainers of Bitcoin Core and similar projects; all applications are vetted by the board; must align with OpenSats mission and criteria.
Deadline: Applications are accepted except in March, June, September, and December.
Who can apply: Projects must be FOSS-friendly or produce openly licensed educational materials aligned with OpenSats' mission. Applicants should demonstrate educational impact and public availability of materials under an open license.
Deadline: Announced in waves. Open application flow subject to periodic closures (March, June, September, December) per FAQ.
Who can apply: Projects should be good for Bitcoin, free and open-source, and aligned with transparency & education. Applications must help further OpenSats’ mission supporting contributors to Bitcoin and related free and open-source projects. OpenSats prefers projects with clear benefit to the Bitcoin community and ecosystem and that are not readily funded elsewhere.
Deadline: Applications are generally accepted year-round, except applications are closed during March, June, September, and December for internal improvements and housekeeping.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAMS LLC | ST PETERSBURG, FL | $150,000 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| BITCOIN DEV KIT FOUNDATION | NASHVILLE, TN | $150,000 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENTFREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| CORACLE SOCIAL LLC | TROY, ID | $125,000 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| SATOSHI NAKAMOTO INSTITUTE | AUSTIN, TX | $115,106 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| J12 SOLUTIONS LLC | HUNTSVILLE, AL | $100,000 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| INTRINSIC BITCOIN LLC | CARY, NC | $100,000 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| INFRAOPS LLC | AUSTIN, TX | $87,500 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| RELAY TOOLS LLC | STANDWOOD, WA | $72,000 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| BITCOIN POLICY INSTITUTE | NASHVILLE, TN | $66,018 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| BENNY B LLC | TAMPA, FL | $51,701 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| DAKOTA SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS LLC | FARGO, ND | $50,000 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| MOELLER OPEN SOURCE | EDEN PRAIRIE, MN | $45,000 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| SANDWICH FARM LLC | SHERIDAN, WY | $45,000 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| ZODU LLC | WILMINGTON, DE | $41,712 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| SHOPSTR LLC | SHERIDAN, WY | $40,000 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| BLITZ WALLET LLC | WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI | $32,562 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| PAYJOIN LLC | GILMANTON, NH | $30,000 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| PIVOTAL PLEB TECH LLC | PROVO, UT | $20,000 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| ANONCOMPUTER LLC | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $20,000 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| SUNNY TXN LLC | AUSTIN, TX | $19,000 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| SDG SYSTEMS LLC | HARMONY, PA | $15,301 | 2025 | FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT |
| Mutiny Wallet Inc | Austin, TX | $150,000 | 2024 | Free and Open Source Software Development |
| BITCOIN DEV KIT FOUNDATION | Nashville, TX | $119,042 | 2024 | Free and Open Source Software Development |
| Coracle Social LLC | Troy, ID | $62,500 | 2024 | Free and Open Source Software Development |
| Summer of Bits Inc | Sheridan, WY | $50,000 | 2024 | Free and Open Source Software Education |
| Payjoin LLC | Gilmanton, NH | $30,000 | 2024 | Free and Open Source Software Development |
| Brink Technology Inc | Austin, TX | $21,000 | 2024 | Free and Open Source Software Development |
| Anoncomputer LLC | Albuquerque, NM | $20,000 | 2024 | Free and Open Source Software Development |
| DAKOTA SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS LLC | Fargo, ND | $12,500 | 2024 | Free and Open Source Software Development |
| Coinstr Inc | Wilmington, DE | $12,000 | 2024 | Free and Open Source Software Development |
| Codafide LLC | Edmond, OK | $2,854 | 2024 | Free and Open Source Software Development |
| BITCOIN POLICY INSTITUTE | NASHVILLE, TN | $250,000 | 2023 | TO FUND A TEAM OF ECONOMISTS, TECHNOLOGISTS, CLIMATE SCIENTISTS, LAWYERS, AND PHILOSOPHERS WHO ARE WORKING TO PROVIDE RELEVANT INSIGHTS TO POLICYMAKERS, JOURNALISTS, AND THE PUBLIC. TOPICS INCLUDE NATIONAL SECURITY AND GEOECONOMICS, FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND HUMAN RIGHTS, THE FUTURE OF MONEY, AND MINING & ENERGY. |
| THOMSON HEATH & ASSOCIATES | TEMPLE | $16,838 | 2023 | COVERING LEGAL COST FOR DEFENDANT. |
CLAMS LLC
$150,000FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
BITCOIN DEV KIT FOUNDATION
$150,000FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENTFREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
CORACLE SOCIAL LLC
$125,000FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
SATOSHI NAKAMOTO INSTITUTE
$115,106FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
J12 SOLUTIONS LLC
$100,000FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
INTRINSIC BITCOIN LLC
$100,000FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
INFRAOPS LLC
$87,500FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
RELAY TOOLS LLC
$72,000FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
BENNY B LLC
$51,701FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
DAKOTA SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS LLC
$50,000FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
MOELLER OPEN SOURCE
$45,000FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
SANDWICH FARM LLC
$45,000FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
ZODU LLC
$41,712FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
SHOPSTR LLC
$40,000FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
BLITZ WALLET LLC
$32,562FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
PAYJOIN LLC
$30,000FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
PIVOTAL PLEB TECH LLC
$20,000FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
ANONCOMPUTER LLC
$20,000FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
SUNNY TXN LLC
$19,000FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
SDG SYSTEMS LLC
$15,301FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
Mutiny Wallet Inc
$150,000Free and Open Source Software Development
BITCOIN DEV KIT FOUNDATION
$119,042Free and Open Source Software Development
Coracle Social LLC
$62,500Free and Open Source Software Development
Summer of Bits Inc
$50,000Free and Open Source Software Education
Payjoin LLC
$30,000Free and Open Source Software Development
Anoncomputer LLC
$20,000Free and Open Source Software Development
DAKOTA SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS LLC
$12,500Free and Open Source Software Development
Coinstr Inc
$12,000Free and Open Source Software Development
Codafide LLC
$2,854Free and Open Source Software Development
TO FUND A TEAM OF ECONOMISTS, TECHNOLOGISTS, CLIMATE SCIENTISTS, LAWYERS, AND PHILOSOPHERS WHO ARE WORKING TO PROVIDE RELEVANT INSIGHTS TO POLICYMAKERS, JOURNALISTS, AND THE PUBLIC. TOPICS INCLUDE NATIONAL SECURITY AND GEOECONOMICS, FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND HUMAN RIGHTS, THE FUTURE OF MONEY, AND MINING & ENERGY.
THOMSON HEATH & ASSOCIATES
$16,838COVERING LEGAL COST FOR DEFENDANT.
