OpenSats is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 2020 that operates on a 100% pass-through funding model. This means all grant funding flows directly to recipients, while operational costs are covered by separate dedicated sources. The organization is governed by a nine-person board and regularly publishes financial statements, bylaws, and progress reports.
The charity has allocated over $36.6 million in Bitcoin to 413 grantees across more than 40 countries. Monthly disbursements now average around $1 million. The efficiency of Bitcoin transactions is highlighted by Q2 2026 data, which shows that sending 36 BTC to grantees cost only $12.51 in transaction fees.
Funding is divided into two primary pools: the General Fund, which supports Bitcoin development and related open-source tools, and the Nostr Fund, for developers working on the decentralized social protocol. Recipients include developers of Bitcoin Core, Nostr clients, privacy tools, and educational resources.
Major donors include the Reynolds Foundation and Jack Dorsey’s #startsmall initiative, both of which have provided multimillion-dollar contributions. These funds have allowed OpenSats to scale its monthly allocations to the current $1 million pace.
