making the world a better place #Bitcoin
Nairobi, Kenya
Joined January 2016
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Mercy Mbao retweeted
Hash-Based Signature Schemes Explained
Part 1: WOTS (Winternitz One-Time Signatures)
Mercy Mbao retweeted
An update to Bitcoin Core's security policy
via @darosior on the Bitcoin-Dev mailing list
There is always something to learn in this sessions 🎉, hearing different perspectives of how community, developers and node runners contribute to the ecosystem, especially with the long debate of the block size limit.
📚 Another Readers’ Friday Book Club in the books!
Chapter 18 of Hijacking Bitcoin by Roger Ver and Steve Patterson took us through the blocksize wars, the Hong Kong and New York Agreements, and the tensions surrounding Bitcoin’s development and scaling.
Some key takeaways from our discussion:
→ Who shapes Bitcoin’s future? The role of developers, miners, businesses, and the wider community in protocol decisions.
→ The importance of multiple implementations: Why having different teams working on Bitcoin software matters for decentralisation and resilience.
→ Scaling comes with trade-offs: How decisions about block sizes, SegWit, and second-layer solutions reflect different priorities for Bitcoin.
→ Open discussion matters: Bitcoin’s history is worth examining critically, questioning assumptions, and considering different perspectives.
A big thank you to everyone who joined, shared their thoughts, challenged ideas, and contributed to the conversation.🧡
See you at the next Book Club! ⚡
Mercy Mbao retweeted
I'm glad to share that our book on zero-knowledge protocols now has a full chapter on post-quantum zero-knowledge proving systems with over 100 pages!
It covers lattice-based Σ-protocols, LaBRADOR, and ZK-STARKs, with all the necessary prerequisites included.
Link below 👇
seen the new look✅,
I get to see my recent transaction easily🔥 without much navigation within the app. so cool – at Nairobi, Kenya
It took us a little while, but the new Tando is finally HERE🔥
A fresh new look, and a better and faster overall experience. We’ve put a lot of thought and work into this and we’re so grateful to everyone who helped bring this new look to life (@_shams_ad @thetimileyin @waithiraah @proofofpaul )
Now it’s your turn to check it out! Update your Tando app here:
🤖Google Play: play.google.com/store/apps/d…
🍎App Store: apps.apple.com/ke/app/tando/…
(Fedi mini-app update coming soon.)
And tell us in the comments: What’s your favourite feature on the new app? We’re curious!
🎥: @proofofpaul
Mercy Mbao retweeted
A new release candidate of Bitcoin Core, v32.0rc3, is available for testing.
This is a new major release, and follows v31.1.
Work-in-progress release notes are here: github.com/bitcoin-core/bitc…
Binaries are available here: bitcoincore.org/bin/bitcoin-…
Mercy Mbao retweeted
New contributors (4/4):
• Lucas Lima (GitHub: lucasdbr05)
• mercy mbao @junearsenic7
Developer metrics & journeys:
orange-dev.bitcoindatalabs.o…
Mercy Mbao retweeted
Ahmet Kurt (@startimeahmet) and Jan B (@_jan__b) joined Optech to discuss Newsletter #424:
News
● Proposal for a post-quantum Lightning Network (1:10)
Selected Q&A from Bitcoin Stack Exchange
● What would be a drawback if sum instead of SHA256 of amounts was used in the taproot signature message? (36:18)
● Post-BIP110 fork is it necessary to resync from block 0? (39:32)
● Can a Bitcoin node build a partial UTXO set from only the most recent blocks and use it to validate new transactions? (42:16)
Releases and release candidates
● Bitcoin Core 32.0rc2 (21:13)
● Core Lightning 26.06.8 (45:36)
● LDK v0.3-rc2 (47:15)
Notable code and documentation changes
● Bitcoin Core #34566 (51:31)
● BIPs #1951 (54:14)
● BIPs #2224 (57:45)
● Core Lightning #9507 (1:02:00)
● Core Lightning #9508 (1:07:35)
● Core Lightning #9509 (1:12:02)
● Core Lightning #9510 (1:16:03)
● Core Lightning #9513 (1:20:01)
● LND #11198 (1:21:47)
● LND #11146 (1:24:15)
● LND #11132 (1:27:20)
Mercy Mbao retweeted
A new release candidate of Bitcoin Core, v32.0rc2, is available for testing.
This is a new major release, and follows v31.1.
Work-in-progress release notes are here: github.com/bitcoin-core/bitc…
Binaries are available here: bitcoincore.org/bin/bitcoin-…
Mercy Mbao retweeted
Excited to announce our partnership with @DadaDevs! 💚
Pull will serve as a pathway for Dada Devs members to move from learning to building and making real contributions to open source projects.
Together, we’re helping more developers become open source contributors.
Welcome to pull, Dada Devs! 🚀
Mercy Mbao retweeted
being an open-source Bitcoin dev is a dream job:
- strong mission. we're building open source money for centuries to come.
- excellence. your peers are some of the smartest researchers and developers in the world.
- open-source ethos. open-source software is what the entire digital world is built on. be part of the counter-force to proprietary and closed systems.
- cryptography. learn how to do magic with numbers, how to give people power with math.
- funding. non-profit organizations provide funding for strong Bitcoin developers. put in the work and you'll find support.
- politics & economics. bitcoin is a societal experiment. a fixed supply currency as an alternative to infinitely printable fiat money.
Mercy Mbao retweeted
There are a lot of developers opening PRs.
But who’s reviewing them? 👀
If you’re looking to contribute to open source without writing code, head over to Pull Reviews.
Find a PR from another builder, take a look, leave useful feedback, and help move the project forward.
Your next contribution might just be a review.
👉 pullos.dev/pr-reviews
Mercy Mbao retweeted
📚 Readers’ Friday Book Club Recap!
Tonight, we had a great discussion around Chapter 15: “Fighting Back” from Hijacking Bitcoin by Roger Ver and Steve Patterson (@steveinpursuit).
Here are some of our key takeaways:
🔹 Bitcoin development is also a social process.
The chapter shows that Bitcoin’s direction is shaped not only by code, but by developers, miners, businesses and users making decisions about what the network should become.
🔹 The block size debate was about more than block size.
At its core was a bigger question: should Bitcoin prioritise keeping blocks small and fees higher, or increase capacity to make everyday transactions cheaper and easier?
🔹 BitcoinXT challenged the idea of a single development path.
BitcoinXT gave developers and miners an alternative implementation and created a way to challenge the direction being taken by Bitcoin Core.
🔹 Hard forks showed the cost of disagreement.
A hard fork can allow major changes to Bitcoin’s rules, but it also carries the risk of dividing the community, businesses and network.
🔹 Who gets to decide Bitcoin’s direction?
The chapter raises important questions about the influence of developers, miners, businesses and users, and what “consensus” really means in an open-source network.
🔹 Competing implementations can create pressure.
The chapter argues that having alternatives can prevent development from becoming concentrated in the hands of a small group.
Most importantly, the discussion reminded us that Bitcoin’s history is full of difficult trade-offs and disagreements worth studying from different perspectives.
Thank you to everyone who showed up, asked questions, challenged ideas and shared their thoughts. 🧡
See you at the next Readers’ Friday Book Club! ⚡
📚 Readers’ Friday Book Club!
Tonight, we continue Chapter 15: “Fighting Back” from Hijacking Bitcoin by Roger Ver and Steve Patterson (@steveinpursuit).
We’ll discuss BitcoinXT, BIP101, the block size debate, hard forks, Bitcoin Core, and the difficult question of how Bitcoin development should be governed.
🕕 6:00 PM UTC
💬 Discord: discord.gg/mWt628TA4k
Bring your questions, disagreements and thoughts. ⚡
See you there!
Mercy Mbao retweeted
Open source needs more than people opening PRs.
We got this feedback recently:
“Looking across the open source ecosystem, a lot of them needs more reviews now rather than just PRs. Perhaps you could have a dashboard for reviews.”
We thought about it, and they had a point.
Open source needs people writing code.
But it also needs people willing to look at that code, ask questions, catch things, and help move good work forward.
So we built Reviews on Pull.
Now builders can:
- Discover PRs that need reviewers
- Submit their own PRs and ask other builders on Pull to review them
- Give and receive feedback from other open source builders
Because contributing to open source isn't always about opening a PR.
Sometimes you're reviewing one, sometimes you're asking someone to review yours, and both are real contributions.
Reviews is now live on Pull.
Check it out → pullos.dev/pr-reviews
Mercy Mbao retweeted
𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘆 𝗠𝗯𝗮𝗼 (@junearsenic7 ), 𝗮 𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗶𝗸𝘂𝘆𝘂 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. ☀️
Mercy Mbao retweeted
Women developers in Kenya, this one is for you. 👀
@hack4_freedom in partnership with Dada Devs is bringing together women developers in Kenya to learn, build and contribute to the Bitcoin and freedom-tech ecosystem.
Expect technical workshops, hands-on building, mentorship, open-source collaboration and a hackathon where you get to turn what you learn into something real.
And upto $4000+ in awards!
📅 September 22 – October 5, 2026
Ready to explore what you can build with Bitcoin and freedom technologies?
Register here:
app.evento.so/e/evt_thLRxQBL…
#Hack4Freedom #DadaDevs #BitcoinDevelopment
Mercy Mbao retweeted
🎬 Watch Party Wednesday!
Bitcoin is a journey, and you don't have to walk it alone.
Join us today for a Watch Party as we explore a Bitcoin video, share our thoughts, ask questions, and learn from one another.
🕑 2:00 PM UTC
📍 Discord: discord.gg/uVD8C5Jurh
Come curious. Leave with something new. ⚡
Mercy Mbao retweeted
Hack4freedom is coming to Nairobi 🇰🇪
From Sept 22 to Oct 5, we’re bringing our two-week bitcoin and freedom technology bootcamp + hackathon for women developers to Kenya.
This edition is hosted in collaboration with @DadaDevs, who are helping us bring Hack4freedom to life in Nairobi☺️ Special thank you to @marcelorraine & @wandiology for making this possible.
Women developers in Nairobi, this is for you.
✅Apply: evt.so/apply-h4f
📆 RSVP on Evento: evt.so/h4f-kenya
🧡 Sponsored by @btrustteam @SoapboxTech @evento_so
Mercy Mbao retweeted
Another one down!!!
It's always a pleasure growing developers in the bitcoin space with one of my favourite things to do, talking and coding bitcoin.
Thank you for the opportunity @DadaDevs. Amazing curriculum too😍😍ate down
Today marks the final session of Dada Devs Cohort 5, and we’re taking a moment to celebrate our Peer Leads. 🧡
Throughout the cohort, @KalukiTiiime, @Su_Githaiga , @NNakhero , @ELivingproof , @kavengi_lilian , @imm9cul9t3, and @mujojojayar took on the responsibility of supporting their respective learning groups through the technical journey.
From working through assignments together and reviewing each other’s solutions to helping peers troubleshoot, think through technical problems, and stay accountable to their projects, they helped make learning a collaborative process.
In a technical programme, learning doesn’t happen only during class. It happens when you open a GitHub repository, attempt the problem, get stuck, review someone else’s approach, receive feedback, and try again.
Our Peer Leads helped create more of those moments within their groups.
Thank you for contributing your time, technical knowledge, and leadership to Cohort 5. We’re proud to have had you lead from within the community. 🧡
Well done, Peer Leads! 🎉
#DadaDevs #BitcoinDevelopment #OpenSource #BuildOnBitcoin
