Bitcoin's maintainers are burning out, and the companies that benefit from...

Bitcoin's maintainers are burning out, and the companies that benefit from their work should be the ones paying for it.

Calle put it plainly: "I know multiple people who basically quit working on Bitcoin because of how stressful it is to maintain software that handles money nowadays."

@MartyBent has seen the stress around AI-enabled vulnerability discovery and exploitation himself. Maintaining software that handles other people's money was already a serious responsibility.

Companies that benefit from Bitcoin should help pay the people maintaining it. Fund security audits and independent code review. Support developers on critical parts of the stack so they aren't wondering how to pay their bills.

@callebtc also asked: "Do we just accept fiat as the end game?"

Bitcoin is here to separate money from state and bring money back to the market. Meanwhile a surveillance architecture is going up around data and finances.

The Financial Action Task Force, the Bank for International Settlements and the Federal Reserve have different mandates, but none of them should get to decide the common man has no alternative.

You don't have to maintain Bitcoin Core to help. Build a better wallet, teach someone self-custody, back a developer.

The people holding the line for individual freedom need support, not just thanks.

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