Summer season of Bitcoin (SoB), a worldwide, distant program designed to coach college college students as contributors to Bitcoin open-source initiatives, has opened purposes for its 2026 cohort.
This system supplies mentorship, real-world growth expertise, and a stipend paid in Bitcoin.
Functions will stay open till February 15, 2026.
Summer season of Bitcoin provides college students a structured setting to contribute on to Bitcoin and associated open-source initiatives.
Contributors work with skilled mentors and undertaking maintainers, develop technical and collaboration abilities, and create verifiable proof of labor in public repositories.
Chosen college students obtain a stipend of roughly $6,600, paid in BTC, with the precise quantity relying on their location, this system shared with Bitcoin Journal.
“Bitcoin’s long-term resilience is dependent upon the well being of its open-source contributor pipeline,” stated Adi Shankara, Program Lead at Summer season of Bitcoin. “Summer season of Bitcoin 2026 is designed to speed up actual open-source adoption by turning high-potential college students into succesful, sturdy contributors.”
The 2026 program emphasizes the flexibility to validate, motive, and ship software program, reflecting adjustments in AI-assisted software program growth.
Shankara stated candidates will likely be assessed on programming abilities, safety pondering, and understanding of Bitcoin’s technical foundations, together with accountable use of AI instruments.
Bitcoin Developer or Designer Observe
Candidates can select between two tracks. The Developer Observe is for college students who need to contribute code to Bitcoin initiatives, together with protocol-adjacent tooling and infrastructure.
The Designer Observe is for college students targeted on bettering usability, product expertise, and interface design for Bitcoin purposes. Candidate choice prioritizes verifiable proof of labor, reminiscent of significant open-source contributions, technical workshops, or shipped instruments with customers.
Summer season of Bitcoin alumni have pursued roles throughout the Bitcoin business and open-source ecosystem.
About 35% of graduates now work within the business, both at Bitcoin corporations or as open-source contributors funded via grants, totaling roughly 69 alumni.
Many alumni return as mentors, guiding new college students on initiatives together with Alby, bcoin, Galoy, libsecp256k1, Bitcoin Core, Zeus, Bitcoin Design, Fedimint, and Floresta.
Alumni additionally interact in training and advocacy, supporting scholar and developer networks reminiscent of Vinteum in Brazil and Bitshala in India.
This system supplies college students a reputable entry level into Bitcoin, producing graduates who carry technical information and expertise into their careers whereas usually selling Bitcoin inside their universities and communities.