Fedi to Go Open Source on Bitcoin Genesis Anniversary

Bitcoin Magazine

Fedi to Go Open Source on Bitcoin Genesis Anniversary

Fedi will release its full software stack as open source on Jan. 3, completing a pledge made at launch in 2024.

The company said all Fedi software has now transitioned to the Affero General Public License (AGPL), following an interim period under a business source license. 

The change makes Fedi’s codebase publicly available under a copyleft license that requires derivative works to remain open, according to a spokesperson from Fedi. 

The date carries weight in Bitcoin history. Jan. 3 marks the anniversary of the Bitcoin genesis block, mined in 2009. Fedi said the timing reflects its focus on community ownership and grassroots financial infrastructure.

When Fedi launched, it said it aimed to become a “freedom technology” by giving control back to users and communities. The move to open source fulfills that commitment, the company said, and removes the risk of vendor lock-in for groups that rely on the software.

Fedi is used by communities to build local financial and social systems. Its app combines encrypted messaging, bitcoin payments, and additional services through Mini App extensions. Wallet infrastructure is powered by the Fedimint protocol, which allows groups to operate shared bitcoin custody using federated trust models.

The AGPL license is designed to ensure that improvements remain public, even when the software is used in hosted or networked services. Supporters say this aligns development incentives with user interests.

Fedi executives have highlighted the licensing shift in recent public appearances, including a BitcoinMENA pre-show segment featuring CEO Obi Nwosu.

With the transition complete, Fedi joins a growing group of Bitcoin-native projects returning to fully open development as adoption spreads beyond early adopters and into community-scale use cases.

Fedi: From Chaumian e-cash to federated bitcoin mints

Fedimint is built on ideas first proposed by cryptographer David Chaum in the early 1980s. Chaumian e-cash allows users to transact without revealing identity or transaction history to the issuer. Earlier versions of digital cash failed to gain adoption due to centralization, since a single mint controlled issuance and redemption. That structure created trust and censorship risks.

Bitcoin solved the double-spend problem by decentralizing transaction validation across a global network of nodes. It removed the need for a trusted mint but introduced tradeoffs. Transactions are public, and throughput remains limited.

Fedimint attempts to bridge those models. It uses Bitcoin as the reserve asset while distributing custody across a federation of independent operators, known as guardians. No single party controls funds or transaction data. This structure reduces censorship risk while preserving user privacy.

Fedi’s goal is to let communities deploy shared financial infrastructure without reliance on banks or centralized platforms.

This post Fedi to Go Open Source on Bitcoin Genesis Anniversary first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

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