Kraken Funds Bitcoin Rust Maintenance Full Time

In the cryptocurrency world in general, Rust is fast becoming the preferred programming language for secure and durable software. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce that Kraken has officially funded developer Tobin Harding (chatting) as a full-time maintainer for the Bitcoin Rust repository.

Tobin will now devote himself entirely to coordinating the Bitcoin Rust code review, encouraging and sponsoring new contributors, facilitating vital contributor meetings, and improving the infrastructure that powers the global Bitcoin network.

For Kraken, this initiative represents our commitments to both Bitcoin, as a core asset for our global exchange, and Rust, a computer language that helps us facilitate billions of dollars in daily transaction volume for customers around the world.

“Rust has proven time and time again that the language for future-ready infrastructure,” said Steve Hunt, vice president of engineering. “It is our privilege to fund someone as talented as Tobin to further strengthen the Bitcoin ecosystem through its implementation.”

The news follows Kraken’s September announcement of a Bitcoin Rust development fund, started in memory of our late colleague and Tamás Blummer, one of the first contributors to Bitcoin Rust.

The fund is run with the guidance of outside advisers, including Blockstream research director Andrew Poelstra, independent researcher Tuur Demeester, and Kraken Bitcoin product manager Pierre Rochard, who helped in Tobin’s appointment.

“Tobin is an expert in open source development, git workflows, Rust, and Bitcoin,” Poelstra said. “We’re looking forward to the next release of Rust Taproot, and beyond that, improving our processes and APIs in ways we’ve been looking forward to for a long time.”

Kraken previously announced grants for the development of Bitcoin Rust in collaboration with edgea non-profit Bitcoin developer education initiative launched in 2020.

As Rust becomes more and more a core part of our codebase, Kraken is also hiring for a number of roles that require Rust proficiency. Applicants should note that we seek open source contribution experience for all of our full-time development roles. You can find a full list of our open Rust roles on our Careers page.