Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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In this video, I discuss how a single Brink-funded Bitcoin Core maintainer (Michael Ford, aka Fanquake) merged 56% of all pull requests to the project in 2025.
That kind of centralization of both node implementation and merge access is completely unacceptable in a project like Bitcoin.
It's yet another reason that we need strong, robust competing implementations like Bitcoin Knots and ProductionReady.
Not investment advice! Consult a financial advisor.
John Newbery and Gloria Zhao:
https://x.com/jfnewbery/status/1396469353302929412
https://brink.dev/programs
Jon Atack spills the beans on Bitcoin Core:
youtube.com/watch?v=rsDLI2gLsIQ
youtube.com/watch?v=EEgbAy5oetw
Michael Ford (Fanquake):
https://brink.dev/programs
theblock.co/linked/26733/michael-ford-becomes-bitcoin-core-maintainer
https://x.com/fanquake
Fanquake is number 2 top contributor of all time to Bitcoin Core, as measured by commits:
github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/graphs/contributors
"A Brink engineer led the release process for every Bitcoin Core release in 2025 including seven releases across five maintained branches. He also merged 56% of all pull requests to the project":
https://brink.dev/blog/2026/03/26/engineering-impact-report-2025/
https://x.com/bitschmidty/status/2037105561481658681
Jon Atack responds:
https://x.com/jonatack/status/2037192624936005992
DM me on X with any leads on Michael Ford or other Core devs:
https://x.com/mattkratter
Bitcoin Core Panicking Over New Project:
youtube.com/watch?v=c57XnvY0Jq4
ProductionReady:
https://x.com/ProductionReady/status/2036080347918770272
Bitcoin Knots adoption continues to soar:
https://coin.dance/nodes/knots
I am not being paid or otherwise compensated by any company or cryptocurrency project that I mention in my videos. My opinion is not for sale. Please do not contact me with any affiliate or advertising deals.
#Bitcoin
#Core
#Brink
Disclaimer
Neither Matthew Kratter's Bitcoin University, nor any of its directors, officers, shareholders, personnel, representatives, agents, or independent contractors (collectively, the “Operator Parties”) are licensed financial advisors, registered investment advisors, or registered broker-dealers. None of the Operator Parties are providing investment, financial, legal, or tax advice, and nothing in this video, on this YouTube channel, or at www.Trader.University or BitcoinUniversity.com (henceforth, “the Sites”) should be construed as such by you. This video, channel, and the Sites should be used as educational tools only and are not replacements for professional investment advice. Trading or investing in new and volatile assets like Bitcoin can be risky.
Join Bitcoin University Premium:
bitcoinuniversity.com/join
In this video, I discuss how a single Brink-funded Bitcoin Core maintainer (Michael Ford, aka Fanquake) merged 56% of all pull requests to the project in 2025.
That kind of centralization of both node implementation and merge access is completely unacceptable in a project like Bitcoin.
It's yet another reason that we need strong, robust competing implementations like Bitcoin Knots and ProductionReady.
Not investment advice! Consult a financial advisor.
John Newbery and Gloria Zhao:
https://x.com/jfnewbery/status/1396469353302929412
https://brink.dev/programs
Jon Atack spills the beans on Bitcoin Core:
youtube.com/watch?v=rsDLI2gLsIQ
youtube.com/watch?v=EEgbAy5oetw
Michael Ford (Fanquake):
https://brink.dev/programs
theblock.co/linked/26733/michael-ford-becomes-bitcoin-core-maintainer
https://x.com/fanquake
Fanquake is number 2 top contributor of all time to Bitcoin Core, as measured by commits:
github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/graphs/contributors
"A Brink engineer led the release process for every Bitcoin Core release in 2025 including seven releases across five maintained branches. He also merged 56% of all pull requests to the project":
https://brink.dev/blog/2026/03/26/engineering-impact-report-2025/
https://x.com/bitschmidty/status/2037105561481658681
Jon Atack responds:
https://x.com/jonatack/status/2037192624936005992
DM me on X with any leads on Michael Ford or other Core devs:
https://x.com/mattkratter
Bitcoin Core Panicking Over New Project:
youtube.com/watch?v=c57XnvY0Jq4
ProductionReady:
https://x.com/ProductionReady/status/2036080347918770272
Bitcoin Knots adoption continues to soar:
https://coin.dance/nodes/knots
I am not being paid or otherwise compensated by any company or cryptocurrency project that I mention in my videos. My opinion is not for sale. Please do not contact me with any affiliate or advertising deals.
#Bitcoin
#Core
#Brink
Disclaimer
Neither Matthew Kratter's Bitcoin University, nor any of its directors, officers, shareholders, personnel, representatives, agents, or independent contractors (collectively, the “Operator Parties”) are licensed financial advisors, registered investment advisors, or registered broker-dealers. None of the Operator Parties are providing investment, financial, legal, or tax advice, and nothing in this video, on this YouTube channel, or at www.Trader.University or BitcoinUniversity.com (henceforth, “the Sites”) should be construed as such by you. This video, channel, and the Sites should be used as educational tools only and are not replacements for professional investment advice. Trading or investing in new and volatile assets like Bitcoin can be risky.
