The First 10: Introducing Core Commit Program’s Inaugural Cohort of Innovators

Core Foundation, the entity that sponsors development across the Core ecosystem, proudly announces the Top 10 teams selected for the inaugural cohort of the Core Commit Program. Following a rigorous and highly competitive application process, these innovative teams have been chosen for their potential to make a significant impact on the Core ecosystem and expansion of Bitcoin utility.

The Core Commit Program is a transformative 3-month initiative to empower high-potential early-stage teams. Participants will gain access to essential tools, expert mentorship, and a robust network to elevate their projects to new heights.

The Core Commit Program: A Catalyst for Innovation

The Core Commit Program empowers teams to scale their projects, refine ideas, and accelerate success. Cohort 1 features two tracks: the Wishlist Track and the Creative Track. From 144 applications, the top 10 teams were selected to participate, with the program launching on 9th Jan 2025.

Over three months, participants will access essential resources, 1:1 mentorship, and a network of like-minded entrepreneurs. The participants will also receive guidance from Core Contributors, helping teams overcome challenges and seize opportunities. Focused on fostering early-stage Web3 builders, the program culminates in Demo Day, with teams pitching their progress and competing for funding from Core Ventures and its network of 100+ VC partners.

Meet the Top 10 Teams:

0xBridge

• Focus: BTCfi, DeFi
• Description: 1:1 pegged BTC minting on any Layer 1 or Layer 2 blockchain in a fully decentralized, non-custodial, and censorship-resistant manner.

B14g

• Focus: BTCfi, BTC Staking
• Description: Lower the Capital Barriers to Staking. Merge marketplace for BTC staking leveraging Core’s Non-Custodial BTC Staking.

Bitcoin Derby

• Focus: Game, BTCfi
• Description: A Bitcoin-based, AI-powered betting game on Bitcoin.

BQLabs

• Focus: Insurance, DeFi
• Description: Insurance infrastructure for Bitcoin, enabling permissionless risk coverage across DeFi.

Celeriz

• Focus: BTCfi, Stablecoins, Infrastructure
• Description: Celriz is a stablecoin orchestration API designed to revolutionize payments for businesses/individuals. Celriz enables streamlined, cost-effective, and rapid international transactions by integrating stablecoins.

Coffer Network

• Focus: Infrastructure, BTCfi
• Description: Non-custodial Multi-sig wallet for Bitcoin. Earn from rebates and management fees.

Degen Markets

• Focus: SocialFi
• Description: Prediction Markets as a Service

Ordinistan

• Focus: Ordinals, NFTs, BTCfi, DeFi
• Description: Ordinistan aims to revolutionize the Ordinals ecosystem by introducing an Optimistic Bridging solution for seamless NFT transfers between Bitcoin Layer 1 (L1) and Core Blockchain, coupled with an NFT marketplace for trading these assets.

Sats Terminal

• Focus: BTCfi, Ordinals/Runes, DeFi, Infrastructure
• Description: Bitcoin DeFi Aggregation Protocol

VaultLayer

• Focus: BTCfi, LSTs
• Description: Liquid Staking Vaults (LSV) for Bitcoin DeFi

What’s Next for the Core Commit Cohort?

These 10 teams will now embark on an exciting journey of growth and development supported by a diverse group of mentors and industry experts. Each team will present a detailed execution plan and will be judged for their performance in terms of progress and milestones through the GitHub commit. They will also be rewarded up to $2500 in CORE every month.

Core Ventures, along with Core DevRel and BD teams, are deeply excited to support each of these talented teams and watch as they shape the future of BTCfi on Core. Core Foundation believes that the ideas, technologies, and solutions being developed by these founders will drive innovation and help unlock more utility of BTC beyond the Bitcoin network.

Stay Connected and Follow Their Journey!

Stay tuned for more updates related to the Core Commit Program and the progress of these outstanding teams. You can follow their journeys on social media and attend builder sessions and AMAs to witness firsthand how they push boundaries, overcome obstacles, and achieve their vision.

Congratulations to the Top 10 Teams of the Core Commit Program—working on expanding the utility of Bitcoin.

About Core

Core is Bitcoin’s first Proof of Stake (PoS) layer and the largest Bitcoin DeFi ecosystem, merging the unparalleled security of Bitcoin with the scalability of the Satoshi Plus consensus. Core’s Dual Staking empowers Bitcoin holders to earn secure and sustainable yields by staking both BTC and CORE, all while retaining full control of their assets.

Over 5,900 BTC and 155M CORE have been staked on the Core blockchain, enhancing Bitcoin’s utility and security. Core is the most Bitcoin-aligned EVM blockchain, with ~76% of Bitcoin mining hash power contributing to the network’s security. This breakthrough has amassed millions of Core adopters — over 34M unique addresses, 339M+ transactions, and over $800 TVL since its mainnet launch in January 2023.

About Core Ventures

Core Ventures is an early-stage Bitcoin venture fund dedicated to driving innovation within the Core and Bitcoin ecosystem, anchored by the Core Foundation. The Core Venture Network (CVN) is a community of 50 venture capitalists and other investors committed to providing resources, funding, and strategic counsel for dApp development on the Core blockchain—Bitcoin’s first Proof of Stake (PoS) layer and the largest Bitcoin DeFi ecosystem. Notable members of the Core Venture Network include Foresight Ventures, Marin Digital Ventures, Brinc VC, Mexc Ventures, CoinSwitch, and others.