Key facts:
- In addition to bitcoin, applicants can also choose to receive a mountain bike.
- Professionals from areas not directly related to Bitcoin can also apply.
The state of Arkansas, located in the south of the United States, is offering USD 10,000 in bitcoin (BTC) to technology professionals and entrepreneurs to make a living in its territory. The initiative is part of the project Life Works Here, sponsored by the NWA Council (Council of Northwest Arkansas) and the Walton Family Foundation.
The website of the NWA Council mentions that the region has been experiencing notable growth in technology, especially regarding Bitcoin and blockchain. From there comes his priority interest in professionals related to these areas; although, they are open to receiving applications from people with other careers who are interested in belonging to this community.
Among the conditions that applicants must meet are: being over 24 years old, living outside of Arkansas, having the possibility of moving to the region in the next six months, as well as being eligible to live and work in the United States.
One of the requirements you also mention on the page where you apply to participate in the program is to have a full-time job that can be carried out remotely or independently. This is not entirely consistent to attract talent that drives Arkansas’ technological development since it would be people who would be working for an external company. However, it may not be such a strict requirement at present, given the evolution of the labor market in this region.
In Arkansas there is not only Bitcoin, there are also bicycles and art
In addition to the $10,000 bitcoin incentive, the NWA Council also offers relocation program participants a road or mountain bike, depending on the beneficiary’s preference. This bonus is offered because Northwest Arkansas is known for having ideal routes for those who are dedicated to these branches of cycling.
Those who prefer art over sports can opt for an annual subscription to local cultural institutions, such as museums, theaters, and art centers.
The Northwest Arkansas Relocation Initiative began in November 2020. At that time, the $10,000 was offered in cash to its participants. However, given the growing interest in bitcoin and the recent trend to receive salaries or payments in BTC, those in charge of this program decided to provide the opportunity to deliver the incentive in satoshis.
From its launch to the present, The initiative of the N.W.A. Council has received more than 35,000 applications from all 50 states in the nation and more than 115 countries around the world.
Bitcoin Development Financing
Initiatives like the one in Arkansas are critical to the growth of Bitcoin and its underlying technology. For those who are dedicated to the development and maintenance of this network, since it is an open-source project and not private or institutionalized, Bitcoin developers do not have a salary or fixed fees according to their performance. They depend on donations and contributions that people make to them by choice.
Fortunately, some organizations and initiatives provide support to those who belong to this sector of the bitcoin community. Jack Dorsey, the co-founder and former CEO of Twitter, has been one of those who have shown the most interest in supporting Bitcoin developers.
Dorsey, along with rapper and music producer Jay-Z, created a funding fund for Bitcoin developers from Africa and India. The news was released in February 2021 and was reviewed by CriptoNoticias. The fund initially consisted of 500 bitcoins which, based on its market price at the time, was the equivalent of about $24 million.
Another project that came from the hand of Dorsey was announced a few days ago. The initiative is called the Bitcoin Legal Defense Fund and seeks to provide legal assistance to Bitcoin developers who have been the subject of complaints related to their work in this network.
In the bitcoin ecosystem, investors and miners usually have a great role in the media. Their work seems to receive more attention from people and this is most likely because they are the niches that generate the most profits. However, the developers are no less important than the rest of those involved in the evolution of Bitcoin.
Having a good team of highly trained people committed to Satoshi Nakamoto’s vision is essential for Bitcoin to continue to grow and become the free and universal financial system it promises to be.
