Dear bitcoiners,
“When people receive too much money upfront, they often become reckless.”- nostr:npub1ldsmj0vxfe8sawnkdwu92medcqnzar5c2qfw9xazs5yd65sx0kvqghzsk3 , Angor’s founder
We’ve seen it happen, when large amounts of funds are handed over at once, builders (founders) can lose discipline and backers (investors) are left without protection. It’s a broken dynamic that makes both sides vulnerable.
That’s why Angor was created - to make both sides accountable. With stage-based funding, funders stay protected while builders are motivated to actually build and deliver. And because it all runs on Bitcoin & Nostr, every step is transparent and direct between builders and backers.
Since our mainnet launch in May 2025, 16+ projects have already successfully raised funds, and many of you have shared valuable feedback on your experience.
With Version 2.0, we’ve taken your feedback to make Angor smoother and easier to use, while staying true to its Bitcoin roots of transparency and accountability.
Here’s what to expect:
1. From Browser to Native Apps
One of the biggest lessons from v1.0 was that convenience isn’t always the same as security. Running Angor in a browser wallet made onboarding quick, but it also left users exposed to phishing sites and malware that could steal seed phrases. That’s not acceptable if we want Angor to be trusted at scale.
In v2.0,Angor is moving to native apps for Linux, Mac, Windows, and Android. Just like serious Bitcoin wallets, this shift eliminates browser risks and gives users confidence that their funds and data are secure. It may seem like a small change in how you log in, but it’s a massive step forward in keeping both builders and backers safe.
2. Goodbye Clunky Handshakes
One of the biggest frustrations we heard from early users was the handshake step. In v1.0, every backer had to wait for the builder to “approve” their contribution before it went through.
This handshake existed for a reason. It was tied to the penalty clause, which acted like a timer. Funders couldn’t withdraw their funds for 30, 60, or even 90 days, depending on what the builder set. For larger amounts, this gave builders confidence that funders wouldn’t just pull out suddenly.
But for smaller contributions, this system created more hassle than protection. Imagine putting in $50 and then having your money locked for 60 days, only to also lose $5 or more in Bitcoin fees if you decided to withdraw. The penalty was doing more harm than good at that scale.
So in v2.0, we’ve simplified things:
• Small contributions no longer require builder approval. • Larger investments can still include penalties and signatures if the builder chooses. • Builders set their own thresholds (e.g. “below 0.01 BTC, no handshake required”)
This way, small fundersavoid long lockups and heavy fees, while larger projects can still keep the protections that matter most.
3. Flexible Project Timelines
In v1.0, projects had a fixed funding window. If a builder set it for three months, then once that period ended no new backers could join.
In v2.0, funding stays open.Funders can contribute at any time, but the release of funds follows stage periods.
For example, if a project is structured around three-month stages, funds are only released at the end of each stage. This is true no matter when the investment came in.
This makes fundraising more flexible for builders while keeping clear checkpoints for accountability.
4. Smarter Project Discovery
In v1.0, project discovery depended on custom open-source indexers. These servers collected project data and displayed it to users. The system worked, but it also created a weak spot: if an indexer went offline or was manipulated, projects could disappear or be harder to find.
In v2.0,project discovery shifts to Proof of Work (NIP-13).
Projects now broadcast themselves using proof of work, which means they can be picked up directly through the network, just by using any bitcoin node or a Nostr relay without needing a custom indexer on top of it.
Put simply, if you’re running a Nostr relay or even Bitcoin Core with listener support, you’ll see projects as they’re published and shared across the network.
5. Wallets, Only When You Need Them
In v1, creating or funding a project meant setting up and funding a wallet right at the start. That extra step made the flow heavier than it needed to be.
In v2.0,wallet creation and funding only happen when you’re actually ready to deploy.
This small shift makes testing and onboarding dramatically easier, while still keeping the process secure when real funds are involved.
6. Cleaner, Simpler App Experience
We’ve made a lot ofimprovements to the overall UI and UXin v2.0.
We’ve streamlined the project creation flow. All the advanced settings and blockchain details are still there, but they’re tucked away under an Advanced tab. Everyday users get a clean and simple interface, while power users still have the tools they need.
From v1 to v2
Version 1.0 was built for big projects, tech-savvy users, and patient backers. It worked as a proof of concept and showed that this kind of platform was needed, but it also made clear where things felt slow or heavy.
Version 2.0 takes that foundation and pushes it forward.
- Native apps bring better security.
- Small backers no longer need builder handshakes.
- Funding stays open while releases follow stage based fund releases.
Angor v2.0 is designed to work for everyone, whether it is someone investing $10 or someone raising 1 BTC. As one of our team members said, “this version feels cool - it’s not only for nerds anymore.”
We want to thank everyone who tested v1.0, shared feedback, and trusted Angor in its early days. Version 2.0 is built on that input, and we can’t wait to see what projects get funded next.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Ciao.
