Block

Block is a globally distributed team, and we’re sticking to it. We empower our people to work from wherever they feel most creative. No return to work mandates here. Whether you want to join us from home, one of our offices, or somewhere in between – the choice is yours. Explore opportunities across Block: https://lnkd.in/es-i5drB

Curious about how communities worldwide are embracing bitcoin? Meet My First Bitcoin (Mi Primer Bitcoin), a nonprofit born in El Salvador with a mission to empower individuals through independent, impartial, and community-led bitcoin education. With support from the Discovery Grant, they’ve created an online platform that brings students and educators together from around the world, making bitcoin open source education engaging and accessible. At the heart of this work is John Dennehy, Founder and Executive Director of My First Bitcoin, who started with a single class in El Salvador and grew it into a global initiative. Read more about John’s journey and the impact of My First Bitcoin in the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/eA__kAtu

Trust and safety are fundamental to a secure and accessible financial ecosystem. Today, we’re excited to share our latest white paper, which dives deep into the complexities of modern financial scams and the steps Cash App is taking to combat them.  As scams become more sophisticated, Cash App is staying ahead by combining advanced AI technology with real-time alerts and teaming up with industry partners to strengthen protections. Educating customers also plays a big role, giving them the tools and tips to spot scams before they happen. Learn more about Cash App’s commitment to creating a safer financial ecosystem in the complete report here: https://lnkd.in/ghp_8qS5

Alterna Savings said yes to this entrepreneur, helping bring his vision into reality. With a $5,000 microloan, Ryan Knight brought The Detailing Knights to life —  a waterless car cleaning service combining eco-friendly practices with youth empowerment. Alterna’s ongoing support, including a recent $25,000 loan, fueled the company’s expansion and opened doors to franchising. This year, Ryan took his vision to Dragon’s Den, securing a deal to scale his business even further. For over 20 years, Alterna Savings has been a champion for entrepreneurs like Ryan, disbursing over $10 million to more than 1,500 individuals in underserved communities across Ontario through its Community Microfinance Program. Now, with our $5 million (CAD) investment, Alterna is extending its reach to empower even more Black-owned businesses and underserved entrepreneurs, fueling reinvestment and long-term community impact. Read the full story of how this partnership is driving change and empowering entrepreneurs like Ryan here: https://lnkd.in/gHyCT5Vs

Scams are evolving just as quickly as the technology we rely on. Protecting people isn’t just about advanced security features—it’s also about education and awareness. That’s why Cash App is continuing its Weird for Real campaign. By highlighting real-life scam scenarios and showcasing tools like scam warnings and transaction authentication, the campaign helps customers recognize red flags and make safer decisions. Beyond product features, Cash App is fostering financial education through efforts like Weird for Real and the recent That’s Money report. These campaigns turn everyday moments into lessons about managing money responsibly, blending education with practical tools to empower customers. Learn more about how Cash App is empowering users to stay informed and protected here: https://lnkd.in/gbrfPkpc

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are wrapped and the numbers are in. Powered by Square, Afterpay, and Cash App, we’re breaking down how businesses and shoppers moved through one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. From transaction growth to peak shopping hours, here’s how the holiday rush unfolded. Take a look at the full breakdown: https://lnkd.in/dDZ9BzAF

Open source isn't just how we build technology— it's how we make innovation accessible to all. We're proud to partner with Anthropic on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard bridging the gap between AI systems and enterprise data. MCP helps address a critical challenge in the AI space: bridging the gap between advanced models and the data sources they rely on. By enabling AI systems to securely and reliably access information, MCP opens up new possibilities for making AI tools more effective and grounded in real-world applications. Our CTO Dhanji Prasanna on this partnership: "At Block, open source is more than a development model—it's the foundation of our work and a commitment to creating technology that drives meaningful change and serves as a public good for all. Open technologies like the Model Context Protocol are the bridges that connect AI to real-world applications, ensuring innovation is accessible, transparent, and rooted in collaboration." Learn more: https://lnkd.in/grPMihv7

Open source isn't just how we build technology— it's how we make innovation accessible to all. We're proud to partner with Anthropic on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard bridging the gap between AI systems and enterprise data. MCP helps address a critical challenge in the AI space: bridging the gap between advanced models and the data sources they rely on. By enabling AI systems to securely and reliably access information, MCP opens up new possibilities for making AI tools more effective and grounded in real-world applications. Our CTO Dhanji Prasanna on this partnership: "At Block, open source is more than a development model—it's the foundation of our work and a commitment to creating technology that drives meaningful change and serves as a public good for all. Open technologies like the Model Context Protocol are the bridges that connect AI to real-world applications, ensuring innovation is accessible, transparent, and rooted in collaboration." Learn more: https://lnkd.in/grPMihv7

Join our Business Lead Owen Jennings (OBJ) on December 3rd at 1:35 PM ET for a live stream of his talk at the UBS Global Technology and AI Conference. Listen in here: https://lnkd.in/etshXF7A