If you consider the Core devs that are directly funded by Chaincode as one actor, the picture becomes much clearer. Chaincode has successfully attacked and compromised Bitcoin Core.
Bitcoin Core maintainers tied to Chaincode Labs. Here’s the breakdown based on funding, residencies, and affiliations as of Sep 2025.
Maintainers with Chaincode Ties
• Anthony Towns (ajtowns): Funded by Chaincode, active in Core maintenance & research.
• Marco Falke (MarcoFalke): Ex-maintainer, Chaincode-funded, stepped down 2023.
• Pieter Wuille (sipa): Chaincode grants, moved from Blockstream to Chaincode ties.
• John Newbery (jnewbery): Chaincode-funded, co-founded Bitcoin Optech.
• Gloria Zhao: Chaincode residencies & funding, focuses on P2P/mempool.
Maintainers without Chaincode Ties
• Andrew Chow (achow101): Blockstream-affiliated, no Chaincode links.
• Michael Ford (fanquake): Funded by BitMEX/Gemini, handles GUI/releases.
• Hennadii Stepanov (hebasto): OKCoin/Paradigm funding, no Chaincode ties.
• Wladimir J. van der Laan (laanwj): Ex-lead, MIT DCI-funded, stepped back.
• Jonas Schnelli (jonasschnelli): GUI maintainer, Marathon-funded, less active.