February 18, 2026
Wire transfer or wire trap?
Pocketbase lost its funding from FLOSS fund
PocketBase walks from funding over “sketchy wire” — fans split between caution and cash
TLDR: PocketBase’s maintainer backed out of a planned FLOSS/fund sponsorship over an uncomfortable wire-transfer process and privacy concerns. Commenters split between applauding caution and lamenting lost momentum, with side debates about funding legitimacy and “please add Postgres,” as fans wonder how fast a stable release arrives without the money.
Open‑source darling PocketBase just yanked the handbrake on a promised sponsorship from FLOSS/fund after its maintainer said the money would come via a cross‑border wire that needed extra paperwork and insecure email — and he didn’t trust the process or the data handling. He admitted he announced too early, locked the thread, and vowed to still push for a stable release this year. Cue the comments going nuclear.
One camp is “protect your privacy, king”, insisting the red‑flaggy wire vibes were too much. Another camp says “money’s money”, grumbling that he walked away from a year of focused work. Some tried to set the record straight: he wasn’t “denied,” he declined — big difference. And yes, the typos rolled in, with folks calling it “FLOSS fun” while asking if the fund is legit. Adding spice, someone cited an old HN blurb praising FLOSS/fund’s simple application process — ironic next to today’s regulatory headache.
Meanwhile, classic side quest: “Just add Postgres!” Fans lamented missed enterprise potential and wished corporate‑friendly features would arrive yesterday. Others mourned the lost runway for the slick new UI. The mood? Disappointed, divided, and deeply online — with jokes about “’90s email chain energy” and a chorus of “ship it anyway.”
Key Points
- •FLOSS/fund’s partnership with GitHub did not work due to regulatory constraints.
- •FLOSS/fund proposed issuing funding via a wire transfer from India requiring cross-jurisdictional paperwork.
- •PocketBase’s maintainer withdrew the application and declined the funding over data privacy and process concerns.
- •The maintainer aims to publish a stable PocketBase version within the year, noting most new UI functionality is implemented.
- •The discussion was locked; a new announcement will follow when there is more clarity and readiness for community feedback.