Stacks chain
Overview
Stacks is a Bitcoin layer-2 network that adds smart contracts and programmable applications while using Bitcoin as its secure base layer. It runs a consensus mechanism called Proof of Transfer (PoX), in which the STX token functions as the capacity asset for Bitcoin staking and the network's security is anchored to Bitcoin's chain. Contracts are written in Clarity, a security-first, decidable smart contract language that can read Bitcoin state directly. The network's most important asset is sBTC, a 1:1 Bitcoin-backed token that lets BTC move programmatically between Bitcoin L1 and the Stacks L2, and the recently deployed Nakamoto upgrade reworked block production and finality. Stacks' pitch is that it activates over $1 trillion of otherwise idle Bitcoin capital by offering self-custodial Bitcoin yield to holders. Institutional participants named on stacks.co as of July 2026 include BitGo, Grayscale, Figment, Blockdaemon and Circle, and the ecosystem includes DeFi protocols such as Zest Protocol and Alex, wallets Xverse and Leather, and NFT platform Gamma. Its published 2026 roadmap has three pillars: Bitcoin staking, a targeted 100x improvement in throughput and performance, and Bitcoin-native finance including lending, trading and perpetuals. Stacks anchors to Bitcoin through Proof of Transfer and has moved through two major phases: the Nakamoto upgrade, which changed block production and finality, and the introduction of sBTC as a 1:1 Bitcoin-backed programmable asset. Its documentation notes Stacks ranked #5 among all crypto ecosystems for new developers in 2025.
Within the DeFi Intel graph, Stacks connects to 12 tracked entities, most strongly to Bitcoin, USD Coin, Tether USD.
Relations
Top connections in the DeFi Intel knowledge graph (confidence-weighted, 10 of 12 total).
| Relation | Connected entity | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
built_on | Bitcoin | 95% |
deployed_on | USD Coin | 95% |
deployed_on | Tether USD | 95% |
built_with | Clarity | 95% |
deployed_on | ALEX Lab | 95% |
integrates | Proof of Transfer (PoX) | 95% |
upgraded_to | Stacks Nakamoto Upgrade | 95% |
settles_to | Bitcoin | 90% |
deployed_on | Sbtc | 90% |
uses_da | Bitcoin (native DA) | 85% |
Frequently asked questions
What is Stacks?
Stacks is a layer1 tracked in the DeFi Intel knowledge graph. It is connected to 12 other tracked entities, most strongly to Bitcoin, USD Coin, Tether USD.
What type of entity is Stacks?
Stacks is classified as a layer1 (chain) in the DeFi Intel knowledge graph.
What is Stacks connected to?
In the DeFi Intel knowledge graph, Stacks is linked to 12 other tracked entities, most strongly to Bitcoin, USD Coin, Tether USD.
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