Stacks is unlocking Bitcoin’s full potential in 2026 and beyond. From a booming DeFi ecosystem and new plan for hypergrowth, to a bold roadmap and upgraded Bitcoin Layer 2 status—Stacks is hard to ignore right now and positioned for massive growth in the year ahead.

Stacks is pushing hard to become the fastest Bitcoin L2 with consistent transaction times under 10 seconds and a focus on security using 100% Bitcoin hashpower, making transactions on Stacks as irreversible as Bitcoin's. Core developers are enhancing Clarity, introducing a new Wasm compiler, and simplifying stacking and Ledger Live integration to boost performance and user experience. In addition, improved sBTC features are attracting institutions and fueling significant DeFi growth. Learn more 👈

A new generation of Bitcoin DeFi protocols is emerging on Stacks, backed by top-tier investors and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with BTC. Granite, supported by Trust Machines, is building secure yield strategies. Bitflow, backed by Portal VC and others, is leading innovation in automated market making for Bitcoin-native assets. Zest, with backing from Draper Associates and Binance, is bringing institutional-grade lending and borrowing to Bitcoin. Alongside them, projects like Hermetica and Velar are expanding the design space for stablecoins and perpetuals. Together, these protocols showcase the momentum behind Bitcoin DeFi on Stacks—combining venture-backed teams, live products, and massive potential for growth. Watch the app Founders introduce their DeFi apps on YouTube 👈

Stacks is earning serious institutional attention. Tim Draper recently endorsed the network, highlighting that over half a billion dollars in Bitcoin has already been deposited into Stacks. Major investors like UTXO Management, Jump Crypto, CMS Holdings, SNZ, Sypher Capital, and Asymmetric Research have backed its sBTC asset. Institutional infrastructure is live, too, with BitGo, Copper, Figment, and Hex Trust integrating sBTC to support large-scale capital flows. Grayscale launched an STX Trust, and 21Shares listed a staking ETP, making STX the only Bitcoin ecosystem asset beyond BTC with that level of institutional access. With listings on every top 10 exchange, including the latest addition being Bitfinex, Stacks is built for serious adoption.

Stacks is rolling out the Satoshi Upgrades, a series of major advancements that unlock self-custodial sBTC, institutional minting, and new ways to use Bitcoin in DeFi. These upgrades give users full control over their BTC, enable DeFi apps to define how underlying Bitcoin moves, and expand access for large capital allocators. Backed by zero-knowledge proofs, advanced Bitcoin scripts, and real-time access to Bitcoin state, the Satoshi Upgrades bring Lightning-style speed with deeper trust minimization. These improvements are built to scale—from everyday users to institutional players—while driving value back to the STX token through yield, protocol revenue, and an improved user experience. Learn More 👈

Over half a billion dollars in BTC has already been deposited into the Stacks Layer 2, powered by the sBTC protocol. With just over 5,000 BTC currently locked and caps expected to lift later this quarter, Stacks is poised for the next wave of Bitcoin capital inflows. Unlike other solutions, Stacks is the only Bitcoin Layer 2 that leverages 100 percent of Bitcoin’s security budget through Proof of Transfer. It already leads in developer growth and market cap, while still offering major upside.

And now, with Stacks Labs established as the operational arm of the new Growth Endowment, dedicated resources are in place to accelerate builder, user, and investor growth. This ensures Stacks isn’t just gaining traction today—it’s structured and funded for sustained expansion in 2026 and beyond.

Stacks is at a pivotal moment. With VC-backed DeFi apps gaining momentum, institutional interest in sBTC growing, a refreshed roadmap, the upcoming Satoshi Upgrades, and a new Growth Endowment fueling builders, users, and investors, the leading Bitcoin L2 is primed for major expansion.

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