Andre has had great success as the sBTC Go-To-Market Stacks Resident.

He led the launch of sBTC’s developer release on the Stacks testnet. Also, Andre created the go-to-market plan for the sBTC testnet, coordinating efforts across engineering, documentation, business development, and marketing. Currently, he is the product lead for the Stacks Signer, building the staking and validator ecosystem for Nakamoto.

He managed product requirements for sBTC and related components such as the sBTC Signer, sBTC Bridge, and documentation. In addition, Andre focused on strategic sBTC business development, securing partnerships with major infrastructure providers and developing a robust pipeline of prospective partnerships.

He refined the sBTC roadmap, focusing on long-term milestones and created the sBTC Builders community, now comprising over 15 apps. Also, Andre grew the Bitcoin Writes newsletter to 2,000 subscribers and represented sBTC to the public.

Even with all the progress made, there is plenty of work left to do. Following the Nakamoto Update, Andre will guide sBTC from testnet to mainnet. And he’ll continue his mission of driving awareness, adoption, and support for sBTC.

How did you get involved in Bitcoin? How’d you get involved in Stacks?
"I fell down the Bitcoin rabbit hole in early 2017. Over the years, I’ve invested in and contributed to several open source projects. I always shared the thesis that Bitcoin would be the foundation of the digital web and that innovation in other ecosystems would eventually return to Bitcoin.

I first saw Muneeb speak at a NYC meet up around that time (the project was called Blockstack back then). He delivered a compelling vision for building a new version of the internet on decentralized rails. It became clear Stacks was approaching things the right way. I started getting more involved in the community and participating in working groups. The rest was history!"

What is your vision for Stacks and Bitcoin?
"My vision is for Bitcoin to be a productive asset, powering the digital economy. In ten years, BTC won’t just be something that sits in cold storage. There will be new ways to use BTC in lending, payments and other use cases. Stacks will continue to be a leader in Bitcoin innovation and have a key role in enabling seamless user experiences."

What’s a strength you have and how does it support Stacks?
"I’m a good communicator. I like to organize and share information through articles, talks, and videos explaining the vision for Stacks and key technical designs. I’m also good at go-to-market. I can turn big ideas into actionable tasks and organize teams effectively. Both have led to success in business development with several exciting partnerships in the works."

What do you like to do outside of Stacks?
"I like to spend time in nature or fitness. Favorite activities are hiking, strength training, yoga, boxing, and meditation."

Over the past year and a half, HeroGamer has accomplished too much to track in one post. Hero has become a staple of the Stacks community completing some impressive tasks:

• Facilitated SIP-013, SIP-016, SIP-015, SIP-020, and SIP-019
• Recruited 6 high-caliber expert SIP Editors & 18 Consideration Advisory Boards Members
• Ran a successful pilot of the Stacks decentralized grants program receiving 46 degrant applications, and selecting 6 projects
• Made SIP governance documentation accessible through the SIP Governance GitBook landing site
• Ensured the community is sufficiently educated about, prepared for, and in support of possible network upgrades related to Nakamoto and sBTC through Twitter Spaces and supporting Across Fire with the Nakamoto Ultimate Study Guide

Overall, HeroGamer has contributed to the decentralized, community-led growth of Stacks.

How did you get involved in Bitcoin? How’d you get involved in Stacks?
"Bitcoin: My initial encounter with Bitcoin was in 2017, amidst the frenzy of its remarkable price surge. However, it wasn't until the tumultuous events of 2020, during the global pandemic, that I began to truly delve into its intricacies. As I delved into traditional financial markets, I couldn't ignore the shortcomings of the existing system, which led me to appreciate Bitcoin's principles of fairness and its disruptive potential. This prompted me to undertake a comprehensive study of its technology and principles, drawing knowledge from various sources.

Stacks: My journey with Stacks commenced through serendipitous discovery within Bitcoin communities. The turning point came with Trevor Owens’ Stacks 30 STX giveaway, which immediately captured my interest. This prompted me to explore further, initially engaging with Stacks NFTs and early projects. However, it was the underlying technology that truly captivated me. As someone inclined towards understanding the mechanics, I was intrigued by Stacks' approach to decentralization, particularly its node infrastructure. Exploring its potential in relation to Bitcoin, propelled me towards deeper involvement within the community, including participation in governance discussions."

What is your vision for Stacks and Bitcoin?
"My vision for Stacks and Bitcoin revolves around cultivating a new era of financial empowerment. I envision leveraging Stacks' capabilities to facilitate user-friendly applications on Bitcoin's layer 2, thereby democratizing access to this emerging financial ecosystem. Realistically, operating on the base layer may prove costly for the global population initially. By prioritizing usability through Stacks, we can empower individuals worldwide to embrace financial sovereignty, gradually transitioning them to the base layer for greater autonomy."

What’s a strength you have and how does it support Stacks?
"One of my strengths lies in setting and achieving targets efficiently. I firmly believe in doing whatever it takes to get the job done. This mindset is crucial for identifying opportunities for ecosystem growth within Stacks' governance framework, bridging existing gaps, and enhancing the overall system. Leveraging this capability, I aim to contribute significantly to the advancement and adoption of the Stacks ecosystem. Additionally, my ability to connect individuals within the ecosystem enhances collaboration and fosters a sense of community, ensuring a cohesive and inclusive environment as newcomers enter the fold."

What do you like to do outside of Stacks?
"Outside of Stacks, I find enjoyment in traveling, maintaining fitness, and immersing myself in the intricacies of Bitcoin technology. Whether it's exploring diverse cultures, urban landscapes, or natural wonders, I relish the opportunity to broaden my horizons. My passion for Bitcoin transcends beyond professional interests; it's a genuine hobby that I wholeheartedly embrace."

After wrapping up the initial research and design, Nikos is moving on to developing the testing functionalities, guided by community feedback.

Nikos’s goal is to equip developers with top-notch tools for building secure, decentralized apps on Stacks.

Co-founding the hedgehog property-based testing tool in 2017 sparked my passion for advanced testing methodologies.

At Stacks, I'm bringing these practices to enhance its unique connection with Bitcoin, fostering a secure environment for smart contracts and apps.

Beyond tech, my energy comes from family, fitness, and travels to sunny places.

Mike has been an instrumental player in sBTC’s success. The sBTC Bridge enabled sBTC’s Testnet program to function, allowing users and builders to explore the potential of sBTC. Mike notes the importance of other community members in the ecosystem like other Stacks Residents, community and core developers, and the Stacks Foundation.

In the future, Mike plans to focus on core sBTC development work by building a first-class user interface and Revealer API in time for the mainnet release.

Mike strongly believes in the power of decentralization. With Stacks and Bitcoin, Mike believes we have the opportunity to rebalance the power from tech giants to communities and individuals.

How did you get involved in Bitcoin? How’d you get involved in Stacks?
“Researching open democracy platforms back in 2017 I came across a project called Democracy Earth. They were working with a small outfit called Blockstack. This led me to Stacks and therefore Bitcoin. I quit my job and booked a flight to Berlin for the Blockstack summit in Feb 2018. Have not looked back since.”

What is your vision for Stacks and Bitcoin?
“My vision for Bitcoin is as the base security provider for an ecosystem of blockchain / web3 projects. My vision for Stacks is that it continues in the vanguard, inspiring and delivering in this arena.”

What’s a strength you have and how does it support Stacks?
“I'm a Bitcoin builder with strong research skills developed from my academic background in quantum chemistry. This said, I consider my key strengths to be people-focused. I work well with others and see the best in the people around me. Building strong relationships based on our common purpose is the end goal.”

What do you like to do outside of Stacks?
“What do you mean? No I'm kidding - I do have a life outside of Stacks. Mostly with family, playing chess, swimming, and talking about everything, everywhere, all at once with the love of my life, on long walks. Also, cooking and eating; that kind of thing.”

Across Fire recently launched the Nakamoto Study Guide and Quiz, advancing community education on the Nakamoto SIP's progress toward approval. Key efforts include Q&A sessions and encouraging community engagement, alongside planning future testnet programs.

Across Fire aims to uphold Bitcoin's original ideals through Stacks, ensuring it remains a secure, decentralized platform free from centralized control, scams, and financial manipulations. This involves understanding the technical and game theoretical aspects of the blockchain to support BTC transactions reliably.

Through the Stacks Residency, Across Fire’s focus is on contributing to Stacks' success, emphasizing decentralization and enhancing the Bitcoin ecosystem.

How did you get involved in Bitcoin? How’d you get involved in Stacks?
“I discovered Bitcoin through more Libertarian circles mostly as an effort to pursue privacy and as a rebellion against central banks. It started just as a hobby by mining myself at home and wanting to learn more about it once I discovered how well-designed it was and have been obsessed ever since. I discovered Stacks when Stacks 2.0 launched. I was excited about the idea of having a currency that is made not in conflict with the goals of Bitcoin but instead supported its overarching vision. The PoX mechanism really solidified that symbiotic relationship with BTC to me and has driven my passion for the project.”

What is your vision for Stacks and Bitcoin?
“My vision is that Bitcoin becomes a currency that you can use for almost all of your financial dealings no matter where you are on earth. Whether it’s taking a loan, buying coffee, buying something online, or even exchanging things P2P, I still hold onto the idea of Bitcoin being used for it all. I view Stacks’ future as being the enabler of a lot of those actions. Helping move Bitcoin through smart contracts, building DeFi around the Bitcoin ecosystem, and allowing Bitcoin to experience faster technological advancements without the problems inherent in trying to modify the base chain.”

What’s a strength you have and how does it support Stacks?
“I have a passion for sharing technical information with people and discussing holistically how systems come together from a disparate set of smaller components. I have a systems administration background so I am very familiar with backend infrastructure and complex systems management and it is that interest that makes me enjoy being part of the community here.”

What do you like to do outside of Stacks?
“I'm a computer nerd through and through so I like to run VMs and docker containers on servers I have at home (including BTC and Stacks nodes). I also am really into music and have been learning the bass guitar. Otherwise, I mostly just focus on my family these days.”

Alex recently completed a developer experience audit and identified key projects to prioritize.
Looking ahead, Alex will focus on developer use cases and support the ecosystem’s documentation efforts. He is certain Stacks will become the most-loved Bitcoin developer platform.

How did you get involved in Bitcoin? How’d you get involved in Stacks?
"I was a Product Manager for developer tools on the core Blockstack team."

What is your vision for Stacks and Bitcoin?
"Bitcoin is the value store for crypto. Stacks make it programmable."

What’s a strength you have and how does it support Stacks?
"My superpowers are building and growing developer platforms. Stacks needs more developers to build more apps that will reach a wider audience."

What do you like to do outside of Stacks?
"Long-distance running, reading business & economics books, cooking & baking."

Albu has successfully opened the PRs to implement the changes. Albu aims to simplify automations and make it easier for others to implement their changes. Within the Stacks environment, Albu wants to enhance the experience for both users and developers.

How did you get involved in Bitcoin? How’d you get involved in Stacks?
“I got involved in both bitcoin and stacks through Degen Lab, where I helped build the decentralized mining pools.”

What is your vision for Stacks and Bitcoin?
“My vision for stacks and bitcoin is a safe and anonymous environment, made possible through decentralisation.”

What’s a strength you have and how does it support Stacks?
“My strengths are patience and attention to detail, which help me think of some harder implementation cases.”

What do you like to do outside of Stacks?
“Outside of Stacks, I like driving, listening to music and going skiing.”

As part of the Application Launch Coordinator, Grant will support the N21: Nakamoto Prep Program, a go-to-market program to support builders building in Stacks. The program takes place in February and March 2024. In preparation for the program, Grant has been building relationships with Stacks applications and creating content and messaging to support their causes.

Grant believes in the importance of Bitcoin Layers as a fundamental building block to scaling Bitcoin to the world. Supporting applications building on Stacks will make Bitcoin more accessible and useful for people across the globe.

How did you get involved in Bitcoin? How’d you get involved in Stacks?
"I first learned about Bitcoin through an economics professor in college. But most of my understanding came through podcasts and books on Bitcoin. After studying Bitcoin, I learned that Bitcoin Layers were essential to the success of Bitcoin and this led me to Stacks."

What is your vision for Stacks and Bitcoin?
"Bitcoin’s decentralization, network effects, first-mover advantage, and brand make it a one-of-a-kind asset. With Stacks and other Bitcoin Layers, I’m hopeful we can make Bitcoin more than a passive asset."

What’s a strength you have and how does it support Stacks?
"I love to break down complex ideas into easily digestible writing. With complex topics surrounding Bitcoin, Stacks, Bitcoin Layers, and Bitcoin DeFi, I hope my ability to communicate will help share the Stacks message. Also, I have experience founding and building a company. I hope this experience can help support founding teams building on Stacks."

What do you like to do outside of Stacks?
"I love walking around and exploring New York City. Also, I’ve gotten more into fitness lately, spending time rock climbing, skiing, and hiking."