What is Stacks (STX)?

By CMC AI
27 January 2026 08:51PM (UTC+0)

TLDR

Stacks (STX) is a Bitcoin Layer-2 network enabling smart contracts and decentralized apps (dApps) to use Bitcoin as a programmable asset while inheriting its security.

  1. Bitcoin-Centric Design – Secured by Bitcoin’s blockchain, allowing dApps to settle transactions on Bitcoin.

  2. Smart Contracts for Bitcoin – Uses Clarity, a secure programming language, to build DeFi, NFTs, and more.

  3. STX Utility – Powers transactions, rewards miners, and lets users earn Bitcoin via "Stacking."

Deep Dive

1. Purpose & Value Proposition

Stacks unlocks Bitcoin’s $500B+ dormant capital by letting developers build apps that treat Bitcoin as a base layer. This bridges Bitcoin’s security with programmable use cases like DeFi and NFTs. All Stacks transactions are hashed onto Bitcoin, ensuring finality without altering Bitcoin’s core protocol.

2. Technology & Architecture

Stacks uses Proof of Transfer (PoX), where miners spend Bitcoin to validate blocks, tying Stacks’ security to Bitcoin’s hash power. Its Clarity language avoids ambiguity in smart contracts, reducing exploits. The sBTC protocol (decentralized Bitcoin token) lets users move BTC into Stacks for DeFi while maintaining 1:1 redeemability.

3. Tokenomics & Governance

The STX token has three roles:
- Fuel: Pays for transactions and smart contract execution.
- Mining Rewards: Distributed to miners who secure the network.
- Stacking: Users lock STX to participate in consensus and earn Bitcoin rewards (up to 10% APY).

Conclusion

Stacks reimagines Bitcoin as a programmable asset layer, blending its security with modern DeFi tools. As Bitcoin’s role evolves, can Stacks become the standard for Bitcoin-centric innovation?

CMC AI can make mistakes. Not financial advice.