Stacks

STX CMC #77 in the snapshot

A Bitcoin-connected smart-contract network that uses Proof of Transfer, its own block signers, and Clarity contracts to extend what applications can do around Bitcoin.

Profile checked 14 Nov 2026Asset ranks captured 14 Nov 2026Snapshot & methodology ↗

01 / THE PURPOSE

What is Stacks for?

Stacks supports programmable applications that relate to Bitcoin without changing Bitcoin’s base-layer scripting rules. Applications execute on Stacks, while Bitcoin participates in the mechanism used to select block producers and anchor history.

02 / THE ARCHITECTURE

Three questions about the machinery.

How does it agree?

Consensus & security

Proof of Transfer miners commit BTC to compete for block-production tenures. Stackers lock STX and participate through signers that validate proposed blocks. Bitcoin anchoring works together with these additional Stacks-specific participants.

Where do instructions run?

Execution model

Smart contracts use Clarity. They can examine Bitcoin-chain information, define assets, and apply explicit transaction post-conditions. Contract execution happens on Stacks; Bitcoin miners do not simply execute all Clarity programs.

What is the token for?

STX in the system

STX pays execution fees and rewards miners. Locking STX supports the signer system and can earn BTC transferred by miners, subject to the stacking mechanism’s participation rules.

03 / THE DESIGN CHOICES

What comes with the design?

Each architecture makes choices about security, performance, coordination, and who can participate.

Liveness depends on sufficient signers agreeing; Bitcoin continuing to produce blocks does not by itself keep Stacks applications operating.
Moving BTC into an application representation introduces peg and signer assumptions that must be assessed separately.
Clarity and transaction post-conditions can improve inspectability, but they do not eliminate mistakes in application logic.

04 / IN PRACTICE

Follow one use.

A user calls a Clarity exchange contract with a post-condition limiting the STX it may spend. The transaction is checked on Stacks, and its acceptance depends on Stacks consensus and the surrounding Bitcoin-anchored history.

05 / CHECK THE EXPLANATION

Sources & snapshot.

Network descriptions use the references below. The CoinMarketCap snapshot determines which assets are in scope and their captured rank; it does not assess the quality of a network.

Proof of Transfer Stacks Docs
Signing and signer responsibilities Stacks Docs
Clarity and transaction post-conditions Stacks Docs
CoinMarketCap top 100 snapshot Captured 14 Nov 2026 · See the complete scope audit
Stacks (STX) on CoinMarketCap Captured asset rank #77

Profile checked 14 Nov 2026. Network designs and ranked positions can change.