Stake STX

1. What Is Stacks (STX)?

Stacks is a Bitcoin Layer for smart contracts; it enables smart contracts and decentralized applications to use Bitcoin as an asset and settle transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain. Bitcoin is the largest, most valuable, and most durable decentralized asset. The Stacks layer unlocks $500B in BTC capital using the Bitcoin L1 as settlement for decentralized applications. Stacks has knowledge of the full Bitcoin state, thanks to its Proof of Transfer consensus and Clarity language, enabling it to read from Bitcoin at any time. All transactions on the Stacks layer are automatically hashed and settled on the Bitcoin L1. Stacks blocks are secured by 100% Bitcoin hashpower. In order to re-order Stacks blocks/transactions, an attacker would have to reorg Bitcoin.

2. Who Are the Founders of Stacks?

The project started in 2017 when Muneeb finished his PhD (his thesis laid out the foundations for the Stacks layer for Bitcoin), released the original whitepaper, and raised $50M. Before this, the early team built protocols and apps on Bitcoin L1 before they began working on Stacks in 2017. Some early visions of the project are represented in this TEDx talk. In 2019 there was the first-ever SEC qualified token offering (see WSJ article) for the general public, including the US. The full offering material disclosed everything and anything about the project/company/people. 2018-2020 the team was heads down building out the Stacks infrastructure— it's a programming layer for Bitcoin (it works like a blockchain with cross-chain consensus with Bitcoin) and Clarity lang, a safe language. Some technical resources are here.

3. What Makes Stacks Unique?

* As a Bitcoin layer for smart contracts, Stacks has the following innovations that make it unique: * In the upcoming release of Stacks, Stacks will be secured by the entire hash power of Bitcoin, giving it Bitcoin finality. * Stacks will soon have a novel backed Bitcoin that is 1:1 backed with BTC on Bitcoin L1, and can be moved in and out of the Stacks layer in a decentralized way. * The new 1:1 Bitcoin backed asset called sBTC enables Stacks smart contracts to write to Bitcoin. * Stacks powers atomic BTC swaps and assets owned by BTC addresses. * Stacks uses the Clarity programming language for safe, decidable contracts. * Stacks has knowledge of the full Bitcoin state, thanks to Proof of Transfer and Clarity, enabling it to read from Bitcoin at any time. * Lastly, Stacks is a scalable layer that enables fast transactions that settle on Bitcoin.

4. How Many Stacks (STX) Coins Are There in Circulation?

The Stacks cryptocurrency has a predefined future supply that reaches approx 1,818M STX by year 2050. The Stacks ecosystem is a collection of independent entities, developers, and community members working to build a user-owned internet on Bitcoin. No entity in the space holds >10% of the circulating STX supply. Even the early investors/entities generally hold less than 5%. These stats are self-reported and from on-chain data and naturally update over time.

5. How Is the Stacks Network Secured?

Stacks uses the Bitcoin blockchain as its base layer. As a Proof of Work (PoW)-based blockchain, Bitcoin uses the combined efforts of thousands of miners and nodes to protect the network against attacks by making it computationally and economically unfeasible to subvert the network. On top of this, Stacks introduces its own consensus model, known as proof-of-transfer (PoX), which is a novel mining mechanism that sees users transfer the base currency (BTC) to mine STX — effectively bootstrapping the security of the Stacks blockchain using BTC.

6. Where Can You Buy Stacks (STX)?

STX is available to trade on several prominent exchange platforms, including Binance,Coinbase, Kraken, Upbit, and KuCoin. For a full list of available trading pairs and supported platforms, see the markets section. For more information about buying cryptocurrencies with fiat, click here.

7. Related Pages:

Check out Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) — an ERC-20 token backed 1:1 with actual BTC. Check out Bitcoin Cash (BCH) — a forked of Bitcoin with several significant changes. Learn about side chains with CoinMarketCap Alexandria. Stay on top of the latest product updates, partnerships, and announcements with the CoinMarketCap blog.

8. What is Blockchain?

Blockchain is a decentralized and distributed ledger technology that securely records transactions across multiple computers in a verifiable and permanent way. It forms the underlying technology for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and enables transparency, security, and immutability.

9. What is Cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual form of currency that uses cryptography for security. It operates on decentralized networks, typically based on blockchain technology, and facilitates secure and transparent peer-to-peer transactions.

10. What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, created in 2009 by an anonymous person or group known as Satoshi Nakamoto. It operates on a decentralized peer-to-peer network and is used for secure, transparent, and censorship-resistant transactions.

11. What is the difference between Bitcoin and Altcoins?

Bitcoin is the original and most widely recognized cryptocurrency, while altcoins refer to any other cryptocurrencies besides Bitcoin. Examples of altcoins include Ethereum, Ripple (XRP), Litecoin (LTC), and many others.

12. What is Staking?

Staking involves participants locking up a certain amount of cryptocurrency in a wallet to support the operations of a blockchain network. It is commonly associated with proof-of-stake (PoS) and delegated proof-of-stake (DPoS) consensus mechanisms, where participants receive rewards for helping secure the network.

13. How Can I Stake Cryptocurrency?

To stake cryptocurrency, you typically need to choose a platform or network that supports staking. Transfer your tokens to a compatible wallet, follow the staking instructions provided by the platform, and lock up the desired amount of cryptocurrency. Once staked, you may start earning rewards.

14. What Are Staking Rewards and How Are They Calculated?

Staking rewards are incentives provided to participants who lock up their cryptocurrency to support the network. The amount of rewards varies and is influenced by factors such as the network's inflation rate, the total amount staked, and the specific rules of the staking protocol.

15. Can I Unstake My Cryptocurrency at Any Time?

The ability to unstake and withdraw your cryptocurrency depends on the specific staking protocol and network. Some platforms may have lock-up periods or unbonding periods during which your staked tokens are inaccessible. Always check the terms and conditions of the staking service.

16. What are the Risks of Staking?

Staking comes with risks, including the potential loss of staked funds if a participant behaves maliciously or fails to fulfill their responsibilities. Market volatility can also impact the value of staked tokens. It's crucial to thoroughly research the staking protocol and understand the associated risks.

17. Can I Lose Money by Staking?

While staking is designed to be a rewarding activity, there is a risk of losing money, especially if the value of the staked cryptocurrency decreases or if the staking protocol encounters security issues. It's important to consider both the potential rewards and risks before participating in staking.