Layer-2 network Starknet has introduced support for Bitcoin staking, allowing users to participate in transaction validation and earn rewards. Investors can now delegate the first cryptocurrency to the network, expanding yield opportunities within the L2 ecosystem.
Community Decision and Technical Integration
The initiative was approved in August under proposal SNIP-31, with 93.6% of participants voting in favor of integrating BTC staking. Previously, Starknet users could only stake the network’s native token — STRK.
It’s important to note that the new feature does not alter Bitcoin’s base layer, which operates on Proof-of-Work. Instead, Starknet supports wrapped versions of BTC, including WBTC, LBTC, tBTC, and SolvBTC. The list of supported assets may expand in the future.
The First Sustainable Yield Source Among Rollups
Starknet positions this launch as the first native and sustainable source of yield for Bitcoin holders among all rollup solutions.
Eli Ben-Sasson, co-founder and CEO of StarkWare, commented to The Block:
“Last year I said Starknet would unlock the power of Bitcoin. […] There’s a genuine beauty in the idea that the coin of the largest blockchain now helps secure another decentralized network. I’m sure Satoshi would be proud of this.”
Supporting the BTCFi Ecosystem
The nonprofit Starknet Foundation has also announced the allocation of 100 million STRK (~$12 million) to support the growth of the BTCFi ecosystem. These funds will be directed toward developing Bitcoin-backed lending solutions.
Ben-Sasson emphasized:
“Bitcoin is the best form of collateral. Everyone — from Michael Saylor to Wall Street — has already realized this.”
New Institutional-Grade Products
Investment firm Re7 Capital has unveiled plans to launch a new Bitcoin-yield product on Starknet, with the release scheduled for October.
The product combines over-the-counter derivatives trading, curated DeFi strategies, and BTC staking on Starknet. Company representatives highlighted that the structure is designed to meet institutional standards and will also be available in tokenized form. This will make it accessible not only to professional investors but also to a broader audience.
