# Stacks > Activate the Bitcoin economy with the leading Bitcoin L2 Stacks is a Bitcoin L2 that lets developers build smart contracts and decentralized applications using Bitcoin as a settlement layer. Stacks enables developers to build decentralized applications using Bitcoin as a settlement layer without modifying Bitcoin itself. Users can create DeFi protocols, issue NFTs, and deploy smart contracts with Bitcoin-level security and finality. Its Clarity programming language and Proof of Transfer consensus distinguish it from other Layer-2 solutions by prioritizing Bitcoin alignment and developer safety. - Type: Network - Sector: Blockchain Platforms - Status: Active - Founded: 2015-07-01 - Profile: https://thegrid.id/profiles/stacks_trust_machines ## Products - [Stacks Explorer](https://thegrid.id/profiles/stacks_trust_machines): Stacks Explorer provides blockchain data visualization and network monitoring for the Stacks ecosystem. The system displays real-time blocks, transactions, mempool status, sBTC tracking, signer information, and network statistics with sandbox functionality for smart contract deployment. (Block Explorer, Live) - [Stacks Blockchain](https://thegrid.id/profiles/stacks_trust_machines): Stacks Blockchain provides Layer-2 scaling for Bitcoin through Proof of Transfer consensus, enabling smart contracts and decentralized applications. The system anchors to Bitcoin blocks while supporting Clarity smart contracts and cross-chain Bitcoin interactions. (L2, Live, Main Product) - [sBTC Bridge](https://thegrid.id/profiles/stacks_trust_machines): sBTC enables 1:1 Bitcoin-backed asset transfers between Bitcoin L1 and Stacks L2 through decentralized signers. The system provides programmable Bitcoin functionality while maintaining Bitcoin security properties and censorship resistance. (Bridge, Live) ## Assets - [sBTC (sBTC)](https://thegrid.id/profiles/stacks_trust_machines): sBTC is a Bitcoin-backed asset on the Stacks blockchain that maintains a 1:1 peg with BTC. It is used to access smart contracts and DeFi applications on Stacks while maintaining exposure to Bitcoin. Unlike custodial bridges, sBTC relies on decentralized signers who stake their own capital and earn rewards for processing transactions, aligning their financial incentives with the security of users' bridged Bitcoin. (Bridged Tokens) - [Stacks (STX)](https://thegrid.id/profiles/stacks_trust_machines): STX is the native token of Stacks, a Bitcoin Layer 2 blockchain. It is used to pay transaction fees, execute smart contracts, and participate in Stacking to earn Bitcoin rewards. Holders can lock STX through the Stacking mechanism to help secure the network and receive BTC yield in return, making it one of the few tokens that generates native Bitcoin yield. (Native) ## Links - [Main](https://www.stacks.co) - [Whitepaper](https://stx.is/nakamoto) - [Documentation](https://docs.stacks.co) - [Blog](https://www.stacks.co/blog) - [Forum](https://forum.stacks.org) - [Privacy policy](https://stacks.org/privacy) - [Media Kit/branding](https://www.figma.com/design/afyAaHa2vGCR0KU1BHiske/Stacks-Brand?node-id=256-790&p=f&t=xLlvjJhEsKr3aYlW-0) - [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/5DJaBrf) - [Twitter / X](https://x.com/Stacks) - [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/stacks) - [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/c/Blockstack) - [GitHub](https://github.com/stacks-network) ## Legal This data is provided under two licensing models. Model 1 - open data. The open data core is licensed under the Open Database License (ODbL) — a copyleft/share-alike license allowing free use, modification, and sharing for any purpose. Attribution is required: include "Powered by The Grid" linking to https://thegrid.id wherever the data is used. 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