Gate is a centralized crypto exchange founded in 2013 offering spot, futures, stocks and earn products for traders who want one multi-asset account.
TVL $5.84B−4.6%Ethereum · Bitcoin · BNB Chain +129
Ecosystem guide
The Stacks ecosystem
The best dApps on Stacks by sector: DeFi, games, NFTs and more. 26 projects tracked, 26 reviewed in full.
Full Stacks ranking →- dApps
- 26
- Reviewed
- 26
- TVL tracked
- $57.6M
- Native token
- STX
Stacks is a blockchain that adds smart contracts and dApps to Bitcoin. It runs as a separate chain and anchors its blocks to the Bitcoin blockchain, so it borrows Bitcoin's security as a settlement base. Its consensus mechanism is called Proof of Transfer: miners commit Bitcoin to produce Stacks blocks, and STX holders can take part in stacking to earn Bitcoin rewards. It is not EVM-based. Contracts are written in its own language, Clarity, so apps are built specifically for Stacks.
STX is the native token. It pays transaction fees and is used for stacking, which means locking or delegating STX to support the network in exchange for BTC rewards. DeFi TVL on the chain was about $57.9M at the time of writing, which makes it a small ecosystem compared with the biggest smart contract networks. Fees and token values move over time, so check live figures before you transact.
The dApp scene here leans heavily toward Bitcoin-focused DeFi. StackingDAO leads on liquid staking, and LISA offers a similar approach. Lending is covered by Zest V2, Granite and Zest V1, which accept Bitcoin-linked collateral such as sBTC. Bitflow, Velar AMM and Alex handle trading, while Hermetica offers hBTC and the USDh synthetic dollar. Arkadiko and UWU Protocol mint stablecoins against STX, and Planbetter and Xverse Pool run stacking pools. Our list also includes multichain names such as Bitget, Gate, Gate US, Wormhole and Brotocol. If you use exchanges that offer trading or derivatives, check that they are legal where you live and that you meet the age requirement, which is 18+ in most places and 21+ in some.
Stacks ecosystem in numbers
- Tracked
- 26
- Reviewed
- 26
- Total TVL
- $11.9B
- Avg. score
- 6.4/10
Largest by TVL
- 1
Gate$5.84B
- 2
Bitget$5.82B
- 3
StackingDAO$74.5M
- 4
Gate US$54.0M
- 5
Zest V2$44.3M
Highest rated
- 1
- 2
- 3
Wormhole7.6
- 4
Bitflow7.4
- 5
Reviewed
Top-rated dApps on Stacks
Bitget is a centralized exchange for crypto spot and futures that also offers tokenized stocks, commodities and forex in one account, for active traders.
TVL $5.82B−1.3%Bitcoin · Solana · Ethereum +68
Wormhole is a cross-chain messaging and bridge protocol linking over 40 blockchains, with the W governance token, for DeFi users and multichain developers.
Ethereum · Solana · Cosmos +5
Bitflow is a Stacks-based DEX and swap aggregator for Bitcoiners, with DCA, limit orders and HODLMM concentrated liquidity pools.
TVL $2.61M+8.2%Stacks
StackingDAO is a Stacks liquid staking protocol where users stake STX or BTC and receive liquid tokens such as stSTX, stSTXbtc and stBTC.
TVL $74.5M+3.5%Stacks
Zest V2 is a Bitcoin-focused lending protocol on Stacks with L1 Bitcoin Collateral Vaults, for BTC holders who want to earn or borrow.
TVL $44.3M−0.1%Stacks
By sector
Best Stacks dApps by sector
DeFi on Stacks21
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
NFT on Stacks1
Infrastructure on Stacks4
- 1
- 2
Brotocol6.0
- 3Owl Link5.0
- 4Stackerdaos—
Tokens
Top tokens on Stacks
Stacks's native coin is Stacks (STX). The largest tokens with a contract on Stacks, by market cap.
| # | Token | Price | 24h | 7d | Market cap | Volume 24h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 784 |  Zest ProtocolZEST | $0.1516 | −12.2% | −9.3% | $22.1M | $1.32M |
| 2044 |  ALEX LabALEX | $0.003240 | −19.8% | −7.2% | $2.96M | $92.3K |
| 2442 |  Hermetica USDhUSDH | $1.00 | +0.0% | −0.1% | $1.86M | $4.64K |
| 3056 |  WelshcorgicoinWELSH | $0.00009808 | −10.0% | −1.2% | $981K | $6.05K |
| 3387 |  LEOLEO | $0.00007517 | −14.8% | +17.3% | $714K | $9.96K |
| 4304 |  SatoshAISAI | $0.0001614 | — | +3.9% | $339K | — |
Guides
Stacks guides
Blockchain
Building Smart Contracts and dApps on Bitcoin with Stacks 2.0Stacks is a smart contract layer that works alongside Bitcoin, letting developers write applications that use BTC-backed assets. This guide explains how the network fits with Bitcoin, how Clarity contracts are built and tested, and how to deploy a Stacks app with care.
Blockchain
Blockchain Examples and How They WorkLearn how blockchains record and verify transactions, how consensus keeps a shared ledger in sync, and how Bitcoin, Ethereum and other networks put the technology to work. See practical examples, key trade-offs and ways to assess whether a blockchain is a good fit.
Blockchain
Blockchain for Data: Uses, Limits and How It WorksBlockchains can create shared records that are difficult to alter, but they are not a general-purpose replacement for databases or file storage. Learn what belongs on-chain, how blockchains connect to outside data, and when the trade-offs make sense.
Blockchain
Casper Network and CSPR: A Practical Guide for 2026Casper Network is a proof-of-stake blockchain, and CSPR is its native token. This guide explains the network’s purpose, how CSPR is used, and what to check before staking or transacting.
Blockchain
Cosmos Network Guide: Chains, IBC and ATOM in 2026Cosmos is an ecosystem of independent blockchains, not one chain that processes every app and token. Learn how the Cosmos Hub, Cosmos SDK and IBC fit together, what ATOM does, and how to assess transfers, staking and risks in 2026.
Blockchain
How the Bitcoin Lightning Network WorksThe Bitcoin Lightning Network moves payments through channels that sit on top of Bitcoin, so most transfers do not need their own blockchain transaction. Learn how channels, routing, fees and liquidity work, and what to consider before using Lightning.
Stacks FAQs
What is Stacks?
Stacks is a Bitcoin layer that adds smart contracts and dApps. It runs as its own chain and settles its activity back to the Bitcoin blockchain. That design lets developers build DeFi apps, NFTs and other programs that use Bitcoin as a base layer.
How does Stacks work?
Stacks uses a consensus mechanism called Proof of Transfer (PoX). Miners spend Bitcoin to compete to write Stacks blocks, and STX holders who take part in stacking can earn Bitcoin rewards. Stacks blocks are anchored to Bitcoin, which is how the network ties its security to Bitcoin.
What is the STX token used for?
STX is the native token of Stacks. It is used for transaction fees, for smart contract activity and for stacking, where holders lock or delegate tokens to earn Bitcoin rewards. Several dApps here, such as Planbetter, Xverse Pool and StackingDAO, are built around that process.
Is Stacks EVM compatible?
No. Stacks has its own smart contract language and is separate from the Ethereum Virtual Machine. Contracts are written for Stacks rather than copied over from Ethereum. Some listed products, such as Wormhole and Brotocol, connect Stacks-related assets to other chains.
What kinds of dApps can I find on Stacks?
The listed Stacks dApps cover liquid staking (StackingDAO, LISA), lending (Zest V2, Granite, Zest V1), DEXes (Bitflow, Velar AMM, Alex), stablecoin vaults (Arkadiko, UWU Protocol) and staking pools (Planbetter, Xverse Pool). There are also Bitcoin yield products from Hermetica. Our page shows 24 dApps in total, and some of them are multichain exchanges and bridges.
How big is the Stacks DeFi ecosystem?
DeFi TVL on Stacks was about $57.9M at the time of writing, which is small next to the largest chains. Most of it sits in a few protocols, led by StackingDAO and Zest V2. The figure changes daily, so check current data before drawing conclusions.
Are all the dApps listed here built only for Stacks?
Not necessarily. Some entries, like Bitget, Gate and Gate US, are centralized exchanges that support multiple chains, so they are not Stacks-only protocols. Others, like Wormhole, are bridges across many networks. Each dApp page on our site lists the chains it supports and what category it falls into.
What is the largest dApp on Stacks by TVL?
Gate is the largest dApp on Stacks by total value locked, with $5.84B across all the chains it supports. It is followed by Bitget ($5.82B) and StackingDAO ($74.5M). TVL figures come from DefiLlama and change daily.
Which dApp on Stacks has the highest DappsAtlas score?
How many dApps are on Stacks?
DappsAtlas tracks 26 dApps on Stacks. Of these, 26 have a full review and 16 report value locked, $11.9B in total, counting value on every chain they support.
What are the most common types of dApps on Stacks?
DEXes (5), Centralized Exchanges (3) and Lending (3) are the largest categories on Stacks, by number of projects.
Which dApps on Stacks grew the most this week?
Among dApps with at least $1M locked, CityCoins had the biggest 7-day TVL gain (+19.1%) and Hermetica hBTC the biggest drop (−4.8%). Combined TVL moved −2.9% over the same seven days.
What is the average score for dApps on Stacks?
The 22 rated dApps on Stacks average 6.4 out of 10. Of these, 0 score 8 or higher and 0 score below 5.