The State of Stacks Q4 2025 report by Messari is out: the trend line is hard to ignore.

Stacks kept growing through the market downturn:

- DeFi expansion: TVL in STX up 120.8%. Average total STX stacked up 6.1%.

- Block performance: 95.7% of blocks arriving within 5 seconds, ~1/3 confirming in under 2 after Clarity 4 activation.

- Distribution momentum: Dexscreener now supports SIP-010 tokens. WalletConnect expanding app and asset reach across the ecosystem.

Read the full report here: https://messari.io/report/state-of-stacks-q4-2025

Institutions don't want to simply hold Bitcoin. They want to earn yield on it.

Stacks provides the institutional infrastructure to generate sustainable, risk-adjusted yield on Bitcoin.

The Bitcoin Yield Summit is a free virtual event on 11 March, 12–4pm ET, exploring how institutions and large BTC holders can put their Bitcoin to work.

The agenda covers yield strategies, trust models, risk frameworks, and the protocols powering native Bitcoin yield today.

Register here: https://www.stacks.co/blog/the-first-virtual-bitcoin-yield-summit

The Stacks 2025 ecosystem report by Nansen is out.

The year was defined by key integrations that turned Stacks into institutional Bitcoin infrastructure and a rapidly maturing Bitcoin DeFi ecosystem.

The on-chain data speaks for itself:

https://x.com/nansen_ai/status/2024786875026907291?s=20

A Zealy campaign offering up to $10,000 in STX prizes launches tomorrow at 7pm ET.

To celebrate the launch of USDCx on Stacks via Circle, quests will go live to help users learn how to use USDCx.

The campaign will cover everything from bridging USDC to USDCx, to making swaps on Bitflow, to taking loans on Zest.

Learn more here: https://x.com/Stacks/status/2025951560346530288

A new Stacks grants program is now live.

Whether you are a team with proven traction or an early-stage builder, there is a track for you:

- Builder Grants (up to $50,000)
- Getting Started Grants (up to $10,000)

Apply and start building the Bitcoin economy on Stacks: https://stacksendowment.co/grants

The 30-day Zealy bounty series has officially started.

Up to $10,000 in STX is up for grabs for those who complete the quests.

Learn about and start using USDCx, Circle's tier-1 stablecoin, across the Stacks DeFi ecosystem, including Bitflow, Granite, Zest, and more to win the rewards.

Get started here: https://zealy.io/cw/stacks/questboard

Stacks on-chain activity is at its highest point in years.

- Contract deployments are at their highest since March 2023. Transaction volume since January 2024.
- New wallets and active accounts are both at multi-year highs.
- Transaction fees, a reliable proxy for genuine usage, are climbing.

With Zest V2 launching and new upgrades coming from Hermetica and Bitflow, these numbers are poised to grow further.

Stacks on-chain activity is at its highest point in years.

- Contract deployments are at their highest since March 2023. Transaction volume since January 2024.
- New wallets and active accounts are both at multi-year highs.
- Transaction fees, a reliable proxy for genuine usage, are climbing.

With Zest V2 going live and upgrades from Hermetica and Bitflow coming, these numbers are poised to grow.

Don’t miss the upcoming Stacks community calls.

Join in if you want to stay involved in the ecosystem’s progress, from development and marketing to governance.

1/ Stacks Treasury Committee Office Hours - Monday, Mar 2, 12:00 pm ET
Call recording: https://x.com/i/spaces/1qJVmQQPAOwGB?s=20

2/ Clarity Working Group - Tuesday, Mar 3, 9:00 am ET
🔗 Meeting link: https://meet.google.com/xkr-kijh-zia

3/ AI BTC Working Group - Tuesday, Mar 3, 12:30 pm ET
🔗 Add to calendar: https://www.addevent.com/event/c3qjy462xr82

4/ SIP Call #165 - Friday, Mar 6, 10:30am ET
🔗 Add to calendar: https://www.addevent.com/event/ue20372724

Tenero recently released an article on hwy Stacks is the #1 Bitcoin's Growth Network in 2026.

It highlights that:
- No other network comes close in total BTC distributed

- Being institutional-ready infrastructure thanks to key integrations (e.g Circle USDCx, BitGo, Fireblocks, ecc)

- Dual Stacking unlocking BTC yield on BTC

- Growing onchain activity & DeFi opportunities

Read the full article here: https://x.com/tenero_io/status/2027415601812033902?s=20

Are you a builder looking to start your journey in the Bitcoin ecosystem?

Buidl Battle is a 3-week virtual competition with a $20,000 prize pool.

It's the opportunity for builders to connect with investors, to spotlight their projects, and engage with other Bitcoin builders.

Find more info and register here: https://dorahacks.io/hackathon/buidlbattle2/detail

Stacks DeFi ecosystem is leveling up, unlocking new opportunities for users:

- Zest v2: Unlocking far better capital efficiency and higher borrow caps while introducing new features such as smoother liquidations and optional no rehypothecation.

- Bitflow HODLMM: Concentrated liquidity is now live on Stacks introducing 800x more capital efficient than legacy AMMs.

- Hermetica hBTC: the bitcoin yield vault private beta is already live.

Allbridge Core is adding native Stacks support, with a new integration built specifically for cross-chain bridging.

Anyone will be able to send USDC or USDT from Ethereum, Solana, Base, and more to receive USDCx on Stacks.

Getting stablecoin liquidity on the leading Bitcoin L2 is becoming simpler than ever.

Read more about it here: https://x.com/Stacks/status/2029674319849431419?s=20

SIP-39, 40 and 41 are live for voting until March 21.

The SIPs benefit include:
- For users: Passkey login, safer DeFi via Originator Mode, and no more "stuck" transactions

- For operators: Drastically lower storage needs via Chain State Pruning

- For developers: Double the power for apps and better Clarity 5 efficiency

Vote on the SIPs here:
https://ballot.gg/67a34537-0375-4046-a4b7-432e8dfd4eb3/1MP9LjMBZRKXWq3tRio6nGwFyUoboozEQx

Don’t miss the upcoming Stacks community calls.

Join in if you want to stay involved in the ecosystem’s progress, from development and marketing to governance.

1/ Stacks Blockchain Call - Tuesday, Mar 10, 10:00 am ET
Meeting link: https://meet.google.com/kku-bopd-nvn

2/ AI BTC Working Group - Tuesday, Mar 10, 12:30 pm ET
Set the reminder: https://x.com/StacksOrg/status/2031283085564584364?s=20

3/ SIP Call #166 - Friday, Mar 13, 10:30am ET
🔗 Add to calendar: https://www.addevent.com/event/ue20372724

Hey everyone, reminder to vote on SIP-039 when you get a chance! 🗳️🧡

The block height for the vote window was reached around 12:30 EST and will run through March 20 roughly (block 941639). You can vote with the new platform here: https://stx.is/clarity5vote

You still have until March 13 to apply for the Stacks Endowment grants.

Whether you are a new Bitcoin builder or a team with proven traction, you can access up to $10,000 in funding.

Head over to the grants portal to apply. ⬇️

https://stacksendowment.co/grants

AI agents are thriving, and crypto will be the currency they use to transact.

Hear Andre explain why Bitcoin will be the agent's choice when programmed to preserve value and capital over the long term.

AI agents went from experimental projects to economic actors.

They’re trading on prediction markets, executing DeFi strategies, buying API calls, all without a human in the loop.

A recent study from the Bitcoin Policy Institute found out that 48.3% of AI Agents would choose BTC to transact.

Read more about how Stacks is already bringing AI Agents to Bitcoin via AIBTC.

https://x.com/Stacks/status/2032190314400870636?s=20

Less than 5 days left to vote to help Stacks core contributors decide whether the SIP-039 + Rider SIP-040 and SIP-042 should pass.

The upgrades include Clarity 5, improved post conditions, and important upgrades for Stacks' smart contract language.

Make sure to cast your vote. 🔽

https://ballot.gg/67a34537-0375-4046-a4b7-432e8dfd4eb3/1MP9LjMBZRKXWq3tRio6nGwFyUoboozEQx