Today, the Endowment is launching the Stacks Ecosystem Grants Program, funded through SIP-031, to support builders, developers, and operators who are doing exactly that.

Bitcoin is the most valuable asset in crypto, yet the vast majority of it remains economically idle. That gap isn’t a failure of Bitcoin. It’s a signal that the Bitcoin economy is still in its early stages and needs further development.

With sBTC bringing programmable Bitcoin on-chain and the Nakamoto upgrade delivering Bitcoin-level finality at speed, the Stacks ecosystem is entering a new phase. One where Bitcoin can be used not just as a store of value, but as productive capital across applications, infrastructure, and new transaction flows.

There is more work to be done to build a real Bitcoin economy, and we’re funding the builders and community who are driving it.

Types of Grants

We've designed the program around your current stage in the journey. Here's how it breaks down:

Builder Grants: Rewards for Real Impact

We’re doubling down on what works. If your protocol is already gaining ground, these grants are designed to fuel your next phase of growth and accelerate your trajectory. Builder Grants are retroactive and forward-looking awards for teams that have demonstrated measurable, verifiable outcomes and are positioned to continue growing usage, liquidity, and infrastructure on Stacks. 

These are quarterly rewards based on measurable on-chain metrics — TVL growth, transaction volume, critical integrations, and infrastructure improvements.

Real examples of what this could look like:

• Complex features added to your project that benefit the ecosystem in terms of user growth, transaction volume, and 
• Incentive grants for protocols bringing illiquid assets new liquidity 
• Integration grants if Polymarket launches sBTC betting or Pendle showcases our yield to their users
• Security grants for teams strengthening network reliability

Progress is verified through public repos, on-chain activity, and real deliverables. This builds credibility, opening doors to larger grants, investments*, and partnerships.

*Coming in 2026, a revamped Accelerator program for new and existing builders to seek mentorship and investment.

Getting Started Grants: From Idea to Traction

"There's nowhere to get started on a serious idea." If you've said this or heard it, this category is for you.

Seed Idea Grants 

• For pre-product-market-fit founders with early proof-of-concept
• Funding for unique ideas to build a beta or pilot demo to show new traction and graduate to another Grant program 

Community DeGrants: Community Governed 

This category continues the spirit of DeGrants — the community-led initiative that has funded everything from content creation and education to dapps that lift the community.

Types of projects:

• Community growth (BNS initiatives, NFT projects, memecoins)
• AI, prediction markets, and other creative blockchain projects
• Education, media, workshops, and cultural initiatives

If it makes Stacks more vibrant, welcoming, and connected, there's a place for it here.

What has changed in the Program?

Our Grants program now has clear tracks for different grant types and eligibility criteria for specific grants. We aim to provide transparency into which grants fit into long-term ecosystem value creation and, most importantly, what aligns with our roadmap and community.

What we’ve added:

• Retroactive rewards: A portion of the budget is allocated to teams that are already showing traction. We’re rewarding measurable success.
• Public documentation: more clarity on Grant criteria, awards, and outcomes will be provided. You'll be able to see who got funded, why, and what they delivered.
• Tracker*: We’re building a live grants tracker with the deployer address so you can see everything onchain (Tentative launch March 2026 with the Q1 recipients)

Success Metrics: How We'll Measure Impact

This program isn't just about distributing capital. It's about growing the ecosystem. Here's how the Endowment, with ecosystem support, will track success:

• Total funded projects and completion rates
• Ecosystem TVL and transaction growth attributable to grants
• Number of active developers and new contributors onboarded
• Community engagement (events, education, creative output)
• Follow-on funding secured by grantees (external validation of impact)

We'll share regular updates on these metrics so we can continue to evolve the program and the community can hold us accountable.

The Opportunity Ahead

Only 1% of Bitcoin is deployed onchain today. That means 99% is still waiting.

The builders who crack this — who create the apps, protocols, and experiences that bring Bitcoin to life — will unlock opportunities that don't exist anywhere else in crypto. They'll activate a flywheel economy that benefits everyone. They'll write the next chapter of Bitcoin.

The Stacks Ecosystem Grants Program exists to support you in doing exactly that. Whether you're driving TVL growth, launching your first product, or bringing the community together in creative ways, there's a path for you here.

Bitcoin's biggest opportunity is waiting. Let's activate it together.

How to Apply

Please apply for the program you are interested in here. All applications require a form to complete; a team member will be in touch with you.

Need Help?

Take a look at example applications for guidance. Need something more? Look out for the Grants Office hours on the Stacks Events Calendar. 

Resources

• Stacks Endowment - Official program administrator
• Stacks Roadmap - See where the ecosystem is headed
• Stacks Forum - Join the discussion and ask questions
• Grants HQ Help Hub - Sample applications

Have questions? Want to shape how this program evolves? Join the conversation on the Forum.

FAQs

• When do applications open? 
  
  • The Q1 cohort opens on February 10, 2026, and closes on March 13, 2026.
• How do I apply? 
  
  • Submit your application here
• What is the max funding? 
  
  • Builder grants are milestone-based and scoped individually.
  • Getting started grants are capped to $10k STX.
  • Community Degrants are capped to $5k STX.
• Is there a technical requirement? 
  
  • Yes, projects must demonstrate a clear path to either integrate sBTC, support the Nakamoto-upgraded network, or use the Stacks blockchain.