Applications are open from June 5th to June 26th. All decisions will be made by July 1. This cycle, we are funding builders working across four themes that advance Bitcoin-native finance: DeFi and Perps, Real-World Assets, Agentic Applications, and Privacy.

Stacks exists to drive Bitcoin growth by building Bitcoin-native finance that enables both individuals and institutions to grow and manage their Bitcoin. Everything we build extends Bitcoin's capabilities without compromising its fundamental values and security.

This quarter, the Stacks Endowment is opening grants to support the builders who are making that vision real. With sBTC live and capital anchoring onchain through Bitcoin Staking, the ecosystem has the foundation it needs to grow. We are now focused on the teams building the DeFi products, RWA infrastructure, agentic tools, and privacy primitives that will define Bitcoin-native finance.

This cycle, we are offering two grant tracks: Builder Grants for teams with proven traction, and Getting Started Grants for early-stage builders with promising ideas. If neither track is the right fit, stay tuned for community-driven DeGrants launching next week.

Key Dates
Applications Open: June 5th, 2026
Applications Close: June 26th, 2026
All Decisions Made By: July 1, 2026

This Cycle's Four Focus Themes

1. DeFi and Perps

A healthy DeFi ecosystem is one of the defining characteristics of a winning Bitcoin layer. Loans, vaults, trading, and Bitcoin-backed products with high engagement are all downstream of a capital-rich base. With Bitcoin Staking and sBTC establishing that foundation, we are now looking for the builders who will create the financial products that sit atop it.

Bitcoin is the most liquid and most trusted asset in crypto, yet it remains significantly underserved by decentralized finance. Stacks provides the programmability to change that, and in this grant cycle, we are prioritizing teams working on trust-minimized Bitcoin DeFi and perpetuals infrastructure.

We are excited to fund projects including:

• Perpetuals and derivatives protocols built on Bitcoin.
• Yield aggregators and liquidity management tools denominated in Bitcoin.
• DEX infrastructure and AMM innovations that reduce trust assumptions.

2. Real-World Assets (RWA)

Institutions and individuals both need a safe, compliant path to manage Bitcoin and Bitcoin-backed assets. Tokenizing real-world assets on Bitcoin is one of the biggest untapped opportunities in the industry today. From real estate and commodities to treasuries and invoices, Stacks is positioned to serve as the home of RWA infrastructure secured by Bitcoin.

Building this well requires deep liquidity, ubiquitous access across exchanges, custodians, and wallets, and compliance tools that protect both builders and users. We want to fund the teams building these rails.

We are excited to fund projects including:

• Tokenized real estate, commodities, and treasury products.
• On-chain stablecoins and Bitcoin-backed debt instruments.
• Compliance and identity infrastructure for institutional RWA issuance.
• Cross-chain RWA settlement and custody solutions.

3. Agentic Applications

Bitcoin AI Agents and programmable capital are a core part of the Stacks roadmap. Agents and humans both need fast settlement, manageable fees, and experiences that feel native to Bitcoin. Stacks is collaborating with leading AI projects to support 10,000 active agents, and in this grant cycle, we are looking for the teams building the infrastructure and applications that will make that possible.

Open agent frameworks, agent account contracts, and agentic readability of docs and APIs are all areas where external builders can contribute meaningfully to the ecosystem today.

We are excited to fund projects including:

• AI agent wallets and autonomous Bitcoin transaction systems.
• Agentic DeFi strategies and programmable capital execution frameworks.
• Developer tooling and open frameworks for building AI-native Bitcoin applications.
• Scalable agent account contracts and onchain coordination infrastructure.

4. Privacy

Privacy is not optional for Bitcoin-native finance to reach its full potential. Institutions need to protect business strategies and financial history. Retail users need to manage their Bitcoin without exposing sensitive information. Compliant privacy options are a stated goal of the Stacks roadmap, and in this grant cycle, we are looking for teams building the cryptographic tools and privacy-preserving protocols that enable selective disclosure.

The goal is not to obscure Bitcoin, but to extend it. Users should be able to transact privately while retaining the ability to disclose selectively for compliance purposes.

We are excited to fund projects including:

• Zero-knowledge proof systems and ZK circuit tooling for Bitcoin applications.
• Confidential smart contracts and privacy-preserving DeFi primitives.
• Selective disclosure and compliance ready identity infrastructure.
• Shielding protocol research with a path to production on Stacks.

Grants Overview

This cycle we are offering two grant tracks. Both are open from June 5th to June 26th, and all decisions will be made by July 1.

Builder Grants

Builder Grants are for teams with proven traction. This track rewards measurable impact across TVL, growth, and network adoption on Stacks. If you are an existing Stacks builder or have a live application elsewhere that directly contributes to Stacks adoption or liquidity, the Builder Grant track is for you.

Getting Started Grants

Getting Started Grants are for early-stage builders on Stacks. This track supports pre-PMF teams with prototypes or concepts, helping turn promising ideas into working products. You do not need a finished product or live application to apply.

Not a fit for either track? Look out for Degrants

If neither the Builder Grant nor the Getting Started Grant is the right fit, stay tuned. Community-driven DeGrants for builders who strengthen Stacks through creative, inclusive, and educational projects are launching next week.

How to Apply

Applying is straightforward. Here is what to do. Visit stacksendowment.co/grants and complete the application form

• Select the grant track that best fits your stage: Builder Grant or Getting Started Grant.
• Describe your project, your team, and which focus theme it falls under.
• Tell us what you will ship and by when.
• Submit before June 25. Late applications will not be accepted.

Grants Portal access note

Applications are submitted through our new grants portal, which offers several sign-in options, including magic link.

If you choose to sign in using a magic link and don’t see the email in your inbox, please check your spam, promotions, updates, or other filtered folders first, as some email providers may route new system emails there.

For technical issues related to portal access, contact grants@stacksendowment.com.

Requests for Projects

Not sure what to build? We have curated a list of specific projects we would like to see funded this cycle, spanning all four themes. These represent real gaps in the ecosystem where the right team could make a meaningful contribution.

Browse the full list of Requests for Projects here: Notion Link

If you see something on the list that excites you, please reference the RFP title in your application, and we will prioritize your review.

Build Bitcoin-Native Finance

Bitcoin's programmable future is being built right now. The Stacks Endowment exists to make sure the best builders have the resources to build it. Whether you are working on ZK proofs, designing the next generation of BTC-backed perpetuals, or prototyping an AI agent that transacts in Bitcoin, we want to support your work.

Applications are open from June 5th to June 26th. All decisions will be announced by July 1.

If you have a question, reach out to grants@stacksendowment.co