Published on: 22/02/2024
There is a frenzy of activity going on in the cryptoverse. For investors, theres no story more important right now than the continuing rise of Bitcoins layer-2 networks, particularly Stacks (STX). In masking eye-popping gains and attracting significant investor attention, it previews a seismic shift thats on its way in the cryptocurrency markets.
Since last Oct 2023, STX — the native token of the Bitcoin-focused Stacks Layer 1 Smart Contract platform — has seen its trading volume surge by a staggering 2,600%, on a rally of 400%. It has left Bitcoins own 90% growth during the same period in the dust. Whats driving this tremendous performance?
The answer lies in Stacks unique value proposition. Built as a Layer-2 network for Bitcoin, Stacks is designed to imbue the king of cryptocurrencies with core decentralized finance features akin to other Layer-1 ecosystems, including but not limited to Ethereum and Solana. Through Stacks, Bitcoin users can issue their own cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and even non-fungible tokens. Stacks also extends support to a decentralized exchange (DEX) and a liquid staking protocol (LSP).
Herein lies the secret sauce to Stacks success. It essentially facilitates the expansion of the Bitcoin networks capabilities, allowing it to process more transactions and making it more attractive to both investors and developers intent on building applications on Bitcoin. Looking at the numbers, the number of daily active addresses on Stacks has grown from 961 to a substantial 4,000 over the past 90 days. During the same period, daily transactions leaped from roughly 8,340 to 33,000.
Whats more, the total value locked (TVL) on Stacks, which stands as an indicator of user trust and interest, has seen an equally dramatic surge. From October 2023 to February 2024, TVL increased by a staggering 830% to $114.87 million, signaling a huge influx of capital into the Stacks DeFi ecosystem.
This whirlwind of activity in Stacks is happening amidst a palpable excitement about spot Bitcoin ETFs. When they were approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in January 2023, Bitcoin rallied to a tantalizing two-year high of $49,000. Spearing through Bitcoins coattails, STX hit its own peak of $2.06, which was its highest in nearly two years.
In recent times, the Bitcoin rally, sparked by increased Bitcoin ETF inflows, has been mirrored by STX. As of Feb 20, STX has reached a new high of $2.90 a whopping 85% increase in the last 30 days.
Considering the current trend, Bitcoins price is expected to continue ascending in 2024, as is interest in Layer 2 projects. This naturally bodes well for Stacks, which is well on its way to firmly establishing itself as one of the leading names in the Layer-2 Bitcoin sector.
What does this mean for investors? Simply put, Stacks growth showcases the continued expansion and evolution of the cryptocurrency market. It underscores that investors are not just seeking out digital assets but are increasingly interested in the underlying technology.
Layer-2 networks, like Stacks, are primed to lead the next wave of cryptocurrency innovation and investment. Pouncing on these trends early presents an intriguing opportunity for investors, especially at a time where Bitcoin continues to cement its place at the heart of the financial sphere.
The renewed vigor and high activity on Stacks signal a groundswell of confidence amongst investors, pointing to a rosy future for this rising crypto-asset.
This article does not constitute financial advice. Markets are inherently volatile, and investors should conduct thorough research before making any financial decisions.