# Stacks

The Stacks blockchain implementation

Repository: https://github.com/stacks-network/stacks-core
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/stacks
Homepage: https://docs.stacks.co
Language: Rust
License: GPL-3.0
License Family: copyleft
Topics: bitcoin, stacks, crypto, layer2, decentralized
Last push: 2026-08-26T18:37:33+00:00
Link (homepage): https://docs.stacks.co
Link (site_page): https://docs.stacks.co/get-started/developer-quickstart
Link (site_page): https://docs.stacks.co/clarinet/quickstart
Link (site_page): https://docs.stacks.co/clarinet/faq
Link (site_page): https://docs.stacks.co/clarinet/integrations

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 94/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:39:23.370411+00:00)
- activity 99, release rhythm 85, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 4362, "days_push": 7, "days_rel": 22, "gap_med": 7.0, "n_releases_24m": 67}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 3062, forks 761 (observed 2026-08-28T04:07:41.185659+00:00)

## What it is
The reference Rust implementation of the Stacks blockchain, a layer-2 network secured by Bitcoin via Proof of Transfer (PoX) mining. It runs Stacks nodes (mainnet/testnet) and executes Clarity smart contracts for decentralized apps anchored to Bitcoin.

## Use cases
- run a Stacks mainnet or testnet node
- mine STX blocks with Proof of Transfer
- execute Clarity smart contracts secured by Bitcoin
- build a Bitcoin-anchored layer-2 dapp
- develop and test sBTC applications
- verify Bitcoin transactions from Clarity contracts

## When to choose
- you need to operate Stacks blockchain infrastructure or a miner
- you want smart contracts that inherit Bitcoin's security without modifying Bitcoin
- you're building DeFi or token apps on a Bitcoin layer-2

## When to avoid
- you need a general-purpose standalone blockchain not tied to Bitcoin
- you want EVM/Solidity compatibility rather than Clarity
- you only need to read Stacks data without running a node (use Stacks.js APIs instead)

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: active
- function: blockchain, cryptography, interpreter, cli
- domain: blockchain, developer-tools, security
- platform: windows, rust, cli
- tags: bitcoin, layer2, smart-contracts, clarity, proof-of-transfer, stx, node-implementation, sbtc, cryptocurrency, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- stacks-network/stacks-core (main) score 94
- stacks-network/stacks (docs) score 70

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:41.185659+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T07:28:18.969914+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/stacks-network/stacks-core (fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:41.185659+00:00, sha 7bb8b13df613)
  - homepage: https://docs.stacks.co (fetched 2026-08-29T09:43:59.931007+00:00, sha bf7342691684)
  - site_page: https://docs.stacks.co/get-started/developer-quickstart (fetched 2026-08-29T09:43:59.940791+00:00, sha 041da5089e5a)
  - site_page: https://docs.stacks.co/clarinet/quickstart (fetched 2026-08-29T09:43:59.942726+00:00, sha 1e2e7de3f254)
  - site_page: https://docs.stacks.co/clarinet/faq (fetched 2026-08-29T09:43:59.944598+00:00, sha 80b92591e2f3)
  - site_page: https://docs.stacks.co/clarinet/integrations (fetched 2026-08-29T09:43:59.946455+00:00, sha b4bd61bdcc15)
  - site_page: https://docs.stacks.co/rendezvous/quickstart (fetched 2026-08-29T09:43:59.948093+00:00, sha 985d765fcbd4)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.