Overview

This guide explains how to get strkBTC on Starknet, how to shield it for private use and how to stake strkBTC to earn staking rewards. 

To use this guide, users will need a Starknet wallet before starting. To bridge from Bitcoin, users will also need a Bitcoin wallet with BTC. To shield an asset for the first time, make sure there is STRK in the Starknet wallet as activating privacy capabilities requires gas payment (approx <$0.01).

The full list of supported Starknet wallets is here. Currently, only Ready and Xverse support shielding strkBTC. (Note: Xverse also supports shielding for xstrkBTC, the liquid staked version of strkBTC. Ready support for xstrkBTC is coming soon. strkBTC is the first shieldable asset on Starknet, general support for all ERC20s is coming soon when STRK20 support rolls out for the ecosystem.

How to get strkBTC

There are two ways to get strkBTC:

  • Option 1: Bridge bitcoin from bitcoin mainnet into strkBTC on Starknet
  • Option 2: Swap into strkBTC from another asset on Starknet

Option 1: Bridge

To convert bitcoin into strkBTC, a user will need to interact with one of the supported bridges.

Users will need a bitcoin wallet with bitcoin in their account.

Official Bridge: strkBTC.io

strkBTC.io is the official strkBTC bridge built by StarkWare, powered by Atomiq. 

Step 1: Connect Wallet

Select “Connect Wallet” in the top right of the screen. Follow the prompts to connect both a Bitcoin wallet and a Starknet wallet. 

Step 2 to 4: Bridge

Once the wallets are connected, enter the amount of bitcoin to convert into strkBTC (note: there is currently a maximum deposit of 3 BTC) and select bridge. A confirmation screen will appear to review the transfer. 

Review the transfer details. If the transaction details are correct, select “Confirm Transfer.” A screen will appear to sign the relevant transactions. 

Step 5: Review and Finish

Once the transaction is signed, a confirmation message will appear. 

Note that strkBTC will take ~20 minutes to appear in the Starknet wallet. This is because of the time needed to confirm a transaction on the bitcoin network (two blocks confirmation). 

Bridge via Atomiq

On Atomiq, users can swap many different tokens from many different networks. The only option for swapping into strkBTC is Bitcoin on the bitcoin network (default) or bitcoin on lightning network. 

First, select the asset to pay and receive from the drop down menus. Bitcoin on the bitcoin network is the default asset for payment that appears. strkBTC can be found in the drop down menu either by searching for strkBTC or selecting the Starknet icon from the network options

Once strkBTC is selected, there is the option to request a gas drop of STRK. Tick this box for new wallets. 

Connect wallets by selecting “Connect Wallet” in the top right corner. A bitcoin wallet and a Starknet wallet will need to be connected. 

Once wallets are connected, enter the amount of bitcoin to transfer and select “swap.” Follow the instructions to sign transactions.

Done.

Option 2: Swap on Starknet

Many assets on Starknet can swap into strkBTC using Decentralized Exchanges. As part of launch, liquidity will be provided to facilitate swaps between strkBTC and WBTC, solvBTC and tBTC respectively. 

Both Ready and Xverse support swapping inside their apps and browser extensions. 

Inside both Ready and Xverse, select the “swap” buttons and select the assets you want to swap. Xverse has a detailed swapping guide available here. 

How to Shield Your strkBTC

strkBTC is the first asset leveraging STRK20 privacy capabilities on Starknet. This means strkBTC can be unshielded (with balances and transactions exposed onchain) or shielded (with balances and transactions kept from public view). strkBTC is not automatically shielded. Users need to opt in.

To shield strkBTC, a user will first need to activate privacy capabilities. This only needs to happen once. Then users can select the assets to shield. 

Xverse

Step 1: Use the 🛡️toggle in the top right corner of your Xverse wallet to activate your shield. Note: the shield activation will require funds on Starknet to pay for the network fee

Step 2: With private mode activated, users can toggle on private mode anytime to view and manage shielded assets

Step 3: With private mode toggled on, press the shield button in order to shield an asset. Select the asset type to shield (note: on launch only strkBTC and xstrkBTC will be shieldable; general availability is coming soon) and the amount to shield. Then select next.

Step 4: Review transaction and confirm

Step 5: Shielded assets can be viewed and managed at any time in private mode

Done.

Ready

Please note that Ready only supports shielded strkBTC in the browser extension. Mobile support is coming soon, along with support for xstrkBTC. Additionally, shielded assets only work with standard accounts. Users with smart accounts selected will need to deactivate this feature by clicking the settings button in the top left and changing to a standard account. 

Step 1: Select the asset you want to shield by clicking strkBTC from the main screen of the browser extension.

Step 2: Inside the asset view, select the shield button

Step 3: Select the amount to shield and click review shield

Step 4: If it is the first time shielding an asset, a prompt will appear to activate the privacy capabilities. Note: STRK is required to pay the transaction fees for this activation. 

Note: If privacy capabilities are already activated, skip to Step 7.

Step 5: Confirm the activation

Step 6: Once privacy is successful, re-enter the amount of strkBTC to shield.

Step 7: Review transaction and confirm.

Step 8: Shielded balances are displayed right below the unshielded amounts. Click into the shielded asset to learn more, transfer or unshield. 

How to stake strkBTC

The easiest way to stake strkBTC right now is via Endur. Here is Endur’s guide on how to stake bitcoin wrappers on starknet using their frontend.

Start using strkBTC

Once strkBTC is in your Starknet wallet, you can keep it public, shield it for private transfers, swap into it from another Starknet asset, or stake it through Endur. Shielding is opt-in. Before shielding for the first time, users need to activate privacy capabilities from a supported wallet and hold a small amount of STRK to pay network fees.

Always use official links, supported wallets, and verified token addresses when bridging, swapping, shielding, or staking strkBTC.

To get started, visit strkBTC.io.