BridgeRadar
Bitcoin to Stacks Bridge
The main way to get BTC on Stacks is sBTC, a token backed 1:1 by BTC that a group of sBTC signers holds. You deposit BTC through the sBTC bridge and get sBTC on Stacks. You can turn it back into BTC the same way. There are few other routes.
Reviewed October 14, 2026 ยท 5 solutions checked
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Short answer
sBTC is the Stacks version of Bitcoin. You send BTC to the sBTC bridge, and the same amount of sBTC is created at your Stacks address. When you want your BTC back, you ask to withdraw, the sBTC is burned, and BTC is sent to the Bitcoin address you chose. You can start from the official bridge site, sbtc.stacks.co, with a Stacks wallet such as Leather or Xverse.
No single company holds the BTC. It sits in one Bitcoin address controlled by a group of sBTC signers. At launch there were 15 of them, chosen by the community. At least 70% of them must agree before a deposit or withdrawal goes through. That is less trust than a single custodian, but it is still trust in a group of people.
Deposits are fairly quick. Withdrawals are slower because the signers wait for 6 Bitcoin blocks first. The early deposit caps were removed in 2025, so size limits are less of an issue now. Fees on Stacks are paid in STX, so keep a little STX in your Stacks wallet if you plan to move or use your sBTC.
| Main BTC token on Stacks | sBTC |
|---|---|
| Who holds the BTC | sBTC signer group |
| Signers needed to approve | At least 70% |
| Deposit time | Up to 3 Bitcoin blocks |
| Withdrawal time | About 6-7 Bitcoin blocks |
| Fees on Stacks paid in | STX |
Why this route is difficult
Stacks is a separate network built on top of Bitcoin. It can read what happens on Bitcoin, but it cannot move BTC by itself. Someone has to hold the real BTC on Bitcoin while sBTC moves around on Stacks.
With sBTC, that someone is the signer group. All BTC behind sBTC sits in one Bitcoin address that the signers control together. At least 70% of them must sign to move it. So no single signer can take the coins, but a large enough group could.
The signers also have to stay online. If too many are offline, deposits and withdrawals slow down or stop until enough of them return. This is the main trade-off of a signer group compared with a company like Coinbase or Binance.
There are few other ways in. Big cross-chain swap services such as THORChain and Chainflip do not list Stacks. If you do not need to keep BTC, buying STX on an exchange is the simple alternative.
Possible approaches
1Signer-held peg (sBTC)
Deposit BTC to an address the sBTC signers control and receive the same amount of sBTC on Stacks. Withdraw the same way in reverse.
Trade-offNo single company in charge, but you trust a group of signers to stay honest and online.
2Wallet with sBTC built in
Leather and Xverse can take BTC from your wallet and turn it into sBTC without leaving the app.
Trade-offEasier, but the wallet may set its own minimum and fee. The sBTC is the same.
3Exchange purchase
Sell BTC for STX on an exchange that lists STX, then withdraw STX to your Stacks wallet.
Trade-offSimple, but you no longer hold BTC and the exchange holds your coins until you withdraw.
4DEX swap on Stacks
If you already hold STX or other tokens on Stacks, swap them for sBTC on a Stacks DEX.
Trade-offNo Bitcoin fees, but you pay the DEX fee and depend on how much sBTC is in its pools.
Options compared
| Option | You get | Typical time | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sBTC deposit (official bridge) | sBTC | Often about 20 min | Bitcoin fee + small signer fee | Holding BTC in Stacks apps |
| Wallet with sBTC built in (Leather, Xverse) | sBTC | Same as the bridge | Bitcoin fee + any wallet fee | People who already use a Stacks wallet |
| Buy STX on an exchange | STX | Depends on exchange rules | Trading fee + withdrawal fee | Getting STX for fees, not keeping BTC |
| DEX swap on Stacks | sBTC | Seconds once you have STX | Swap fee + STX network fee | People who already hold tokens on Stacks |
Working solutions
| Solution | You receive | Custody / verification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| sBTC bridge (official) | sBTC | sBTC signer group | Deposit and withdraw at sbtc.stacks.co. Works with Leather and Xverse. |
| Leather wallet | sBTC | sBTC signer group | Can bridge BTC to sBTC inside the app using its swap screen. Check the minimum shown. |
| Xverse wallet | sBTC | sBTC signer group | Connects to the sBTC bridge. Holds your Bitcoin and Stacks addresses in one place. |
| Exchanges listing STX | STX | The exchange until you withdraw | Useful to get STX for fees. You sell BTC, so you no longer hold it. |
| DEX on Stacks | sBTC | Your own wallet | If you already have STX on Stacks, swapping for sBTC skips Bitcoin fees entirely. |
How to move Bitcoin to Stacks
These steps show how to deposit BTC and get sBTC through the official sBTC bridge. It needs no account, only a Bitcoin wallet and a Stacks wallet. Leather and Xverse hold both.
- 1
Set up a Stacks wallet
Install a wallet that supports Bitcoin and Stacks, such as Leather or Xverse. It gives you a Bitcoin address that starts with bc1 and a Stacks address that starts with SP. Write down your seed phrase and keep it offline.
- 2
Put BTC in the wallet
Send BTC to your Bitcoin address in the wallet, from an exchange or another wallet. Check that you copied the bc1 address, not the SP one. The bridge needs you to sign from your own wallet.
- 3
Open the bridge and choose Deposit
Go to sbtc.stacks.co, connect your wallet and choose Deposit (BTC to sBTC). Enter the amount. The app shows the minimum deposit and the fees. Check that the Stacks address shown is yours.
- 4
Sign and pick a Bitcoin fee
Sign the Bitcoin transaction in your wallet. Check current fees on mempool.space and choose one that should confirm soon. A very low fee can leave your deposit waiting for a long time.
- 5
Wait for the sBTC
Once your deposit confirms, the signers approve it and sBTC is created at your Stacks address. This often takes about 20 minutes. The Stacks docs say it should finish within 3 Bitcoin blocks.
- 6
Get some STX
You need STX to pay fees when you move or use sBTC on Stacks. If your wallet has none, buy a little on an exchange and withdraw it to your SP address.
Fees and timing
The Bitcoin network fee comes first. It depends on how busy Bitcoin is and on the size of your transaction. The signers also pay Bitcoin fees for their own transactions, and a share of that can come out of your amount.
When you withdraw, you pay a small STX fee for the request on Stacks. The signers then take the Bitcoin fee for the payout from your withdrawal. Wallets that add sBTC inside their own swap screen may charge their own fee. Check the amount you will actually receive.
Timing is mostly about Bitcoin. Deposits usually finish within 3 Bitcoin blocks. Withdrawals wait for 6 Bitcoin blocks after your request, and the payout usually lands in the next block. So plan for roughly an hour or more to get BTC back.
Common mistakes
- Sending BTC to your Stacks SP address. Stacks addresses cannot receive BTC on the Bitcoin network.
- Arriving on Stacks with sBTC and no STX. You cannot move it until you add STX for fees.
- Expecting withdrawals to be as quick as deposits. They wait for 6 Bitcoin blocks.
- Thinking sBTC is real Bitcoin. It is a token backed by BTC that the signers hold.
- Using a fake bridge site. Type sbtc.stacks.co yourself or use the link inside your wallet.
- Choosing the cheapest Bitcoin fee. Your deposit can sit unconfirmed for a long time.
Before you transfer
- Holding sBTC means trusting the signer group, not holding BTC itself.
- Keep some STX in your Stacks wallet for fees.
- Allow more time for withdrawals than for deposits.
- Only use the official bridge site or the bridge built into a known wallet.
- Check the minimum deposit in the app before you send.
- Send a small test first if the route is new to you.
Frequently asked questions
Connect a Stacks wallet such as Leather or Xverse to the official bridge at sbtc.stacks.co, choose Deposit and send BTC. The same amount of sBTC, minus fees, arrives at your Stacks address. Leather can also do it from its swap screen.
sBTC is a token on Stacks backed 1:1 by BTC. The BTC sits in one Bitcoin address controlled by a group of sBTC signers. You can turn sBTC back into BTC through the same bridge.
Deposits often take about 20 minutes, and the Stacks docs say they finish within 3 Bitcoin blocks. Withdrawals wait for 6 Bitcoin blocks, so getting BTC back usually takes an hour or more.
A group of sBTC signers, chosen by the Stacks community. There were 15 at launch. At least 70% of them must approve each deposit and withdrawal.
sBTC started with deposit caps, but they were removed in 2025. The bridge still sets a minimum deposit, which the app shows before you send.
Yes, for most actions. Fees on Stacks are paid in STX, including the fee for a withdrawal request. Keep a small amount of STX in the same wallet.
Yes. Choose Withdraw on the bridge, enter the amount and a Bitcoin address, and confirm. After 6 Bitcoin blocks the signers send BTC to that address, minus the Bitcoin fee.
