🔗 Starknet's January: LayerZero Integration, STRK ETF Filing, and Cross-Chain Expansion
🔗 Starknet's January: LayerZero Integration, STRK ETF Filing, and Cross-Chain Expansion
🌉 Starknet connects everything
Interoperability Breakthrough
Starknet integrated LayerZero, connecting to 160+ ecosystems and enabling cross-chain functionality. STRK is now tradable on Solana's DeFi ecosystem, while AVNU launched cross-chain swaps supporting 200+ assets from 10+ networks.
Key Infrastructure Updates
- StarkGate and Stargate Finance bridges now support SolvBTC and wBTC transfers between Ethereum and Starknet
- S-two proving stack is now fully open-source with EVM verification support
- Ethereum Foundation's Open Intents Framework is compatible with CairoVM on testnet
Ecosystem Developments
- Bitwise filed a STRK ETF application
- Ekubo Protocol switched to swap fees, quadrupling revenue
- AVNU v2 launched with gas-free UX and unified product view
- Extended listed Silver, offering 6 TradFi assets onchain
- Uncap Finance added tBTC and SolvBTC collateral support
- Privacy Pools went live on mainnet
- Cartridge acquired gaming platform Playmint
Multiple protocols raised funding rounds while new vaults and pools expanded DeFi options across the network.
4/ LayerZero’s core solution is its messaging protocol: smart contracts on Starknet can now read/write data from any chain connected to LayerZero. And the reverse is also true, contracts on those chains can now read/write data from Starknet.
8/ Right now, routes will be limited to bridging between Ethereum and Starknet. But other routes will be supported in the coming days.
2/ LayerZero is now live on Starknet, a major milestone for our interoperability stack. LayerZero brings its messaging protocol + the OFT standard to Starknet.
1/ @LayerZero_Core is now live on Starknet Mainnet. A massive milestone for Starknet’s interoperability, connecting the network to 150+ ecosystems and unlocking omnichain liquidity at scale. Time to accelerate 🧵
3/ And with LayerZero, Starknet is also live on Stargate Finance, the leading LayerZero-powered bridge.
Stargate is live on @Starknet. Move WBTC (@WrappedBTC), solvBTC (@SolvProtocol), and AUSD0 (@withAUSD) to Starknet now and put your assets to work across @vesuxyz, @EkuboProtocol, @endurfi, and more—with live $STRK incentives. Stargate, the biggest bridge in DeFi.
Layer Zero is now integrated into Starknet’s canonical bridge, StarkGate. You can bridge SolvBTC and wBTC from Ethereum to Starknet right now, with other routes being supported in the coming days. More tokens will be listed over time.
1/ @LayerZero_Core is now live on Starknet Mainnet. A massive milestone for Starknet’s interoperability, connecting the network to 150+ ecosystems and unlocking omnichain liquidity at scale. Time to accelerate 🧵
Starknet is now integrated with LayerZero’s largest bridge: Stargate Finance. You can bridge to and from Starknet through a battle-tested interface that has already moved $50B+ this year alone. More routes and tokens are coming.
Stargate is live on @Starknet. Move WBTC (@WrappedBTC), solvBTC (@SolvProtocol), and AUSD0 (@withAUSD) to Starknet now and put your assets to work across @vesuxyz, @EkuboProtocol, @endurfi, and more—with live $STRK incentives. Stargate, the biggest bridge in DeFi.
This month on Starknet. 1️⃣ Interoperability going bananas > STRK is now tradable and integrated into the @solana DeFi ecosystem > @avnu_fi launched cross-chain swaps, letting users swap 200+ assets from 10+ networks into STRK on Starknet > @LayerZero_Core, the leading
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10/ LayerZero’s launch is one of the most important interoperability upgrades Starknet has shipped. It brings global liquidity, market-leading tokens, and Stargate, a trusted bridge used across the industry. Learn more: starknet.io/blog/connectin…
3/ Institutions, protocols, and major issuers rely on LayerZero to move assets seamlessly across ecosystems. Starting today, they can do so to and from Starknet as well. So what exactly went live? Two things.
6/ Starting today, Starknet builders can use these two core primitives to create new cross-chain apps, unlock new use cases, and issue OFTs with a unified token model. And two bridges are leveraging this architecture to connect Starknet with 160+ chains.
avnu in full shipping mode. New bridging routes from 15+ chains, letting you move 200+ tokens into STRK on Starknet. Make the jump now 👇
Introducing Bridge by avnu Onboard to Starknet from Ethereum, Solana, Base, Arbitrum, Bitcoin, and 10+ more chains. one signature. ~60 seconds. powered by @near_intents
2/ Why is this a big moment for Starknet? LayerZero is the leading interoperability protocol > $210B+ in transfer volume facilitated > Supports over 700 tokens > Powers >70% of cross-chain stablecoin activity
We’ve pulled 25 data points from 2025 to explain how LayerZero has accelerated crypto adoption—from tokenization and stablecoins to cross-chain value transfer, developer adoption, and research breakthroughs. ⤵️
5/ LayerZero also powers the Omnichain Fungible Token (OFT) standard. OFTs are the market-leading interoperability standard, adopted by 700+ tokens. OFTs keep one unified supply across many chains, enabling 1:1 cross-chain transfers with no transfer slippage.
1/ @LayerZero_Core is now live on Starknet Mainnet. A massive milestone for Starknet’s interoperability, connecting the network to 150+ ecosystems and unlocking omnichain liquidity at scale. Time to accelerate 🧵
7/ The first one is StarkGate, Starknet’s canonical bridge. The second is @StargateFinance, LayerZero’s battle-tested omnichain bridge. In the coming hours, users will be able to bridge tokens to and from Starknet using these bridges.
9/ TLDR: > Starknet is now connected to 160+ ecosystems via LayerZero > Builders can build cross-chain apps + issue OFTs > Users can bridge from dozens of chains to Starknet via Stargate Finance
4/ AVNU launched its own bridge, powered by NEAR Intents. 1-click bridging to STRK on Starknet from 10+ chains and 200+ tokens.
Introducing Bridge by avnu Onboard to Starknet from Ethereum, Solana, Base, Arbitrum, Bitcoin, and 10+ more chains. one signature. ~60 seconds. powered by @near_intents
🔗 Bitcoin DeFi Evolution: From Wrapped Assets to Trustless Infrastructure
A roadmap for Bitcoin DeFi (BTCFi) infrastructure is taking shape, moving from today's wrapped asset model toward fully trustless solutions. **Current State:** - BTCFi currently relies on wrapped Bitcoin assets - Trust assumptions remain a limitation **The Path Forward:** - **Near-term:** Trust-minimized Bitcoin bridges (like Bitlayer's BitVM Bridge) - **Mid-term:** ColliderVM-powered infrastructure - **Endgame:** Fully trustless BTCFi through OP_CAT or similar secure implementations Bitlayer's BitVM Bridge represents a step toward this vision, enabling Peg-BTC - a 1:1 Bitcoin asset usable across DeFi protocols without custodians. The approach focuses on trust-minimization rather than wrapped tokens, allowing users to borrow, lend, and earn yield with actual Bitcoin. Ankr provides the infrastructure backbone with scalable RPC and global performance. [Read Bitlayer's technical deep dive](https://blog.bitlayer.org/introducing_bitvm_bridge/)
Starknet Unveils Ambitious Privacy Roadmap for 2026
Starknet has released its privacy plan for 2026, marking a significant development in the Layer 2 ecosystem's approach to user confidentiality. **Key Points:** - The roadmap outlines new privacy features and implementations planned for the coming year - Builds on previous privacy improvements noted in late 2025 - Represents a notable shift in Starknet's technical direction The announcement has generated attention within the developer community, though specific technical details of the implementation remain to be fully disclosed. This follows positive sentiment around Starknet's privacy landscape from October 2025. For those interested in Layer 2 privacy solutions, reviewing the full plan may provide insights into upcoming changes in the ecosystem.
Extended App Adds Copper Trading Support
Extended App has announced the addition of copper trading to its platform. This expansion follows the platform's recent listing on Coinbase, broadening its commodity trading offerings beyond its existing products. The move signals Extended's continued growth in traditional asset tokenization and trading infrastructure.
Starknet Hackathon Registration Closes Soon
The **Starknet Foundation** is hosting an online hackathon focused on privacy, Bitcoin, and zero-knowledge (ZK) technology. **Key Details:** - Start date: February 1 - Prize pool: $21,500 - Focus areas: Privacy, Bitcoin integration, and ZK proofs - Registration still open for a few more days The hackathon invites developers to build applications leveraging Starknet's ZK-rollup technology. Participants can explore privacy-preserving solutions and Bitcoin-related projects using zero-knowledge cryptography. Interested developers should register soon as the event begins February 1st.