Starknet Ecosystem Early 2026 Status Report: Data-Driven Growth Momentum

Today, @Starknet released a post titled “State of the Starknet trenches, early 2026”! The article showcases Starknet’s strong performance as a ZK execution layer, especially its role in scaling Ethereum, protecting privacy, and unlocking Bitcoin capital markets. Let’s take a look at the significant growth in Starknet’s DeFi, staking, user activity, and market share.

1. Capital Inflows: The Third-Largest Ecosystem

Starknet ranks third in the entire crypto market by capital inflow. Over the past 6 months, net inflows reached +$630 million. This data highlights investor confidence in Starknet, especially during market volatility.

This net inflow reflects Starknet’s attractiveness, possibly due to its technological innovations, such as zero-knowledge proof (ZK) technology applied in DeFi and Bitcoin integration. Compared to other ecosystems, Starknet’s capital inflows indicate it is attracting funds from Ethereum and Bitcoin ecosystems, creating a virtuous cycle that drives further development.

2. DeFi TVL Growth: Defying the Market

Starknet is one of the few ecosystems to achieve annual growth in total value locked (TVL) in early 2026. From the yearly bottom, TVL has increased fourfold.

TVL is a key indicator of DeFi ecosystem health. This 4x growth shows Starknet’s DeFi applications (such as lending and trading protocols) are attracting more liquidity. Amid a potentially weak overall market, this counter-trend growth may be driven by Starknet’s low fees, high throughput, and privacy features, attracting users and capital migrating from other chains.

3. Stablecoin Supply: Continuous Expansion

The stablecoin supply on Starknet shows an “Up only” trend, tripling throughout 2025.

Stablecoins are the cornerstone of DeFi ecosystems, and their growth directly supports trading, lending, and payments. This 3x increase indicates Starknet is becoming a preferred platform for stablecoins (such as USDC, USDT), possibly due to its Ethereum compatibility and Bitcoin market unlocking. This will further enhance ecosystem liquidity and attract more institutional participation.

4. STRK Staking: Locking Supply Surge

Staking of STRK increased from 130 million to 1.1 billion tokens, accounting for 22% of circulating supply, an 11x growth.

Staking mechanisms are central to network security and governance. This explosive growth (x11) demonstrates high community confidence in Starknet’s long-term prospects. Locking 22% of circulating supply reduces market sell pressure and strengthens network security. The post calls this “classic x11 growth,” implying it has become a hallmark achievement for Starknet.

5. BTC Staking: From Zero to Hero

Bitcoin staking started from zero and reached 1,700 BTC in just three months.

As a key part of the “BTCFi arc,” Starknet unlocks Bitcoin capital through ZK technology. This rapid growth showcases its innovative potential in bridging Bitcoin and DeFi. The 1,700 BTC staked (worth hundreds of millions of dollars, depending on current prices) marks Starknet’s emerging position in the Bitcoin ecosystem, potentially encouraging more BTC holders to participate in DeFi yields.

6. Daily Active Users: User Base Explosion

Daily active users (DAU) exceed 60,000, a 15-fold increase since January 2025.

DAU directly reflects ecosystem activity. This 15x growth indicates accelerated user adoption, possibly driven by new applications, lower fees, and improved user interfaces. Compared to other Layer 2 solutions, Starknet’s growth rate suggests it is diverting users from Ethereum mainnet and attracting new crypto participants.

7. Application Revenue: Vertical Surge, Rising Rank

Application revenue is “going vertical,” reaching new all-time highs. Starknet ranks 4th among all Rollups.

Application revenue is a key indicator of ecosystem sustainability. This vertical growth and ranking improvement show Starknet’s dApps (such as gaming, NFTs, and DeFi tools) are generating real value. Ranking 4th (among many Rollups) highlights its competitiveness, possibly due to an efficient execution layer and developer incentive programs.

8. Perp Market Share: Technology-Driven 20%

Starknet’s technology accounts for 20% of the entire perpetual contract (Perp) trading volume, including:

• Extended (Public Starknet)
• Paradex (Starknet Appchain)
• edgeX (StarkEx)

The Perp market is core to derivatives trading, and this 20% share demonstrates Starknet’s dominance powered by ZK technology. Through a combination of public chains, application chains, and dedicated solutions, Starknet offers efficient, low-cost trading environments. This not only enhances its position in derivatives but also brings more trading volume and fee revenue to the overall ecosystem.

Looking ahead to 2026, the momentum is expected to continue, breaking all key metrics to new highs. These data collectively depict Starknet’s robust growth trajectory: from capital inflows to user activity and technological applications, all indicating ecosystem maturity and potential. As a platform focused on ZK technology and BTCFi, Starknet is reshaping the Layer 2 landscape. With more innovations landing in the future, this momentum is likely to persist, bringing more opportunities for investors and developers.