Ankr joins sBTC signer set to enhance Bitcoin security on Stacks

Ankr, the decentralized infrastructure provider, has been added to the sBTC signer set on Stacks, joining a small group of operators tasked with validating and securing Bitcoin-pegged transactions on the Layer 2 network.

For those unfamiliar with the setup: sBTC is a token on Stacks that’s pegged 1:1 to Bitcoin. The signer set is the group of operators who collectively approve the minting and movement of sBTC, functioning like a multi-signature committee that keeps the peg honest.

How the signer model works

The initial sBTC signer set launched with 14 operators after one original nominee withdrew before go-live. Transactions require approval from at least 10 of those 14 signers, a threshold designed to balance security with operational efficiency.

Signers aren’t chosen at random. Operators must meet strict criteria around uptime, geographic diversity, and technical capability.

sBTC deposits went live on mainnet on December 17, 2024, with withdrawal functionality expected to follow in March 2025.

What Ankr brings to the table

Ankr operates a Bitcoin Secured Infrastructure platform that provides RPC services, validator solutions, and customizable tooling aimed at Bitcoin-related protocols.

“We’re thrilled to support Stacks and sBTC to build Bitcoin’s future.”

That’s Ankr Co-Founder and CEO Chandler Song, who framed the partnership as part of a broader push to extend Bitcoin’s utility beyond simple value transfer.

Ankr’s participation aligns with the Stacks Foundation’s “Best and the Brightest” campaign, an initiative that highlights key institutional supporters of sBTC.

The bigger picture for Bitcoin DeFi

The sBTC signer model is designed to evolve over time. The current structure is intended as a stepping stone toward a more permissionless system, with plans to integrate signer selection with Stacks’ Proof of Transfer consensus mechanism, which itself is anchored to Bitcoin’s own blockchain.

Broader rotations within the sBTC signer set have been noted over time, with other institutional participants cycling in and out.

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