We recently co-hosted an AMA Session with Stacking DAO! The AMA kicked off with an introduction to StackingDAO, the first and leading liquid staking token on Stacks, boasting a significant Total Value Locked (TVL) of around 60,000,000 STX. Arkadiko was also highlighted as the first DeFi protocol on Stacks, offering a crypto-backed stablecoin, USDA. Both projects continue to thrive, providing valuable opportunities for users to earn yields on their idle stacks. Sili, Director of Business Development at InfStones, shared his journey of six years with the company. He emphasized InfStones' role as an infrastructure provider in the Stacks ecosystem, running a stacking pool and participating as a signer. Sili noted the importance of community engagement and governance, highlighting InfStones' commitment to the long-term growth and stability of Stacks.

Davide, Head of Strategy at Restake, brought a strategic perspective to the discussion. He emphasized the importance of aligning with Bitcoin, given its enduring value and stability. Restake is not only focused on Stacks but is also involved in other Bitcoin layer-2 solutions, including the Balancer protocol and Babylon, a new data availability layer. Davide also teased an upcoming rebranding for Restake, promising exciting developments ahead.Both InfStones and Restake discussed their reasons for choosing to support Stacks.

The consensus was clear: the alignment with Bitcoin's longevity and the vibrant, growing community within the Stacks ecosystem made it an attractive choice. Both companies see potential in the Stacks ecosystem to expand and add value, not just for themselves but for the broader crypto community.

The AMA also touched on the importance of community involvement and governance within the Stacks ecosystem. The signers play a crucial role in these areas, and the ongoing engagement of institutions and individual participants alike is seen as vital to the ecosystem's continued success.

The AMA highlighted the unique strengths of the Stacks ecosystem, particularly its close alignment with Bitcoin and its active, engaged community. With companies like InfStones and Restake deeply involved and optimistic about the future, the Stacks ecosystem appears well-positioned for sustained growth and innovation. You can listen to the full AMA session here.