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AML check on Stacks

Stacks is a Bitcoin layer with its own token (STX) and smart contracts. Its addresses start with SP or SM and look nothing like Bitcoin addresses.

Address formatMainnet: SP (single-signature) or SM (multisig) · c32check encoding; testnet uses ST / SN; contracts look like SP….nameSP4BKK6HJVDT447FMV78ECYH8D4EQ6XZC1TPHHC0FExample for illustration, not a real address.
Note

An AML check on a Stacks address covers activity on Stacks. Moving BTC in or out through sBTC also involves a Bitcoin address, so checking both sides gives a fuller picture.

Services that check Stacks

01Merkle ScienceEnterprise platformPrice on requestNot verifiedNot scored

How to check a Stacks address

  1. Get the public addressAsk your counterparty for the address they will send from — or copy it from the incoming transaction.
  2. Pick a service that covers StacksChoose one marked “Supported” in the list above. A mainnet address starts with SP or SM. ST or SN means testnet, and an address followed by a dot and a name (SP....name) is a smart contract, not a personal wallet.
  3. Run the check and read itsBTC and USDCx are tokens on Stacks backed by BTC or USDC held elsewhere. They are not native BTC or native USDC.
A real AML check needs only a public address. Never share a seed phrase or private key.

Stacks specifics

  • Stacks uses Proof of Transfer: miners spend BTC for a chance to mine new Stacks blocks, which anchors Stacks blocks to Bitcoin. Its smart contracts are written in Clarity, a decidable language with built-in functions for reading Bitcoin state.[1]
  • The Nakamoto upgrade went live on Stacks in October 2024. It brought faster block production and Bitcoin-level finality (activation was scheduled for Bitcoin block 867,867, around 29 October 2024).[2]
  • To get sBTC, a user sends BTC on Bitcoin to an output that a consensus threshold of sBTC signers can spend. Once the signers verify it, the same amount of sBTC is minted on Stacks, and this can happen within a single Bitcoin block.[3]
  • To withdraw, a user burns sBTC on Stacks and names a Bitcoin address. After six Bitcoin block confirmations, the sBTC signers create the Bitcoin transaction that releases the BTC.[4]
  • sBTC started with 15 institutional signers in Phase 1, and at least 70% of signers must approve each transaction.[5]
  • On 6 June 2025 the ALEX decentralized exchange on Stacks had a security incident that hit multiple asset pools. The Stacks Foundation said ALEX's own contract implementation caused it, not a Stacks vulnerability.[6]

Common risks on Stacks

DeFi protocolLowEstablished on-chain lending, swaps and liquidity pools.Stolen fundsHighCoins taken in hacks of exchanges, protocols or personal wallets.ScamHighMoney taken through fake investments, phishing, impersonation and similar deception.

FAQ

Why does my Stacks address look different from my Bitcoin address?

Stacks uses its own c32check encoding with SP or SM prefixes. A Stacks address and a legacy Bitcoin address can share the same underlying key hash, but they are written differently. Always use the format the network you are sending on expects.

Who holds the BTC behind sBTC?

BTC deposited for sBTC sits in a Bitcoin output controlled by a group of sBTC signers, and at least 70% of them must approve each transaction. Phase 1 started with 15 institutional signers, and the set was rotated in 2026.

Is USDC native on Stacks?

No. Circle does not list Stacks among its native USDC chains. Since December 2025 there is USDCx, a stablecoin issued by Stacks and backed by USDC held in Circle xReserve. It is a separate token from native USDC.

How do I check a Stacks address for AML risk?

Copy the public address, open one of the services listed above that supports Stacks, and run the check. You never need a seed phrase or private key.

What does “Not verified” mean?

The service claims support somewhere — in marketing copy or a third-party page — but its own docs, pricing or FAQ do not list the network. Treat it as unknown.

Sources

  1. Stacks Documentation (docs.stacks.co) — What Is Stacks?. Checked 4 Oct 2026.
  2. Stacks Foundation — T3 2024 recap (30 Mar 2025). Checked 4 Oct 2026.
  3. Stacks Documentation (docs.stacks.co) — sBTC Deposit. Checked 4 Oct 2026.
  4. Stacks Documentation (docs.stacks.co) — sBTC Withdrawal. Checked 4 Oct 2026.
  5. Stacks Documentation (docs.stacks.co) — Security Model of sBTC. Checked 4 Oct 2026.
  6. Stacks Foundation — Statement Regarding ALEX Incident on June 6th, 2025 (9 Jun 2025). Checked 4 Oct 2026.