The Stacks ecosystem has always drawn its strength from community collaboration and shared vision. As we enter 2025, we're witnessing a transformative moment in our ecosystem's journey – the Return to .BTC initiative. 

This community-driven movement represents more than just a naming convention; it symbolizes our commitment to unity, accessibility, and sustainable growth within the Stacks ecosystem.

A Vision of Unity

The power of a unified digital identity system cannot be undertaken. .BTC names serve as the foundation of our ecosystem's identity infrastructure, enabling seamless interactions across decentralized applications and services. 

By standardizing on .BTC, we're not just adopting a naming convention – we're building a stronger, more interconnected Stacks community.

Introducing the .BTC Name Grant Program

Today, Velar launches a pivotal initiative for the Stacks ecosystem, backed by leading projects in our space. The .BTC Name Grant Program stems from a simple observation: .BTC names are often the first touchpoint for newcomers entering our ecosystem. By making these names more accessible, we're not just distributing identities – we're creating an onramp that welcomes users into Stacks.

This program, initiated by Velar and strengthened by ecosystem-wide support, makes acquiring .BTC names more accessible to community members. It reduces barriers to entry and sets the stage for broader participation across all Stacks protocols and applications.

How to Participate

The process is straightforward and designed for community accessibility:

1. Purchase your .BTC name through one of our approved platforms:

• BNS ONE

• BNS.Market

2. After securing your .BTC name, complete the reimbursement form at: https://velar.com/returntobtc. (Reimbursement may take up to five working days.)

Ecosystem Support

This initiative stands as a testament to the collaborative spirit of the Stacks ecosystem. We're proud to have the support of leading projects and platforms:

Core Program Supporters:

Chain:

• Stacks - 1000 STX

Protocols/Wallets:

• Velar - 500 STX

• Bitflow Finance - 500 STX

• StackingDAO - 500 STX

• Alex Labs - 500 STX

• Arkadiko Finance - 500 STX

• Hermetica Finance - 500 STX

• Ryder - 1000 STX

• Leather Wallet - 500 STX

• Zero Authority - 250 STX

Meme Tokens:

• Flat Earth - 250 STX

• Leo - 250 STX

• Roo - 250 STX

Technical Infrastructure Partners:

• BNS ONE

• BNS.Market

Each supporter brings unique expertise and resources, strengthening the program's foundation and ensuring its success.

The Path Forward

The Return to .BTC initiative represents a crucial step in our ecosystem's evolution, building on the momentum created by Return to Ape. That successful movement demonstrated the power of community-driven initiatives in the Stacks ecosystem, and now we're taking the next step with .BTC standardization.

Transparency remains at our core. All grant distributions will be publicly traceable through Velargrant.btc, enabling community members to monitor the program's implementation and impact in real-time.

 “It’s truly inspiring to see all the protocols and tokens across the Stacks ecosystem come together for this initiative. This unity speaks volumes about our shared commitment to supporting and uplifting the entire community.” - Peter Watson, CMO Velar.

This initiative is more than a naming system – it's about creating a unified foundation for the Stacks ecosystem. Through the grant program and continued collaboration with our partners, we're ensuring every community member can participate in this fundamental aspect of our ecosystem's growth.