Starknet launches Shieldnet privacy toolkit with strkBTC wrapper
In brief
- Starknet rebranded privacy tools under Shieldnet banner following April 21, 2026 Shinobi upgrade
- strkBTC shielded Bitcoin wrapper went live May 12, 2026 with quantum-resistant security
- STRK20 framework enables private transfers and shielded balances without blockchain broadcasting
The Shieldnet Stack
Starknet rebranded its privacy tools under the Shieldnet banner following the network's Shinobi upgrade on April 21, 2026. The rebrand signals a shift: privacy is no longer a secondary feature but a core identity for the Layer 2.
The centerpiece is STRK20, which allows users to hold shielded balances and execute private transfers without exposing transaction data on-chain. STRK20 also includes selective compliance features—viewing keys let users voluntarily disclose transaction details to specific parties (auditors, regulators, counterparties) on demand.
Wallet Support and strkBTC Launch
Wallets like Xverse and Ready already support the privacy tools, enabling anonymous swaps, lending, and staking. This wallet integration removes friction for users seeking privacy-first DeFi without custom setup.
The flagship product is strkBTC, a shielded Bitcoin wrapper that went live May 12, 2026. Each strkBTC token is pegged 1:1 to actual Bitcoin, giving holders BTC price exposure while keeping balances private. The token also includes quantum-resistant security properties, embedding resistance to future cryptographic threats.
Scale and Architecture
Starknet currently holds approximately $655 million in total value locked and supports around 47,000 daily active users. As a ZK-rollup, it generates zero-knowledge proofs for every batch of transactions submitted to Ethereum, settling them on-chain without exposing transaction details.
The network also supports account abstraction, allowing wallets to be programmed with custom logic, including privacy-preserving rules. This flexibility lets developers build privacy-first applications without retrofitting existing infrastructure.
