Starknet Bridge: How to Swap Tokens from Bitcoin to Starknet

If you’re looking to put your bitcoin to work on Starknet, you’ll need a bridge to transfer your assets over. Through the integration of Starknet into Xverse, bridging your assets from Bitcoin to Starknet (and vice versa) has never been easier. 

Read on to learn how you can use Starknet bridges to transfer your assets to and from the Starknet network.

TL;DR 

• A Starknet bridge is a protocol that connects Bitcoin (and Ethereum) to Starknet.
• Bridging Bitcoin to Starknet is done through a multi-sig model and potentially in the future with OP_CAT activation.
• Using StarkGate and Asset Runes, Xverse makes it possible to bridge BTC and other Bitcoin-native assets to Starknet using a federated co-signing model.

What Is a Starknet Bridge? 

A Starknet bridge is a protocol that connects Ethereum and Bitcoin blockchains to Starknet, the zk-STARKS-powered Layer 2 solution. This allows users to move crypto assets seamlessly between the Starknet L2 and the linked blockchains. 

You can use your Xverse Starknet wallet to bridge Bitcoin and Starknet assets using the StarkGate bridge. Xverse also serves as a signer of the Runes bridge for Starknet.

How Does Bridging from Bitcoin to Starknet Work?

The most common way of bridging from Bitcoin to Starknet is through a multi-sig model. In this arrangement, co-signers support users to lock their coins on the Bitcoin network, and then mint and receive an equivalent amount of assets on the Starknet platform. 

The co-signers acting in a decentralized federation guarantee the security and integrity of bridged assets. 

The dev team behind the Starknet project is pursuing the use of OP_CAT activation so that, in the future, assets can move between the L2 and Bitcoin in a trustless manner but without the need for federated co-signers.

To enable bridging, Starknet has introduced the concept of ‘Asset Runes,’ a new class of tokens on the Bitcoin blockchain. These assets are redeemable at a ratio of 1:1 for real-world assets. An example of such an asset is USDC•Starknet.

How to Bridge Runes from Bitcoin to Starknet, Step-by-Step

To effectively bridge Runes from Bitcoin to Starknet, you’ll need to:

Set Up Your Wallet

Download and set up Xverse. Next, visit the StarkGate Bridge and click on the ‘Connect wallets’ button. Select Xverse as your wallet and follow the steps to connect it to the bridge. 

Fund Your Wallet

Fund your Bitcoin wallet (Xverse) with BTC. 

Thanks to Xverse’s partnership with Onramper, this can be done using a credit card, debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, MoonPay, Revolut, Venmo, and more than 170 other payment methods.

Bridge Your Tokens 

Open the ‘Bridge’ tab on the StarkGate platform and choose BTC as the asset you’re bridging from and USDC (the Asset Rune) as the asset you’re bridging to. 

Check the transaction details and approve the swap.

Complete the Transaction

Review the gas fees (Bitcoin and Starknet) and click the ‘Continue transfer’ button to finalize the bridge to Starknet.

How to Swap BTC for USDC on Starknet Using Xverse, Step-by-Step

Now, let’s take a look at how you can swap BTC for USDC Runes (USDC•STARKNET) on Starknet using Xverse.

Set Up Your Wallet

Download the Xverse extension or mobile app and set up your wallet, if you don’t already have one.

Fund Your Wallet

Add BTC into your Xverse wallet using your preferred method of payment and currency.

Initiate the Swap 

Once your Xverse wallet is funded, select the ‘Swap’ feature in the main menu. 

Choose BTC as the asset you’re swapping from and then USDC•STARKNET as the token you’re swapping to. Enter the amount of BTC you want to swap and click the ‘Get quotes’ button.

Complete the Transaction

The Xverse wallet’s swapping feature will display an estimate of how much USDC•Starknet you’ll get in exchange for your BTC via DotSwap. 

Review all the details and approve the transaction. Xverse will prompt you to sign, as this is where it acts as a signer for the bridge.

“Our mission is to make Bitcoin interoperable with the broader crypto ecosystem. Supporting bridging into Starknet is one more step in that direction,” explains Jan Smejkal, CSO at Xverse.

Use Xverse to Bridge Tokens from Bitcoin to Starknet (and Vice Versa)

Using Xverse and StarkGate, you can easily move assets from Bitcoin to Starknet and the other way around. With our new Starknet integration, Xverse users gain access to all the benefits of Starknet’s Layer 2 scaling solutions and experience the next era of Bitcoin DeFi.

Download Xverse wallet today and explore the Bitcoin DeFi experience with Starknet.

FAQs

How long does it take to bridge STRK to BTC?

The duration of a bridge transfer from Starknet to Bitcoin can vary based on several factors, including current network congestion, the performance of the bridging service, and required confirmations on each chain. On average, a full bridge transaction might take up to an hour, perhaps longer. Bitcoin has slower block times and confirmation requirements. Starknet, as a Layer 2, typically confirms transactions much faster. With Xverse, you can monitor your transfer progress in real time.

Are there fees involved in bridging STRK for BTC?

Yes, users should expect to pay some fees when bridging between Starknet and Bitcoin. These include Bitcoin network fees, Starknet usage fees, and possibly a bridge service fee, depending on the platform used. Before confirming any transaction, Xverse provides a transparent breakdown of all estimated costs. This way, users know exactly what they’ll be paying.