Starknet
Validity rollup on Ethereum using STARK proofs and the Cairo language, with fees paid in STRK.
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Starknet key facts
| Category | Layer 2 network |
|---|---|
| Chains | Ethereum L2 |
| Platforms | Web, API |
| Token | STRK (fees, staking, governance) |
| Fees | L2 computation, L2 data and L1 data; paid only in STRK since v0.14.0 |
| Open source | Yes, Apache-2.0 (github.com/starkware-libs/sequencer) |
STRK token
- Price
- $0.0387 -4.1% 24h
- Market cap
- $296.7M
- Fully diluted value
- $394.2M
- 30-day change
- -47.7%
Market data: CoinGecko, updated Nov 8, 2026. Educational content, not financial advice.
What is Starknet?
Starknet is a Layer 2 validity rollup on Ethereum that uses STARK proofs, aggregated by SHARP, to settle batches on mainnet. Since v0.14.0 on September 1, 2025, fees can only be paid in STRK. Fees cover L2 computation, L2 data and L1 data.
How Starknet works
Starknet accounts are smart contracts, so a new account has to be deployed on chain before it can send anything.
That DEPLOY_ACCOUNT transaction needs STRK in the address first. Each fee covers three resources: L2 gas for computation and data, L1 data gas for posting state diffs to Ethereum, and L1 gas for L2 to L1 messages. The fee is paid in STRK, moved from you to the sequencer as part of the transaction itself.
StarkGate, built by StarkWare, bridges ETH and ERC-20 tokens. A deposit locks funds in the L1 contract, and the sequencer waits for enough L1 confirmations before minting them on Starknet. Staking is in its second phase on mainnet. Validators need at least 20,000 STRK, epochs last 1,132 blocks (about one hour), and BTC wrappers count toward staking power at a weight of 0.25.
How to start with Starknet
- Pick a Starknet wallet.
- The docs list Ready, Braavos and the gaming-focused Cartridge, and some apps sponsor gas so your account deploys inside your first transaction.
- Otherwise, fund the address with STRK before first use.
- To bring assets from Ethereum, use StarkGate at starkgate.starknet.io.
- To stake without running a validator, delegate STRK or supported BTC wrappers to a validator that accepts delegation.
- Withdrawing stake has a 7-day security lockup on mainnet.
Starknet fees and limits
Since v0.14.0, every transaction must set a STRK-denominated max amount and max price per unit for each of the three resources. Sequencers usually charge less than those caps. Starknet burns no fees, so the sequencer keeps them all. Deposits through StarkGate also pay an L1 to L2 message fee, which the bridge contract can estimate.
Risks to know before using Starknet
- Starknet's docs say the network is still centralized while block production, attestation and proving move to validators in phases.
- Sequencers cannot charge above your caps, but nothing yet forces them to follow the published fee formula.
- If a StarkGate deposit never appears on L2, you can cancel it, but reclaiming the funds takes about five days.
- StarkGate also supports withdrawal limits.
Starknet alternatives
Other projects people compare with Starknet.
ZK rollup on Ethereum that proves every operation with zero-knowledge proofs, with its own EraVM.
Optimistic rollup on Ethereum (Arbitrum One) built on the Offchain Labs Nitro stack, governed by ARB holders.
Ethereum layer 2 network built by Coinbase, with no native token and ETH used for gas.
zkEVM rollup on Ethereum incubated within Consensys, with ETH for gas and a LINEA burn token.
Optimistic rollup on Ethereum and reference chain of the open-source OP Stack.
Gaming-focused Ethereum layer 2 on the OP Stack, launched by Sky Mavis, with RON as its gas and staking token.
Where Starknet ranks on DappAtlas
Starknet pros and cons
- Validity proofs, no fraud proof window
- STRK also used for staking and governance
- Sequencer code public under Apache-2.0
- Fees only payable in STRK since v0.14.0, not ETH
- Not EVM, contracts use Cairo
- Part of STRK fees may be converted to ETH by the sequencer to cover L1 gas
Starknet FAQ
What is Starknet?
Starknet is a Layer 2 validity rollup on Ethereum that uses STARK proofs, aggregated by SHARP, to settle batches on mainnet. Since v0.14.0 on September 1, 2025, fees can only be paid in STRK. Fees cover L2 computation, L2 data and L1 data.
Which chains does Starknet support?
Ethereum L2.
How much does Starknet cost?
L2 computation, L2 data and L1 data; paid only in STRK since v0.14.0, according to Starknet’s own page (checked Sep 26, 2026).
Does Starknet have a token?
Yes, STRK. Its market cap was $296.7M on CoinGecko on Nov 8, 2026. Educational content, not financial advice.
Sources
How this page works
Sources: Starknet: official site, Starknet: STRK, Starknet: Fees. Data as of Sep 26, 2026.
Not affiliated with any project listed. Educational content, not financial advice.