Stacks network activates Clarity 4 smart contract language, adding six Bitcoin-native DeFi development features

The SIP-033 and SIP-034 proposals were officially activated at Bitcoin block height 923222, and the Bitcoin smart contract layer Stacks has launched the Clarity 4 smart contract language.

This upgrade introduces six core features for developers: on-chain contract code hash retrieval and verification, custom postconditions for contracts, conversion of simple values to ASCII strings, retrieval of the current block timestamp, secp256r1 signature verification (supporting native key integration), and a dimensional resource term extension mechanism. These features will lower the development threshold for Bitcoin native DeFi applications, helping to build safer and more flexible financial protocols, further strengthening Stacks' position as the liquidity layer of the Bitcoin ecosystem. All transactions on Stacks are settled on the Bitcoin chain, relying on the proof-of-transfer mechanism to gain security from the Bitcoin network.