The Starknet Foundation introduced the Starknet VIP Program on October 16, 2026, a new initiative aimed at holders of the Ethereum layer-2 network's native STRK token and strkBTC, its wrapped Bitcoin asset. By attaching access-based perks to those two assets, the program adds a holder-facing layer to the same BTCFi strategy that has driven Starknet's recent campaigns.

According to the program's page at vip.starknet.io, the program is now open to supported STRK and strkBTC holders.

What VIP Status

The benefits lean toward access rather than direct financial rewards. Qualifying holders are set to receive priority support, direct interaction with the Foundation team, confirmed access to events, and additional benefits that the Foundation has yet to disclose.

That access-first structure sets the program apart from incentive campaigns built on token handouts or yield, and it means the program's appeal rests on a standing relationship with the team building Starknet rather than on immediate payouts.

The program covers two assets that play different roles in the ecosystem. STRK serves as Starknet's governance and staking token and is also used to pay fees on the network. In practical terms, it is the asset through which holders vote, stake, and cover transaction costs.

strkBTC is the newer addition. It launched in May 2026 as a wrapped version of Bitcoin built for use in Starknet's decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. Wrapped assets of this kind exist because Bitcoin's base layer does not natively support the smart contracts DeFi requires, so networks issue representations of BTC that can circulate through their applications instead. The asset was initially secured by a federation of institutions and also includes optional shielding, a feature that lets users keep certain transactions private.

A Broader Bitcoin Push

The VIP Program did not arrive in isolation. It follows a string of Bitcoin-focused moves as Starknet works to build out what the industry calls BTCFi, or decentralized finance built around Bitcoin.

In late 2025, Starknet distributed 100 million STRK as part of its push toward Bitcoin integration. More recently, the network ran a program covering bridging fees for the first 100 BTC moved onto Starknet. A weekly strkBTC faucet worth approximately $833 is also in place. Taken together, the campaigns show the Foundation approaching BTCFi from several directions at once — token distribution, fee subsidies, and now a holder-status program.

The announcement arrives in the middle of an ongoing upgrade cycle. Starknet recently launched v0.14.4 on mainnet, and the VIP Program is rolling out alongside that work.

What Remains Unclear

On the market side, research findings note a 47% increase in STRK's value shortly after the announcement, a move linked to interest in BTCFi and privacy upgrades.

Several open questions remain. The Foundation has not yet published eligibility thresholds for the program, nor has it specified how long it will run. Those details, along with the still-undisclosed benefits, are the specifics most likely to define what VIP status is concretely worth to a holder, and their release is the natural thing to watch next.

strkBTC's security model also bears watching. Because the asset was initially secured by a federation of institutions, users are trusting that group to manage the underlying Bitcoin.