A　stacked　differential　optical　receiver　architecture　with　excellent　noise　performance　is　proposed　in　this　paper.　By　DC　coupling　two　single-ended　transimpedance　amplifiers　(TIA)　to　the　cathode　and　anode　of　the　photodiode　(PD)　respectively,　and　stacking　them　in　voltage　domain,　differential　operation　is　formed.　This　not　only　enables　input-referred　noise　reduction　from　the　differential　input　scheme,　but　also　simplifies　power　management　design　and　facilitates　power　reduction.　As　a　proof　of　concept,　a　stacked　differential　10Gb/s　optical　receiver　is　implemented　in　a　mature　0.18-μm　CMOS　technology,　demonstrating　the　feasibility　of　the　proposed　architecture.　The　optical　receiver　achieves　differential　gain　of　68.4dB,　6GHz　of　-3-dB　bandwidth　and　state-of-the-art　input-referred　noise　current　of　7.2pA/√Hz　while　consuming　83mW　from　a　single　3.3V　power　supply.　©　2021　IEEE.