Stacks Adds Second Institutional Staker Ahead of Genesis Bond Launch
Stacks is building momentum in its Bitcoin staking program, announcing another institutional participant this week. The latest addition comes on the heels of a protocol upgrade that allows big players to earn yield on their BTC without giving up custody.
The platform's PoX-5 upgrade went live on July 29, 2026, and included two Stacks Improvement Proposals (SIPs) that codified the change. This upgrade enables institutions to stake their Bitcoin holdings while keeping them on Layer 1, allowing for a yield target of roughly 3% APY in BTC paid out over six-month periods.
The institutional capacity has been capped at approximately 3,000 BTC during what Stacks calls a 'managed bootstrap phase.' The protocol's Proof-of-Transfer mechanism generates returns from miner bids, not lending or rehypothecation. UTXO Management became the first institution to commit BTC to the program on May 28, 2026.