Stacks Expands Bitcoin Staking with Second Bonding Period

Stacks is set to launch its second bonding period on October 9, 2026, significantly expanding Bitcoin staking capacity. This phase will primarily focus on liquid staking, with key participants including StackingDao, Xverse, and 21Shares. The process allows users to stake BTC in self-custody while making stBTC available for use across the Stacks DeFi ecosystem. This integration connects the staking process with applications within the Stacks network.

The liquid-staking approach enables self-custodial BTC holders to deploy their capital within the Stacks ecosystem rather than limiting their participation to staking alone. This expansion aims to broaden access to Bitcoin staking while also providing a DeFi-usable asset. The move supports the Bitcoin-programmability thesis for STX by integrating BTC participation into the network's application ecosystem.