Stacks PoX-5 Activated, PoX-6 Awaits Reassessment
The Stacks network has ratified a plan for Bitcoin staking, which will pair a timelock with an STX lock for yield. The plan, PoX-5, was activated on July 30, 2026, at Bitcoin block 960,230. Participants will retain control of their BTC through their own keys.
The Stacks Endowment sets program parameters during the bootstrap phase. The plan lists initial conditions of 3,000 BTC in capacity, a 5% minimum STX ratio, and 3% target annual percentage yield in BTC. These values will be set before activation and may vary with partner capacity.
A future upgrade, PoX-6, could shift the calculation of the yield rate, capacity, and BTC-to-STX ratio to the protocol. This would change how terms are determined for participants. The plan calls for a PoX-6 reassessment based on performance during the bootstrap phase, but does not commit Stacks to a specific design.
Stacks' Bitcoin-staking plans also include institutional support from Anchorage Digital.