Stacks PoX-5 Hardfork Brings Bitcoin Staking in July
Stacks is set to enable Bitcoin staking in just over two weeks, thanks to the upcoming PoX-5 hardfork scheduled for July 29, 2026. This upgrade will allow BTC holders to earn yield directly on their holdings without giving up custody of their coins.
The system relies on Stacks' Proof of Transfer (PoX) consensus mechanism, which has been operational since 2021. Under the new staking framework, participants lock BTC on Bitcoin's layer 1 alongside STX tokens to form what Stacks calls 'bonds.'
Those bonds generate BTC rewards at an initial annual percentage yield of roughly 3%. The BTC stays on Bitcoin's base layer under your own custody, while the STX component ties the staking activity into the Stacks network's economics.
The rollout timeline is as follows: after PoX-5 activates, the next major milestone is the inaugural Genesis Bond event, scheduled for late August 2026. This will mark the practical launch of the staking system, giving users their first opportunity to form bonds and begin earning rewards.