The upgrade lays the groundwork for Bitcoin Staking and Bitcoin Bonds, with Binance, signers and node operators migrating ahead of activation without disrupting block production.
Stacks activated the PoX-5 hardfork at Bitcoin block 960,230, completing the network upgrade without interruption and moving the protocol onto its new consensus rules. Core contributors said post-upgrade checks verified the activation, while signers, node operators and major exchange partners including Binance finished their migrations before the change. The release is the first in the Satoshi Upgrades, a series of protocol updates that contributors plan to detail in the coming weeks. The upgrade establishes the protocol foundation for Bitcoin Staking, which Stacks said will let Bitcoin holders earn self-custodial BTC yield through Bitcoin Bonds while preserving existing rewards for STX-only stakers. It also removes cooldown cycles and simplifies pooled participation, changes aimed at making staking easier and supporting a broader push into Bitcoin-native finance. Stacks said block production remained consistent during the transition and signers moved to the new consensus rules without interruption. Staking pool operators are still completing migrations, but expect stakers to be able to restake well ahead of the upcoming cycle with no staking rewards lost in the process. Muneeb Ali, Founder, Stacks, called PoX-5 the first step in anchoring Bitcoin capital to Stacks and said the network is looking ahead to the first institutional Genesis bond, with more details on the wider Satoshi Upgrades vision due later in August. At the protocol level, PoX-5 introduces Bitcoin Bonds, allowing eligible participants to pair BTC held on Bitcoin Layer 1 with STX on Stacks to earn self-custodial BTC yield. Access will be phased in, beginning with the institutional Genesis Bond, followed by broader availability through selected staking pools as capacity expands.