The Stacks community confirmed the passage of SIP-045, the network's Bitcoin staking upgrade, with over 99 percent of votes cast in favor. Stacks co-creator Muneeb Ali said the hard fork is targeting around July 29 at Bitcoin block 907,740.
Formally designated PoX-5: Bitcoin Staking and Emission Schedule, the upgrade allows STX holders to stake their tokens directly on the Bitcoin blockchain, earning BTC rewards sourced from transaction fees and a portion of newly adjusted STX emissions. That structure contrasts with standard proof-of-stake models, where rewards are denominated in the native token.
SIP-045 deepens Stacks' integration with Bitcoin, positioning it as a primary layer for Bitcoin-native DeFi. The existing Proof of Transfer consensus mechanism already uses Bitcoin for security; the new framework extends that by locking STX to support network security in exchange for native BTC yield.
The upgrade also adjusts the STX emission schedule. Attracting capital to Stacks DeFi through native Bitcoin yield could increase TVL and pull liquidity from chains offering wrapped or synthetic BTC products, though no specific flow projections have been published.
Node operators and ecosystem participants have until block 907,740 to prepare for the transition.
