EL7.AI
Crypto•23 July 2026•
1 min read

Stacks Launches PoX-5 Testnet for Self-Custodial Bitcoin Staking

Key Facts

1Stacks Network launched the PoX-5 public testnet, introducing a Bitcoin staking mechanism with self-custody.
2A mainnet hard fork is targeted for approximately July 29, 2026.

In a move aimed at expanding decentralized finance capabilities on the Bitcoin network, Stacks has launched the PoX-5 public testnet. This experimental phase introduces a new Bitcoin staking mechanism based on self-custody, allowing participants to earn rewards without relinquishing control of their assets. According to reports, the project targets a comprehensive mainnet hard fork on approximately July 29, 2026.

The launch plan includes a bootstrap phase with a capacity cap of 3,000 BTC and a projected yield mechanism of around 3% to be paid in Bitcoin. This system requires a minimum pairing ratio of 5% in STX tokens relative to the value of the staked Bitcoin, which could create a structural demand floor for the protocol's native asset. These technical developments occur as the network seeks to broaden Bitcoin's utility in complex financial applications.

However, traders are watching the mainnet activation at the end of July as a primary catalyst, followed by the planned release of the "Genesis Bond" in late August 2026, events that may dictate liquidity and demand trends for the protocol in the coming period.