Stacks (STX): how it works, supply and reviews
In short
- Type
- Bitcoin layer with its own ledger and execution environment, settling on Bitcoin
- Issuance
- Miners receive newly minted STX for each block; since PoX-5 the coinbase is 1,000 STX per Bitcoin block with no scheduled reductions (provisional)
- Risks and caveats
- STX currently has no fixed maximum supply; the emission rate is provisional and may change through future proposals.
- Checked
- 28 October 2026
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Key facts
- Ticker
- STX
- Network
- own blockchain
- Source code
- github.com/blockstack
Data: CoinGecko (trading activity) and CoinPaprika (links), 2026-10-27. Only projects that still trade with meaningful volume are listed.
What is Stacks
Stacks is a Bitcoin layer for smart contracts: it runs its own ledger and apps while settling transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain. STX is its native token, used to reward miners, pay fees and lock up for Bitcoin-denominated staking rewards.
Network and consensus
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Bitcoin layer with its own ledger and execution environment, settling on Bitcoin |
| Consensus | Proof of Transfer (PoX): miners spend BTC to win the right to produce blocks and are rewarded in STX |
| Launched | Stacks 2.0 mainnet launched 14 January 2021 |
| Block time | Since the Nakamoto upgrade, transactions confirm in seconds rather than tens of minutes |
| Programming language | Clarity, a decidable smart contract language; node software in Rust |
Supply and issuance
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Issuance | Miners receive newly minted STX for each block; since PoX-5 the coinbase is 1,000 STX per Bitcoin block with no scheduled reductions (provisional) |
| Emission outlook | The future PoX-6 proposal is to reassess the emission schedule |
| Halving | A halving to 500 STX took effect in April 2026 under SIP-029; SIP-045 then restored 1,000 STX |
| Staking rewards | STX holders who lock tokens receive rewards paid in Bitcoin, funded by the BTC miners spend |
What STX is used for
- Block subsidy that rewards miners for producing Stacks blocks
- Paying transaction (gas) fees
- Locking (staking) to back block signers and earn BTC rewards
- Economic security for the sBTC Bitcoin peg
Who develops and governs Stacks
- Governance
- Protocol changes go through Stacks Improvement Proposals (SIPs); hard forks need approval by stacked STX votes
- Foundation
- The Stacks Endowment manages allowlisted participation in Bitcoin Staking during its bootstrap phase
- Open source
- Yes; stacks-core is released under GPL-3.0
History
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 14 January 2021 | Stacks 2.0 mainnet launches; the first PoX contract goes live the next day. |
| 22 April 2024 | PoX-4 staking contract activated. |
| 2024 | Nakamoto hard fork in Q4 2024 brings faster blocks and 100% Bitcoin finality. |
| April 2026 | First halving under SIP-029 cuts the coinbase from 1,000 to 500 STX per Bitcoin block. |
| 30 July 2026 | PoX-5 (Bitcoin Staking) activates with the Epoch 4.0 hard fork, replacing PoX-4. |
Security and audits
- Stacks Core and related components have published audit reports; high and critical findings are stated to be mitigated or obsolete.
- Stacks runs an Immunefi bug bounty program and works with embedded security researchers from Asymmetric Research.
Risks and caveats
- STX currently has no fixed maximum supply; the emission rate is provisional and may change through future proposals.
- Native Bitcoin Staking under PoX-5 is allowlisted, and access is arranged off-chain with the Stacks Endowment.
- STX-only staking locks are capped at 96 reward cycles, and a protocol bond commits funds for about six months.
Official links
- Website: www.stacks.co
- Docs: docs.stacks.co
- Source code: github.com/stacks-network/stacks-core
Questions and answers
What is Stacks (STX)?
Stacks is a Bitcoin layer for smart contracts that settles transactions on Bitcoin. STX is its native token.
How does Stacks reach consensus?
Through Proof of Transfer: miners spend BTC for the chance to produce blocks and earn newly minted STX plus fees.
How many new STX are issued?
Since PoX-5, miners receive 1,000 STX per Bitcoin block with no scheduled reductions; the future PoX-6 proposal is to reassess the emission schedule.
How do STX holders earn rewards?
By locking STX to back block signers, holders receive Bitcoin-denominated rewards funded by miners' BTC.
Sources
- CoinGecko — Stacks
- CoinPaprika — Stacks
- Stacks docs — What Is Stacks?
- Stacks docs — Proof of Transfer
- Stacks docs — Network basics (Tokens)
- Stacks docs — Staking
- Stacks docs — Bitcoin Staking
- Stacks docs — What was the Nakamoto Upgrade?
- Stacks docs — Audits
- SIP-045: PoX-5 Bitcoin Staking and Emission Schedule Alignment
More in this section
- Filecoin (FIL)
- Dash (DASH)
- Beldex (BDX)
- VeChain (VET)
- BitTorrent (BTT)
- Bitcoin SV (BSV)
- All Crypto projects →
Related
- Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
- Qtum (QTUM)
- Monero (XMR)
- Zcash (ZEC)
- Rootstock Infrastructure Framework (RIF)
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC)
- Peercoin (PPC)
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