When you use Leather to participate in Stacking — whether through a pooled delegation or a liquid Stacking protocol — your STX is routed through a smart contract that performs key actions on your behalf.
These contracts are deployed by third-party pool operators or protocol providers and follow the rules of the Stacks protocol.
Leather displays two key values before you confirm participation:
Pool address This is the Stacks address of the contract controller you're delegating to. It typically starts with
SP...and represents either a pool operator (e.g. Fast Pool) or a liquid Stacking protocol (e.g. Stacking DAO or LISA).Contract This is the smart contract name that executes the Stacking logic. It’s shown alongside the address in the format
SPXXXX.../contract-name.
Leather allows you to copy this information or view it in an explorer to independently verify what you’re approving.
How pooled contracts work
For delegated Stacking via a pool:
Your STX is locked for a fixed number of cycles
The pool coordinates protocol submissions and reward claims
BTC rewards are distributed after each cycle
Some pools may auto-restack unless you opt out
How liquid Stacking contracts work
For liquid Stacking (e.g. via stSTX, stSTXbtc, or LiSTX):
You deposit STX into a protocol’s contract and receive a liquid token
The protocol stakes on your behalf and manages reward flows
BTC or STX rewards are distributed via token mechanics
The token remains liquid and usable across DeFi while your STX is stacked
These protocols may use vault-style contracts or mint-and-burn models. You can usually swap or redeem your liquid token at any time, but rewards and redemption timing may vary depending on the provider.
Why contract visibility matters
Approving a contract—whether for pooling or liquid Stacking—gives it temporary control over your STX. You should always:
Verify the address and contract name
Understand how many cycles you're committing to (for pools)
Know how rewards are calculated and distributed
Confirm compatibility with Leather
Leather gives you upfront visibility into all this, so you stay in control and make informed decisions.
