Stacking contract details

Stacking through Leather involves interacting with smart contracts that lock your STX, coordinate participation in the protocol, and distribute rewards. The contract and pool address shown during setup are critical to understanding where your assets are going. Before approving, Leather gives you clear visibility into the address and contract name, helping you verify exactly what you're authorizing.

May 15, 2025

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:

  1. 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).
  2. **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.

Disclaimer

Leather does not create or control third-party Stacking contracts. Users must review and approve contracts before authorizing interactions.