Explainers
Locking STX for Stacking
May 15, 2025
Disclaimer: Leather does not control the Stacks consensus mechanism or unlock timing. Users are responsible for reviewing how long their STX will be locked before participating. Lock behavior is governed by the Stacks protocol and pool mechanics. Always check the number of cycles you're committing to and whether automatic restacking is enabled.
When you Stack STX, you're committing it to the Stacks protocol for a period of time. This lock is essential for securing the network and distributing Bitcoin rewards to participants.
The lock is temporary and occurs in fixed-length cycles defined by the protocol. One cycle typically lasts around 2 weeks.
What happens during a Stacking lock
Your STX is non-transferable while locked
You retain full ownership, but cannot send, swap, or use the funds
At the end of the lock, your STX automatically unlocks unless restacked
Special considerations with Stacking pools
If you Stack via a pool, the behavior may differ slightly:
If you remain delegated, the pool may automatically restack your STX for the next cycle
If you choose to undelegate, your STX will not unlock immediately
You must wait until the current lock cycle ends before your STX becomes liquid again
Each pool may implement slightly different rules around delegation timing and rollover, so it’s important to understand the commitment mechanics before joining.
Managing lock cycles in Leather
Leather helps you track:
Which cycle you're currently in
When your STX will unlock
Whether your delegation is still active
BTC rewards earned during each lock
This makes it easy to manage your participation without external tools.
