HashKey Cloud Joins Stacks as Launch Partner for Self‑Custodial Bitcoin Staking

HashKey Cloud announced that it will participate in Stacks’ upcoming self‑custodial Bitcoin staking launch as a Genesis Bond participant and an sBTC signer operator.

Genesis Bond Participation

The institutional Genesis Bond is slated to begin around September 10, according to Stacks developers. In this model, Bitcoin remains timelocked on the Bitcoin blockchain while a corresponding amount of STX is locked on Stacks. The bond is expected to run for 12 Stacks reward cycles, roughly six months, and aims to deliver an annualized Bitcoin yield near 3%.

sBTC Signer Role

HashKey Cloud will join the existing signer set that authorises Bitcoin deposits and withdrawals for sBTC, the Bitcoin‑backed asset used within the Stacks ecosystem. Signer actions require a 70% approval threshold, and the addition of HashKey Cloud expands the geographic distribution of the signer network.

Infrastructure and Asset Scope

• HashKey Cloud’s staking infrastructure spans more than 40 blockchain networks.
• The firm manages roughly HK$29 billion in staked assets, according to its own figures.

Operational Details and Limitations

Participants must lock both Bitcoin and STX, and only one active staking position is allowed per Stacks principal. Early withdrawal forfeits remaining rewards for the cycle, though the Bitcoin principal can be recovered with the holder’s signature. Rewards accrue as sBTC and can be converted to native Bitcoin if the signer manager supports base‑layer withdrawals.

Future Access and Risks

Initial access to the Genesis Bond is limited to institutions and professional market participants. While self‑custody reduces reliance on a single custodian, users remain exposed to risks related to Stacks contracts, signer coordination, and software reliability.