# Stacking STX with Leather

To participate in Stacking directly via the Leather Desktop app, you'll need at least the [minimum number of STX balance](https://leather.gitbook.io/guides/stacking/stacking-minimum) in your leather. Stacking is otherwise available through one of our partners at [stacks.org/stacking](https://stacks.org/stacking).

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A few things to note when Stacking directly:

1. Stacking directly requires meeting a dynamic minimum threshold of STX that changes based on participation. The amount of STX required to participate has been steadily increasing since Stacking was initiated on mainnet.
2. Stacking is irreversible and once STX tokens are locked, they will not unlock even if the dynamic minimum increases and the STX are no longer eligible for rewards.
3. There is a "cool down" cycle between Stacking cycles. After your chosen Stacking duration, you’ll have to wait one cycle before you can stack from the same address again, regardless of how many cycles you stacked

We recommend most users pool their STX. See more recommendations here: <https://stacks.org/stacking-near-minimum-recommendations>‍

If you've decided to Stack directly through Leather, see the steps for participation below.

Once you've authenticated into Leather with either your Secret Key or hardware device, you'll see an option on the right-hand side of the home screen to "Get started" with Stacking:

![Stacking on your own](https://assets.website-files.com/62cd53cfaed425977b5f657c/62cd53cfaed42502bd5f6c8f_5fd3ed8360d65c54690781f9_callout.png)

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Selecting this option will take you to the "Start earning Bitcoin" screen:

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![Stacking on your own flow, step 1](https://assets.website-files.com/62cd53cfaed425977b5f657c/62cd53cfaed42502325f6c8a_5fd3ee5634b9d0ac77fb22ed_App.png)

On this screen you can see when the next Stacking cycle will begin.

First, determine how much out of your total STX balance you'd like to commit for Stacking:

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![Step 2: Choose amount](/files/B5YFstuOuoZBMx6TsS1F)

Then determine how many cycles you would like to commit this indicated amount of STX:

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![Step 3: Choose duration](/files/HKkm42gUkL9vrb6sgtXu)

The estimated total duration of those cycles will be shown on the right-hand side of the screen so you know how long your committed STX will remained locked up before getting automatically released again for other purposes.

Enter the Bitcoin address to which you'd like receive rewards from Stacking:

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![Step 4: Add bitcoin address](/files/s1XCqdApjNRzBVVw8tMU)

Finally, select "Confirm and lock" to initiate Stacking with the amount, duration and Bitcoin address you've entered.

You will be  prompted to enter your password, if you are using the Stacks Wallet with a Secret Key:

![Step 5: Enter your password](/files/O8BTRc6H41TfUz8cXYqZ)

Otherwise, if you are using Leather with a hardware device, you will be prompted to confirm the transaction with it:&#x20;

<figure><img src="/files/0kO7W9pphTGQ2KltFK8p" alt=""><figcaption><p>Or Step 5: Confirm with Hardware device</p></figcaption></figure>

You should now see a pending transaction on the home screen for "Initiating Stacking". Your indicated amount will become locked on the Stacks blockchain once this transaction is confirmed.

You can follow the Stacking process on the right-hand side of the home screen as well as see how much BTC you have earned as a result:

![Step 6: See results after some time](/files/gtFIMluCFAOPiG5TU06K)


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