IoTeX Activates Zanzibar Upgrade, Moves Staking Rewards On Chain

IoTeX has activated Zanzibar, shifting reward calculations and payments for voting stakers to its protocol each cycle, where every payout is open to public verification on chain.

IIP-59 puts the reward calculation and distribution inside the protocol, without off-chain services or intermediaries. IoTeX has scheduled the first payout under the new system for Oct. 20.

Zanzibar also adds BLS proof-of-possession checks when candidates register or update BLS keys. The checks close a rogue-key attack window ahead of IIP-52 signature aggregation.

The upgrade was scheduled for block height 53,533,081. Before activation, Binance planned to halt deposits and withdrawals on the IoTeX network at 9 p.m. ET Oct. 18 (01:00 UTC Oct. 19).

Native IoTeX (IOTX) is used for staking to support network security and to pay gas fees on IoTeX Layer 1.