# IoTeX Activates Zanzibar Upgrade, Moves Staking Rewards On Chain By Simon Yoon Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/34627 Published: 2026-10-19T07:15:31.000Z Updated: 2026-10-19T07:15:31.000Z Section: Technology > The first payout under IIP-59 is scheduled for Oct. 20. The hard fork also adds BLS proof-of-possession checks ahead of IIP-52 signature aggregation. 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. ## Links in this article - [deposits and withdrawals on the IoTeX network](https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/31632)