Hey Stackers, community voting on two Stacks Improvement Proposals is fast approaching: SIP-044 (Clarity 6) and SIP-045 (Bitcoin Staking). The voting timeline for SIP-045 was recently adjusted slightly to give the community more time to work through outstanding comments and feedback on the draft. Pending CAB voting this week, these proposals are expected to open for community vote on July 6.

Because both SIPs are reaching a vote-ready state at the same time, the Ballot.gg team has added a grouped ballot flow to the voting platform. Each SIP remains its own separate vote with its own page and results, but a persistent bar at the bottom of the screen links them together, so you can move through all open votes in a single session without losing your place. You don't have to vote on both, but the flow makes it easy if you choose to. As we near the voting window, look for a detailed “How to Vote” post from the Foundation with more specifics. 

SIP-044: Clarity 6 proposes the next major version of the Clarity smart contract language, introducing new capabilities and improvements that make it easier for developers to build on Stacks. Because this change is consensus-breaking, it requires broad community approval before it can be activated.

SIP-045: Bitcoin Staking proposes a mechanism that allows STX holders to earn Bitcoin yield by stacking, deepening the connection between Stacks and Bitcoin. Like SIP-044, this is a consensus-breaking upgrade that requires a community vote to take effect.

For a fuller look at the community engagement process leading up to this vote, see our earlier post here.