Zest Protocol Users Face October 23 Exit Deadline
Investors must migrate aeUSDC positions from Stacks Market V1 by the October 23 deadline.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Investing
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Zest Protocol has established an October 23 deadline for users to exit their aeUSDC positions on the Stacks Market V1 platform. The protocol has already disabled the minting of the bridged stablecoin as it transitions focus to V2.
Why it matters
The transition is necessary because aeUSDC and the newer USDCx assets are not interchangeable at the protocol level. USDCx is tied to a formal partnership with Circle and serves as the primary currency for the V2 market.
Stacks Market V2 reached a total value locked of approximately $87 million in early October 2026. Current asset utilization rates include 70% for sBTC, 75% for STX, and 72% for USDCx.
The players
Zest Protocol
This is a decentralized finance platform operating on the Stacks blockchain.
Circle
This is the financial technology firm that maintains a partnership with Zest Protocol regarding USDCx.
Bitflow
This is a decentralized exchange used for swapping digital assets.
The details
Users are required to manually withdraw their aeUSDC, convert the assets, and deposit them into the Stacks Market V2. Conversions can be executed via swaps on Bitflow or by using the Allbridge Classic bridge, though support for that bridge has already ceased.
Timeline
The aeUSDC stablecoin variant was first created in 2023.
Stacks Market V2 reached a total value locked of $87 million in early October 2026.
The deadline to exit all aeUSDC positions on Stacks Market V1 is October 23, 2026.
Market Dynamics
This move marks a shift in how decentralized finance protocols manage legacy asset migration as they evolve toward newer, partner-integrated standards like Stacks Market V2. The transition mirrors broader industry efforts to standardize stablecoin usage through official institutional partnerships.
Investors must complete their manual migration before the October 23 deadline to avoid potential difficulties with legacy asset management. Failure to swap aeUSDC for the V2-compatible USDCx may result in restricted access to liquidity on the Stacks blockchain.
The takeaway
Users should prioritize manual conversion of their stablecoin assets before the platform-mandated cutoff date. Staying updated on protocol version changes is essential for maintaining liquidity and asset compatibility in decentralized finance markets.
What happens next
The infrastructure supporting aeUSDC positions will begin to wind down after the October 23, 2026, deadline.
Further reading
For more on managing digital assets, see our guide to Investing.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Crypto Briefing.
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