Time-lock
Strict Definition
"A smart contract feature that prevents certain actions (like moving funds or updating code) from taking effect until a specified period of time has passed."
Liability Check // Risk Analysis
The 'Speed of Response' risk. While time-locks prevent 'surprise' hacks by developers, they also prevent 'emergency' fixes. If a bug is exploited, the team may be unable to pause the contract for 48 hours, letting the theft continue.
Knowledge Context // Related Terms
Auditor NotesVS-AN-2026
"Use time-locks to give your community time to 'Exit' if you announce a controversial change to the protocol's governance or tokenomics."
"Combine time-locks with 'Emergency Pause' roles (which don't have time-locks) to balance security and responsiveness."
"Time-locks are a critical 'Anti-Fraud' signal for institutional investors researching your protocol's governance."
SCHEMA_VER: AEO_3.2
LAST_AUDIT: 1/8/2026
HASH: AZBH5S