Dare lifecycle

A dare moves through a fixed set of stages, each with its own deadline. The escrow enforces these onchain, so the outcome does not depend on anyone remembering to act.

The stages

1. 1

   Open

   The dare exists and can be funded. If it was aimed at a specific creator, it stays private and link-only until they claim it. Backers can add to the pot and can refund freely.
2. 2

   Claimed

   The creator proves they own the handle, sets their floor, and optionally adds stretch tiers. The dare becomes visible on the public board. Backers can still refund until the floor is hit.
3. 3

   Locked

   The pot reaches the creator's floor. The escrow binds, refunds stop, and the performance clock starts. The creator now owes the dare.
4. 4

   Proof submitted

   The creator posts proof from the dare page. This opens the dispute window during which any backer can challenge the proof.
5. 5

   Settled

   The dispute window passes with no successful dispute. The pot pays out - the creator keeps 97.5%, and a 2.5% platform fee is taken.

The deadlines

Each stage has a time limit. If a stage times out, the escrow moves the dare on automatically - usually by refunding backers. Current platform settings:

• ▸Funding window - 14 days. A claimed dare has to reach the creator's floor within this window. If it does not, every backer is refunded in full.
• ▸Performance window - 14 days. After a dare locks, the creator has this long to submit proof. Miss it and backers are refunded - no payout.
• ▸Dispute window - 3 days. After proof is submitted, backers have this long to raise a dispute. With no dispute, the pot releases.
• ▸Arbiter window - 7 days. If a dispute is raised and the platform does not rule within this window, the funds are returned to backers automatically. This is a watchdog so disputed money can never be trapped.

When money is refunded

Backers get their contributions back in any of these cases:

• ▸The dare is never claimed and expires.
• ▸The pot never reaches the floor within the funding window.
• ▸The dare locks but the creator never submits proof within the performance window.
• ▸A dispute is upheld against the creator's proof.
• ▸A dispute is raised but not ruled within the arbiter window.
• ▸The platform voids the dare for breaking the rules.

In every one of these, refunds are per-backer and reflect exactly what you put in. One backer can never win or lose another backer's money. See For fans for how refunds work in practice, and Rules & disputes for how disputes are judged.