Pause > 7 consecutive days
A operational history factor in the v1.7.0 rubric. Measured per protocol on a e cadence.
Methodology how we score#
What this measures
This factor is a Boolean flag set to true if the protocol has been paused for more than seven consecutive days at least once in the trailing twelve months. It is derived from on-chain pause-event data and updated on each new pause event. A sustained pause -- as distinct from a brief precautionary halt -- indicates either a serious unresolved vulnerability, a governance deadlock preventing the protocol from resuming, or operational instability severe enough to warrant extended downtime.
Why it matters
A pause lasting more than seven days is qualitatively different from a brief emergency halt. It signals that the underlying issue was complex enough (or the team's response capacity was insufficient) to prevent rapid resolution. For depositors, a seven-day pause means their capital is locked for a minimum of a week with no certainty of when function resumes. In the dataset, extended pauses have preceded both successful recoveries (e.g., multi-week pauses following white-hat negotiations) and protocol sunsettings (e.g., Raft sunsetted after its exploited state made resumption impossible). Either outcome represents material depositor risk.
Green / Yellow / Red
Green: no pause exceeding seven consecutive days in the trailing twelve months. Yellow: one pause between seven and thirty days in the trailing twelve months, with documented resolution and protocol resumption. Red: any pause exceeding thirty consecutive days in the trailing twelve months, or a pause still active at time of assessment.
Common gray cases
Planned maintenance pauses announced well in advance (e.g., a scheduled chain migration) may be treated differently from emergency pauses. Curator must verify whether the pause was planned or reactive, and whether user funds were accessible during the pause period.
Notable historical examples
No cross-hacked incidents currently linked in database for this factor.
Measurement what to look for#
Determine whether the protocol has been paused for more than 7 consecutive days at any point in the last 12 months.