Every ZAP auction moves through four distinct phases. The current phase determines what you can do as a bidder. Phases are defined by block numbers — not wall-clock time — so transitions happen instantly and predictably on-chain.
The four phases
Block: [startBlock] [endBlock] [claimBlock]
│ │ │
───────────┼───────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────┼──────────►
│ │ │
NOT STARTED │ A C T I V E │ E N D E D │ CLAIMABLE
◄──────────►│◄─────────────────────────────►│◄──────────────────────►│◄──────────
Phase 1 — Not Started
Before startBlock
The auction is deployed and the full token supply is locked in the contract, but bidding has not opened yet. You cannot place bids or take any action until the start block is reached.
Phase 2 — Active
From startBlock up to (but not including) endBlock
The auction is live. This is where all the action happens.
What you can do:
Place a bid by locking funding currency and setting a maximum price
Watch the clearing price update as demand changes
What you cannot do:
Cancel or modify a bid once submitted — bids are final
Claim tokens — the auction is still running
The clearing price is calculated continuously. As new bids come in, the price may rise. Your bid remains competitive as long as the clearing price stays at or below your stated maximum. If the clearing price rises above your maximum, your bid stops accumulating new tokens (but keeps what it has already earned).
Phase 3 — Ended
From endBlock until claimBlock
No new bids can be placed. The auction has closed and the final state is locked in.
What you can do:
Exit your bid — this is the mandatory first step before claiming. Exiting settles your position: the contract calculates how many tokens you earned and how much funding currency was actually spent. Any unspent currency is refunded to you immediately.
What you cannot do:
Claim tokens yet — the claim period has not started
Place new bids
If the auction did not graduate (failed to meet its soft cap), exiting your bid returns 100% of your funding currency. See Failed Auction.
Phase 4 — Claimable
From claimBlock onward
The waiting period is over. Bidders who have already exited their positions can now claim their tokens.
What you can do:
Claim your tokens — transfer your allocation to your wallet
Exit your bid (if you haven't done so already) — you must exit before you can claim
What you cannot do:
Claim tokens if your bid hasn't been exited first (You can still exit your bid)
Any unsold tokens that were not purchased during the auction are returned to the token treasury once this phase begins — this does not affect your allocation in any way.
Summary table
Action
Not Started
Active
Ended
Claimable
Place a bid
✗
✓
✗
✗
Exit your bid
✗
✗
✓
✓
Claim tokens
✗
✗
✗
✓
Two important block numbers
Block
What it marks
Typical gap
endBlock
Bidding closes; exit window opens
Set at deployment
claimBlock
Token claiming opens
Several days after endBlock
The gap between endBlock and claimBlock is intentional — it gives the community time to verify the final state before any tokens move.
Next: Supply Progress — how tokens are released gradually during the Active phase.
