# Auction Timeline

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 ](https://zealous-auctions.gitbook.io/zealous-auctions-docs/protocol/supply-progress)— how tokens are released gradually during the Active phase.
