Skip to content

Futures Transactions

Overview

Futures transactions are a native feature of the Raptoreum blockchain that allow for scheduled value transfers. Unlike standard transactions, these are initiated and confirmed on-chain today but remain "locked" until a pre-defined future date or block height.

Use Case: Rental Agreement

Imagine a tenant renting an apartment for three months. Instead of manual monthly transfers, the tenant can schedule all three payments in advance:

  • Automation: The tenant sets up three futures transactions, one for each month.

  • Transparency: The landlord can verify these transactions on the blockchain immediately. This provides proof of intent and confirms that the payments are scheduled.

  • Execution: Once the specified date is reached, the network automatically executes the transaction, transferring the funds to the landlord's wallet.

Futures Execution Logic

In the Raptoreum network, two distinct parameters determine when a transaction is released and becomes spendable:

  • Maturity (Block Count): The number of block confirmations required after the transaction is broadcast.
  • Lock Time (Time): A specific duration or timestamp measured in seconds.

Why both?

The target block time for Raptoreum is 2 minutes. However, due to fluctuations in network hash rate and difficulty, blocks are not always found at exact intervals.

By providing both options, the network ensures flexibility:

  • Redundancy: The transaction becomes spendable as soon as either the required block count (Maturity) is reached or the specified time (Lock Time) has passed.
  • Precision: This "dual-trigger" system allows users to schedule payments reliably, even if the network speed varies.