> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://htxdao-1.gitbook.io/user-agreement/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://htxdao-1.gitbook.io/user-agreement/htx-dao-user-agreement-governance-voting.md).

# HTX DAO User Agreement – Governance Voting

Last updated on 16 Mar 2026

1\. Introduction

This User Agreement ("Agreement") governs your access to and use of the governance voting feature available on the HTX DAO platform ("Platform") and the HTX staking feature on the Platform.

The Platform is a non-custodial interface and you use a third-party self-custodial wallet to interact with smart contracts and blockchain networks; HTX DAO does not control or guarantee any wallet provider or blockchain network, and is not an intermediary, agent, advisor, custodian, or fiduciary in relation to your transactions or decisions.

By connecting your blockchain wallet and participating in voting or staking, you acknowledge and agree to abide by this Agreement. If you do not agree to the terms herein, you must refrain from using any of these features.

 

2\. Eligibility

I. To use the governance voting feature, you must meet the following requirements:

a. Be the legal owner of a blockchain wallet containing HTX tokens.

b. Be at least the legal age of majority in your jurisdiction.

c. Comply with all applicable laws and regulations within your jurisdiction. You are solely responsible for reviewing and complying with the terms, fees, and risk warnings of your chosen self-custodial wallet provider and any third-party services you use to access the Platform.

d. Not be located in a jurisdiction where participation in blockchain-based governance is restricted or prohibited by law.

e. Represent and warrant that you are not a restricted person (e.g., sanctioned, blocked, or prohibited by law).

f. HTX DAO may implement additional eligibility checks to ensure legal and regulatory compliance.

II. To use the staking feature, you must meet the following requirements:

a. Be the legal owner of the HTX tokens you stake and have full authority to use such tokens.

b. Must not be located in, or resident of, any jurisdiction that restricts, prohibits, or regulates staking, earning mechanisms, or similar blockchain-based financial services.

c. Must understand and accept that staking involves locking your HTX tokens for a specified period, during which you may be unable to transfer or withdraw them. You acknowledge that staking interactions occur through smart contracts and may depend on third-party blockchain networks and wallet providers, which may be unavailable, disrupted, or changed beyond HTX DAO’s control.

d. Represent and warrant that your use of the staking feature does not violate any applicable laws, including securities, financial services, or digital asset regulations in your jurisdiction. You are solely responsible for determining and complying with any tax obligations arising from voting, staking, rewards, or any related digital asset activity.

e. Represent and warrant that you are not a restricted person and you are not using staking on behalf of any such person.

f. HTX DAO may implement additional eligibility checks for staking to ensure legal, regulatory, or operational compliance.

 

3\. Scope of Service

a. The Platform is a non-custodial interface. Users retain control of their crypto assets via their self-custodial wallet, and staking requires users to deposit HTX into a smart contract they initiate. HTX DAO does not take custody of user funds and cannot transfer assets on behalf of users.

b. The governance feature accesses only publicly available blockchain data (token balances, addresses) to calculate voting power.

c. The staking feature records staked HTX and sHTX balances (as applicable) on-chain. Off-chain snapshots may be collected solely for reward calculation, APY display, analytics, and operational integrity.

d. All voting actions are recorded on Interplanetary File System (“IPFS”) and are immutable and publicly accessible.

e. The Platform does not guarantee execution of votes, blockchain consistency, or network availability, and is provided “as is.”

f. Staking transactions, reward accrual, and lock up periods are tracked on-chain; users cannot delete or alter these records.

g. Smart contracts are autonomous and self-executing; outcomes depend on smart contract code, blockchain state, and (if applicable) third-party services (e.g., oracles). HTX DAO makes no representations or guarantees regarding the functionality, reliability, or outcome of smart contract interactions.

 

4\. Voting Mechanism

a. Your voting power is determined based on the HTX token balance in your wallet at a designated snapshot time, which is set one hour before the voting session begins.

b. You may cast a vote on proposals by selecting from the available voting options provided for each proposals. The specific voting options may vary depending on the proposal type and may be expanded or adjusted in the future.

c. A proposal will be considered successful if it meets the predefined criteria, which may include: i. A minimum approval percentage. ii. A minimum number of participating voters. iii. A minimum total voting power threshold.

d. If a proposal fails to meet any of the predefined criteria, it will be considered rejected.

e. In the event of an attack or compromise of the voting system, HTX DAO reserves the right to take emergency measures, which may include temporarily removing the affected proposal, delaying execution of the proposal outcome, or initiating a new vote to ensure governance integrity.

f. When staking affects voting power (via sHTX), the Platform will consider staked balances in determining voting rights according to the snapshot mechanism.

4A. Staking Mechanism

a. Deposit & receipt token. When you stake HTX, you initiate a transaction depositing HTX into a smart contract and you may receive sHTX as a receipt/voucher token representing your staked position.\
b. Reward accrual. Rewards/interest may begin accruing upon successful deposit and may be reflected in balances as determined by the staking mechanism.\
c. Unstaking & lock-up. Unstaking may be subject to a lock-up / cooldown period (currently 7 days), which may change. During the lock-up, you may be unable to withdraw or transfer the staked position.\
d. Emergency pause. In emergencies (e.g., suspected exploit, attack, or material risk), HTX DAO may pause staking-related smart contract interactions (including deposits and withdrawals) to protect users and the system.\
e. No movement of funds by HTX DAO. Pausing does not mean HTX DAO can move user assets; HTX DAO cannot unilaterally transfer staked assets from the smart contract.

 

 

5\. User Responsibilities

a. You are solely responsible for securing your wallet credentials, including private keys and seed phrases. HTX DAO will never request this information. You are responsible for complying with any terms, fees, and requirements of your wallet provider and any third-party services used to access the Platform.

b. You acknowledge that voting actions are stored on IPFS and are publicly accessible.

c. You agree to act in good faith and to avoid any actions that could compromise the integrity of the voting process, including but not limited to vote manipulation, collusion, or fraudulent activity.

d. Users are responsible for device and network security; HTX DAO is not responsible for malware, phishing or unauthorized wallet access.

e. You are responsible for managing your staked HTX and sHTX balances, including lockup periods and unstaking procedures.

f. You acknowledge that staking records are public on-chain and may be visible to third parties, including blockchain explorers and analytics services.

g. You are solely responsible for determining and fulfilling any tax obligations related to your use of the Platform, including voting, staking, rewards, and any gains or losses.

 

6\. No Asset Transfers

a. The voting feature does not require or facilitate the transfer of digital assets other than standard wallet signing and on-chain message/transaction actions as applicable.

b. HTX DAO does not take custody of user funds and does not have the ability to make transactions on behalf of users.

c. The platform only accesses publicly available blockchain data, specifically HTX token balances, to determine voting power.

d. Staking requires user-initiated transactions that deposit HTX into smart contracts. HTX DAO does not control those assets, cannot transfer them on your behalf, and is not a party to your blockchain transactions.

 

7\. Risk Acknowledgment

a. Blockchain and governance systems carry inherent risks, including smart contract vulnerabilities, network congestion, transaction delays, forks, or other technical failures. Blockchain networks are operated by independent parties and may suffer outages, congestion, forks, attacks, or disruptions beyond HTX DAO’s control.

b. Participation in governance is voluntary, and users assume full risk.

c. HTX DAO does not guarantee accuracy, timeliness, or enforceability of vote results.

d. Staking involves additional risks, including potential loss of yield if lockup periods are not properly managed, fluctuations in HTX value, smart contract vulnerabilities, or errors in reward calculation. Digital asset prices are highly volatile and may lose substantial value, including the full value of the asset.

e. Users assume full responsibility for staking, unstaking, and any associated rewards or penalties.

f. The Platform does not provide and should not be construed as providing investment, financial, trading, legal, or tax advice. You are solely responsible for conducting your own due diligence and risk assessment.

g. The legal and tax treatment of digital assets is uncertain and may change. You are solely responsible for compliance with applicable laws and taxes in your jurisdiction.

 

8\. Third-Party Services

a. Users may use third-party wallets, blockchain networks, data providers, or infrastructure services. HTX DAO does not control, operate, endorse, or guarantee any third-party service and is not responsible for their acts, omissions, outages, or security failures.

b. Some third-party services may collect analytics or metadata; HTX DAO is not liable for third-party analysis of IPFS data.

c. Off-chain staking infrastructure or analytics may involve third-party services strictly for reward calculation, APY, and operational purposes. HTX DAO is not responsible for how these third parties use technical data.

d. Any dispute relating to a third-party service (including wallet providers) is strictly between you and that third party.

 

9\. Limitation of Liability

a. The Platform features (including voting and staking) are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied.

b. HTX DAO is not liable for any loss arising from the use of this feature, including but not limited to: i. Technical failures such as smart contract errors, blockchain congestion, or network delays. ii. Inaccurate or delayed voting results due to network instability. iii. User errors, including but not limited to the use of incorrect wallet addresses or misinterpretation of proposal details. iv. Losses arising from staking smart contract failures, exploits, or unexpected behaviour. v. Failures or compromises of self-custodial wallets or third-party providers.  vi. Blockchain forks, congestion, outages, attacks, or transaction finality issues.

c. Users assume full responsibility for their participation in the voting process and any associated risks.

 

10\. Amendments and Termination

a. HTX DAO reserves the right to modify this Agreement at any time. Users will be notified of significant changes through official communication channels.

b. Continued use of the voting feature after modifications are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

c. HTX DAO reserves the right to suspend, modify, or terminate the voting feature at its sole discretion, without prior notice.

d. Outdated or archived governance data may be removed from the Platform for operational or security purposes.

e. HTX DAO reserves the right to suspend, modify, or terminate staking features at its discretion, including modifying reward rules, APY, lockup periods, or staking mechanics.

f. HTX DAO may suspend or discontinue all or part of the Platform (including access via third-party links) at any time, including for compliance, security, operational, or risk-management reasons, without liability to you.