The exit is part of the design
Early doubt is free, later churn pays a posted rate, and failure refunds in full.
A commitment total is more meaningful when participants had a real chance to leave. D17 therefore includes ordinary refund windows after the first four rounds.
| Window | Contract rule |
|---|---|
| After round 1 | Full ordinary refund |
| After round 2 | Full ordinary refund |
| After round 3 | Refund less the published global penalty |
| After round 4 | Refund less the published global penalty |
| Round 5 | No ordinary refund window |
The creator selects one refundPenaltyBps value before deployment, capped at 50%. They cannot choose different charged rounds or revise the number later. Any penalty is transferred to the launch's published treasury.
The later charge discourages a participant from manufacturing apparent momentum and removing it at the last ordinary exit without cost. Whether that incentive is attractive is a participant decision; the important property is that the percentage and schedule are visible before commitment.
Failure uses a different rule. If the launch does not clear its required anchor conditions, remaining commitments can be released in full without the ordinary penalty, and the right does not expire.