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# System prepended metadata

title: Token Thaw

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# Token Thaw

The **Token Freeze** and **Token Thaw** protocols turn the inaccessibility of tokens into mechanism design: by locking up the TEC tokens into a smart contract that is programmed to gradually unlock these tokens after a certain number of weeks have passed, the Commons seeks to attract long-term minded builders over short-term, rent-seeking individuals. Moreover, the combination of the Token Freeze and Token Thaw mechanisms enable the creation of a price floor, which attracts backers by significantly reducing the market risk associated with price volatility. 

In short, **Token Freeze** refers to the amount of time that TEC tokens remain locked; and **Token Thaw** is the amount of time from when the Token Freeze stops until 100% of the TEC tokens are liquid and available. 

Moreover, this access recess grants the community time to establish value by creating and iterating funding proposals, which in the end are the core of our value proposition.

The **Token Freeze** period begins with the initialization of the Commons and ends when the tokens begin to gradually unlock in tiers, marking the start of the **Token Thaw** phase. The amount of weeks and the % of tokens that unlock after x amount of time elapses is decided by the Commons democratically through a vote.















