Challenge Windows
Challenge windows are defined periods during which participants can submit evidence to contest the validity of a transaction in an optimistic protocol. This window is the core of the security model.
If no challenge is submitted before the window closes, the transaction is finalized. The duration of this window must be long enough to allow watchers to detect fraud, but short enough to maintain acceptable user experience.
A longer window provides more security but slows down withdrawals and asset movement. Protocols must balance these competing needs.
If a challenge is submitted, the system pauses to verify the evidence. This process is a critical part of the protocol lifecycle.
It represents the delay between an action being submitted and it becoming irreversibly settled.