Snapshot-Based Settlement
Snapshot-based settlement is a mechanism where the state of a blockchain, including account balances and ownership records, is captured at a specific block height to determine the distribution of assets or settlement of derivatives. In the context of forks, this method ensures that all participants are treated fairly based on their holdings at the exact moment of the chain split.
By anchoring the delivery clause to a snapshot, protocols eliminate ambiguity regarding who is entitled to receive the newly created assets. This approach is widely used in air-drops and derivative adjustments to maintain parity.
It minimizes the potential for front-running or malicious activity around the fork event. The precision of the block height is paramount for legal and technical finality.
It acts as the definitive source of truth for all contractual obligations post-fork.