User Exit Window

The user exit window is the specific period provided by a timelock during which users can withdraw their assets or close their positions before a pending protocol change goes live. This period is essential for user autonomy, as it allows participants to opt out if they disagree with the proposed changes or suspect malicious intent.

In derivative protocols, this window must be long enough to account for network congestion and the time required to settle open positions. By ensuring users have a path to exit, protocols maintain a degree of "exit power" that keeps governance accountable to the user base.

It is a fundamental component of trust-minimized financial systems.