Restrictions and Unlocks
LiveThe 180-day card-purchase hold, how the unlock schedule works, and why restrictions exist.
Some rewards arrive in your wallet with a restriction — a hold that prevents you from spending or sending them until a certain date. This page explains why restrictions exist, how the unlock schedule works, and what you can do while rewards are restricted.
The 180-day card-purchase hold
When you buy a HeartBadge membership with a credit or debit card, the rewards funded by that purchase carry a 180-day hold. This is the primary source of restricted balances.
Why 180 days? Credit card chargebacks can be filed up to 120 days after a purchase (or longer in some cases). The 180-day hold ensures that by the time rewards become transferable, the underlying payment is definitively settled and can't be reversed. This protects the network — and other members — against fraud.
What you can and can't do with restricted MNEE
| Action | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| View in wallet | Yes |
| See unlock date | Yes |
| Spend on content | No (until unlocked) |
| Send to another member | No (until unlocked) |
| Receive more rewards | Yes (into available or restricted, depending on source) |
The unlock schedule
Restrictions unlock on a per-batch basis. Each time rewards are added to your restricted balance, they're tagged with an unlock date (180 days from the funding transaction). When that date arrives, those specific rewards move from restricted to available.
Your wallet shows:
- Total restricted balance. The sum of all restricted MNEE.
- Next unlock date. When the earliest batch of restricted rewards will become available.
- Next unlock amount. How much MNEE will unlock on that date.
Unlocks happen automatically at midnight UTC on the unlock date. You don't need to take any action — the rewards move to your available balance and you'll see the change when you open your wallet.
Other restriction types
While the 180-day card hold is the most common restriction, programs can configure other holds:
- Quest completion holds. Some high-value quest rewards have a shorter hold (e.g., 7 days) to prevent gaming.
- Event-specific holds. A program might restrict rewards earned during an event until the event concludes.
- Non-transferable rewards. Some rewards are spendable (you can use them on content) but not transferable (you can't send them to another member). These are marked in your balance breakdown.
If you think a restriction is wrong
Restriction dates are set when rewards are issued and can't be changed manually. If you believe a restriction was applied incorrectly (e.g., you paid via bank transfer but see a 180-day hold), contact support@heartbadge.com with your badge identifier and order details.