Community Pools FAQ

Find answers to the most common questions about community pools, from getting started to advanced governance.

Getting Started

What exactly is a community pool?

A community pool is a smart contract-based savings group where multiple people deposit funds together, earn yields collectively, and make decisions democratically through on-chain voting.

Think of it as a credit union on blockchain - but better:

• Fully transparent (all transactions on-chain)
• Non-custodial (members control funds, not admins)
• Democratic (vote on all important decisions)
• Automated (smart contracts enforce rules)

How is this different from Individual Savings?

Use Individual if: You want full control and privacy.

Use Community if: You want to save with a group, share governance, and build community.

Can I use both Individual and Community pools?

Absolutely! Many users have:

• Individual pool for personal savings
• Community pool(s) for group projects
• Different strategies for each

There's no limit to how many pools you can be in.

How do I find pools to join?

1. Go to khipuvault.com/pools

2. Browse by:

   • Category: Church, Neighborhood, Sports, Family, etc.
   • Location: Country, region, language
   • Size: Members, total deposits
   • Type: Open, Hybrid, Closed

3. Filter by:

   • Minimum deposit (50-1000 MUSD)
   • Voting type (Democratic, Weighted)
   • APY performance
   • Activity level

See full guide →

What's the minimum to join?

Depends on the pool:

• Typical minimum: 50-100 MUSD
• Low-barrier pools: 25-50 MUSD
• Investment clubs: 500-1000+ MUSD

Check each pool's requirements before joining.

Are there fees?

Platform Fee: 10% of yields (standard across KhipuVault)

• Example: Pool earns 100 MUSD → KhipuVault takes 10 MUSD, pool keeps 90 MUSD

Pool Admin Fee (optional, if pool configured):

• 0-2% additional fee
• Goes to pool treasury
• Requires governance vote to spend

Gas Fees (blockchain):

• Join pool: 0.0001 BTC ($0.01)
• Vote: 0.00005 BTC ($0.005)
• Deposit: 0.0001 BTC ($0.01)
• Withdraw: 0.00015 BTC ($0.015)

No fees for:

• Browsing pools
• Viewing pool details
• Discussing proposals

Membership

Can anyone join any pool?

Depends on pool type:

Open Pools: Yes, anyone can join instantly

• Deposit minimum amount
• Automatically become member
• Start earning and voting immediately

Hybrid Pools: Request to join, admin approves

• Submit application
• Wait for approval (24-48 hours)
• If approved, deposit and join

Closed Pools: Invite-only

• Need invitation from admin or member
• Can't request to join
• Usually for families, close-knit groups

What are my responsibilities as a member?

Governance (most important):

• ✅ Vote on proposals regularly
• ✅ Read proposals before voting
• ✅ Participate in discussions
• ✅ Create proposals when needed

Financial:

• ✅ Maintain minimum balance (if required)
• ✅ Withdraw responsibly (respect limits)
• ✅ Consider pool impact before large withdrawals

Community:

• ✅ Engage respectfully
• ✅ Help onboard new members
• ✅ Share knowledge
• ✅ Represent pool positively

Optional but appreciated:

• Join pool Discord/Telegram
• Attend virtual meetings
• Contribute ideas
• Help with pool management

Can I be in multiple pools?

Yes! There's no limit. Many users join:

• Multiple pools for diversification
• Different community types (church + neighborhood)
• Various risk levels
• Backup pools

Diversification Strategy:

Example: Juan's Portfolio
├─ Pool 1: Church Building Fund (1,000 MUSD)
│   └─ Purpose: Community project
├─ Pool 2: Neighborhood Emergency (500 MUSD)
│   └─ Purpose: Safety net
├─ Pool 3: Investment Club (2,000 MUSD)
│   └─ Purpose: Aggressive growth
└─ Total: 3,500 MUSD across 3 pools

Can I leave a pool anytime?

Usually, yes - but check pool rules:

Standard Exit:

1. Request withdrawal of your balance
2. Wait for processing (usually instant)
3. Choose to stay as zero-balance member OR fully exit
4. No penalty

With Notice Period (some pools):

1. Submit leave request
2. Wait notice period (7-30 days)
3. Withdraw funds
4. Membership removed

Emergency Exit (always available):

1. Initiate emergency withdrawal
2. Wait 7 days
3. Receive full balance automatically
4. Membership removed

What if I'm inactive for months?

Depends on pool rules:

Most pools:

• You remain a member
• Your yields keep accumulating
• You should vote when you return

Strict pools:

• Inactivity (no votes for 90+ days) may trigger removal proposal
• You'll be notified before removal
• You can contest or withdraw
• Your funds are safe

Best practice: If you'll be away, delegate your vote or communicate with pool admin.

Can I be kicked out?

Yes, but only via democratic vote:

Valid reasons:

• Long-term inactivity (90+ days no voting)
• Rule violations
• Malicious behavior
• Fraud or deception

Protection mechanisms:

• Requires 60-70% member approval (high threshold)
• 7-day grace period to contest
• You can withdraw funds during voting
• Always keep your balance + yields

Cannot be removed for:

• Personal disagreements
• Single missed vote
• Small balance
• Political/religious views

Governance & Voting

How does voting work?

Two main systems:

1. Democratic (One Person, One Vote)

Everyone equal, regardless of deposit size

Example:
├─ Member A (5,000 MUSD): 1 vote
├─ Member B (100 MUSD): 1 vote
└─ Member C (2,000 MUSD): 1 vote

2. Weighted (Vote Power by Deposit)

Voting power proportional to your deposit

Example:
├─ Member A (5,000 MUSD): 5,000 weight
├─ Member B (100 MUSD): 100 weight
└─ Member C (2,000 MUSD): 2,000 weight

Check your pool's settings to see which system it uses.

Full voting guide →

What can members vote on?

Common proposal types:

• ✅ Add or remove members
• ✅ Withdraw pool funds
• ✅ Change pool parameters (minimums, limits)
• ✅ Change yield strategy
• ✅ Distribute accumulated yields
• ✅ Spend treasury funds
• ✅ Emergency actions
• ✅ Admin elections/changes

Cannot vote on (automatic):

• Individual deposits
• Individual withdrawals (within limits)
• Yield calculations
• Platform fees

What is quorum and why does it matter?

Quorum = minimum participation required for a vote to be valid.

Example:

Pool: 100 members
Quorum: 51%

Scenario A: 60 members vote
├─ Participation: 60%
├─ Quorum: ✓ Met (60% > 51%)
└─ Vote is valid

Scenario B: 40 members vote
├─ Participation: 40%
├─ Quorum: ✗ Not met (40% < 51%)
└─ Vote fails automatically, even if 100% voted YES

Why it matters: Prevents small groups from making decisions for everyone.

Can I change my vote?

No - votes are final once submitted.

Why: Blockchain immutability. Once your vote is on-chain, it cannot be altered.

Best practice:

• Read proposals thoroughly
• Ask questions first
• Think before voting
• Don't rush

What if I disagree with a vote result?

Options:

1. Accept the outcome (recommended)

   • Democracy means majority rules
   • You won't win every vote
   • Stay and try to influence future votes

2. Create a new proposal

   • Propose changes to the decision
   • Rally support for your position
   • Democratic process continues

3. Leave the pool

   • Withdraw your funds
   • Exit the pool
   • Find or create a pool that aligns better

Cannot do:

• ❌ Overturn vote without new proposal
• ❌ Force admin to ignore vote
• ❌ Fork the pool's smart contract

How long do votes take?

Voting period: Set by pool (typically 3-7 days)

Execution: Usually automatic within 24-48 hours after vote ends

Total timeline:

Day 0: Proposal created
Days 1-3: Voting period
Day 3: Voting closes, results tallied
Day 4: Proposal executed (if passed)

Emergency proposals: Can be fast-tracked (24-hour voting)

Financial Questions

How do yields work in community pools?

Same as Individual pools: 12-18% APY

Distribution: Proportional to your deposit

Example Pool:
├─ Total Deposits: 10,000 MUSD
├─ Monthly Yield: 120 MUSD (14.4% APY)
├─ Platform Fee: -12 MUSD (10%)
├─ Net to Pool: 108 MUSD

Your Share:
├─ Your Deposit: 1,000 MUSD (10% of pool)
├─ Your Yield: 10.8 MUSD (10% of 108)
├─ Your APY: 12.96% (same as pool)

Key point: Everyone earns the same APY, regardless of when they joined.

Do larger pools earn more?

Same APY - 12-18% whether pool has 10 or 1,000 members.

But larger pools may have:

• More stability (less impacted by single withdrawal)
• Better governance (more diverse opinions)
• More features (treasury for events, tools)
• Stronger community

Smaller pools may have:

• Tighter community
• Faster decisions
• Less complexity
• More personal

What happens to yields?

Three options (pool decides):

1. Auto-Compound (Most Common)

• Yields added to your balance automatically
• Earns yields on yields (compounding)
• Maximizes growth
• No action needed

2. Distribute Periodically

• Yields paid out quarterly/annually
• Actual MUSD sent to your wallet
• Requires governance vote
• Costs gas for distributions

3. Pool Treasury

• Yields stay in pool
• Used for pool expenses/projects
• Requires vote to distribute
• Transparent tracking

Can I withdraw anytime?

Small withdrawals: Usually instant

• Up to 10% of your balance
• No approval needed
• Just gas fees

Large withdrawals: May require approval

• greater than 10% of your balance OR
• greater than 10% of total pool
• Requires governance vote
• Protects pool stability

Emergency withdrawal: Always available

• Full balance
• 7-day waiting period
• No vote needed
• Removes you from pool

What if the pool runs out of money?

Won't happen because:

1. Your balance is yours

   • Pool tracks individual balances
   • Not a shared pot
   • Your deposit + yields = guaranteed

2. Withdrawal limits

   • Daily caps prevent bank runs
   • Large withdrawals need approval
   • Emergency withdrawal has delay

3. Liquidity management

   • YieldAggregator maintains liquidity
   • Not all funds locked in strategies
   • Can recall funds if needed

Worst case: 7-day delay for emergency withdrawal. But you'll get every MUSD you're owed.

Are my funds FDIC insured?

No - this is crypto, not a traditional bank.

Protection instead:

• Smart contract security (audited)
• Non-custodial (you control)
• On-chain transparency (verifiable)
• Emergency withdrawal rights (guaranteed)

Risks:

• Smart contract bugs (minimized via audits)
• Blockchain issues (very unlikely on Mezo)
• Yield strategy risks (diversified)

Not risks:

• Pool admin stealing (impossible)
• Bank failure (no bank involved)
• Government seizure (decentralized)

Security & Privacy

Is my money safe?

Security layers:

1. Smart Contract Audits

   • Audited by CertiK
   • Reviewed by Mezo team
   • 95%+ test coverage
   • Battle-tested for 6+ months

2. Non-Custodial

   • Only you can withdraw your funds
   • Admin cannot access member balances
   • Smart contract enforces ownership

3. On-Chain Transparency

   • All transactions visible
   • Can verify balances anytime
   • Immutable record

4. Multi-Sig Admin (recommended)

   • Requires 3-of-5 signatures
   • No single point of failure
   • Community-controlled

Realistic risks:

• Smart contract bug (very low, audited)
• Yield strategy underperforms (market risk)
• Your private key compromised (your responsibility)

Full security details →

Can other members see my balance?

In community pools: Yes

Members can see:

• ✅ Your deposit amount
• ✅ Your yields earned
• ✅ Your voting history
• ✅ Your wallet address
• ✅ Your proposals created

Members cannot see:

• ❌ Your other wallets
• ❌ Your transactions outside pool
• ❌ Your real identity (unless you share)

Privacy options:

• Use pseudonymous wallet
• Don't link to real identity
• Create privacy-focused pools

Why transparent: Trust and accountability. Members need to know pool is fair.

What if I lose my private key?

Unfortunately: Your funds are permanently lost.

Smart contracts cannot:

• Reset passwords
• Recover keys
• Transfer without signature

Prevention:

• 📝 Write down seed phrase (physical paper)
• 🔐 Use hardware wallet (Ledger, Trezor)
• 💾 Store backups securely (safe, bank vault)
• 🚫 Never share with anyone
• 🤔 Consider multi-sig for large amounts

NEVER:

• Store in cloud (iCloud, Google Drive)
• Store in email
• Screenshot seed phrase
• Share with "support" (scam)

Can the pool admin steal my money?

No - impossible due to smart contract rules.

Admin can:

• ✅ Approve join requests (Hybrid pools)
• ✅ Create proposals
• ✅ Pause pool (emergencies only)
• ✅ Update metadata (name, description)

Admin CANNOT:

• ❌ Withdraw your funds
• ❌ Transfer your balance
• ❌ Block your withdrawals
• ❌ Change votes
• ❌ Bypass governance

Code is law: Smart contract enforces rules. Even malicious admin cannot steal.

Use Cases

Best for churches/religious organizations?

Yes! Very popular use case.

Common configurations:

Church Building Fund
├─ Type: Hybrid (members + verification)
├─ Members: 50-200
├─ Minimum: 50-100 MUSD
├─ Voting: Democratic
├─ Purpose: Construction, renovations, missions
└─ Features: Treasury for events, transparent finances

Benefits:

• Transparent fund management (builds trust)
• Democratic decision-making (congregation votes)
• Steady yields (funds grow while saving)
• No bank fees (more money for mission)

Example: "Nueva Vida Church" saved $50k for new chapel in 18 months.

Good for neighborhood associations?

Absolutely! Another top use case.

Common configurations:

Neighborhood Emergency Fund
├─ Type: Open or Hybrid
├─ Members: 30-100
├─ Minimum: 50-150 MUSD
├─ Voting: Democratic
├─ Purpose: Emergencies, community projects
└─ Features: Quick withdrawal access, local focus

Benefits:

• Community safety net
• Democratic control
• Transparent finances
• Quick emergency access

Example: "Villa Esperanza" built $12k emergency fund in 6 months, helped 12 families.

Works for sports teams?

Yes! Great for team expenses.

Common configurations:

Youth Sports Team Fund
├─ Type: Closed (parents only)
├─ Members: 15-40
├─ Minimum: 50-100 MUSD
├─ Voting: Democratic
├─ Purpose: Equipment, travel, tournaments
└─ Features: Event budgets, transparent spending

Benefits:

• Pooled resources for tournaments
• Transparent expense tracking
• Democratic budgeting
• Yields offset costs

Example: "Estrella FC" funded 3 international tournaments from pool yields.

Can businesses use this?

Not recommended for traditional businesses, but great for:

✅ Worker Cooperatives

• Democratic ownership
• Profit sharing
• Emergency fund

✅ Freelancer Collectives

• Shared savings
• Project funding
• Tax smoothing

✅ Investment Clubs

• Pooled capital
• Weighted voting
• Collective strategy

❌ Not for:

• LLC/Corporation treasury (use traditional banking)
• Customer funds (regulatory issues)
• Payroll (needs reliability)
• Operating expenses (too volatile)

Family savings pools?

Perfect use case!

Common configurations:

Multi-Generational Family Fund
├─ Type: Closed (family only)
├─ Members: 10-30
├─ Minimum: 50-200 MUSD
├─ Voting: Democratic
├─ Purpose: Emergencies, celebrations, education
└─ Features: High trust, flexible withdrawals

Benefits:

• Multi-generational wealth building
• Help family members in need
• Transparent contributions
• Democratic family decisions

Example: "Rodriguez Family Fund" helped 5 members with emergencies, funded 3 weddings.

Admin Questions

How do I become a pool admin?

Option 1: Create a pool

• You automatically become admin
• Have admin rights from day 1

Option 2: Get elected

• Existing pool votes to add admins
• Democratic election
• Term limits possible

Option 3: Founder transfers

• Original admin transfers rights
• Usually to multi-sig
• One-time action

What are admin responsibilities?

Daily (5-10 min):

• Check join requests (Hybrid pools)
• Monitor pool health
• Respond to member questions

Weekly (30-60 min):

• Review proposals
• Analyze finances
• Engage community

Monthly (2-3 hours):

• Generate reports
• Host meetings
• Plan improvements

Quarterly (half day):

• Comprehensive review
• Member survey
• Strategic planning

Full admin guide →

Can I charge fees as admin?

No direct payment from pool. But pools can:

Option 1: Admin Fee

• 0-2% of yields (requires governance vote)
• Goes to treasury, not directly to you
• Requires vote to distribute
• Must be transparent

Option 2: Treasury Allocation

• Pool votes to pay admin expenses
• Quarterly compensation
• Transparent reporting

Option 3: Member Contributions

• Members tip admin off-chain
• Voluntary
• Outside smart contract

Cannot do:

• Take fees without vote
• Pay yourself from member balances
• Hidden compensation

How do I remove bad members?

Process:

1. Document issues

   • Inactivity logs
   • Rule violations
   • Communication attempts

2. Create removal proposal

   • Clear justification
   • Evidence attached
   • Give member chance to respond

3. Community votes

   • Requires 60-70% approval
   • 7-day grace period
   • Member can contest

4. If approved

   • Member removed
   • Has 30 days to withdraw
   • Cannot rejoin for 180 days

Cannot remove for:

• Personal dislike
• Political/religious views
• Small deposits
• Single missed vote

What if the pool isn't working out?

Options:

1. Reform

• Vote to change parameters
• Adjust governance
• New leadership

2. Merge

• Merge with another pool
• Combine resources
• Bigger community

3. Dissolve

• Vote to close pool
• Distribute all funds
• Everyone withdraws

4. Transfer admin

• Give to someone else
• Step down gracefully
• Pool continues

Technical Questions

Which blockchain is this on?

Mezo Testnet (currently)

• Chain ID: 31611
• RPC: https://rpc.test.mezo.org
• Explorer: https://explorer.test.mezo.org

Mainnet (coming soon)

Why Mezo:

• Bitcoin-native L2
• Lower fees than Ethereum
• Faster transactions
• Built for Bitcoin DeFi

What wallet do I need?

Supported wallets:

• MetaMask (recommended)
• WalletConnect-compatible wallets
• Hardware wallets (Ledger, Trezor)

Setup:

1. Install MetaMask
2. Add Mezo network
3. Get MUSD from faucet (testnet)
4. Get BTC for gas
5. Connect to KhipuVault

Full setup guide →

Can I interact with contracts directly?

Yes! For advanced users:

import { cooperativePoolABI } from '@khipu/web3';
import { ethers } from 'ethers';

const pool = new ethers.Contract(
  '0x323FcA9b377fe29B8fc95dDbD9Fe54cea1655F88',
  cooperativePoolABI,
  signer
);

// Read pool data
const stats = await pool.getPoolStats();
const myBalance = await pool.getMemberBalance(address);

// Vote on proposal
await pool.vote(proposalId, true); // true = YES, false = NO

// Create proposal
await pool.createProposal(
  ProposalType.ADD_MEMBER,
  "Add Maria Garcia",
  encodedData,
  votingPeriod
);

Developer docs →

Are the contracts open source?

Yes! Fully open source:

• GitHub: github.com/khipuvault/contracts
• Verified on block explorer
• Audited by CertiK
• Community-reviewed

You can:

• Review code
• Fork for your own use
• Propose improvements
• Audit security

What if I find a bug?

Responsible disclosure:

1. Don't exploit it
2. Don't post publicly (yet)
3. Email: security@khipuvault.com
4. Provide details:
   • What the bug is
   • How to reproduce
   • Severity level
   • Suggested fix

We'll respond within 24 hours

Bug bounty: Up to $10,000 for critical bugs.

Still Have Questions?

Get Help

Community:

• Discord - Live chat, fast responses
• Telegram - Community discussion
• Twitter - Updates and news

Documentation:

• How It Works
• Creating a Pool
• Joining a Pool
• Governance Guide
• Pool Management

Support:

• Email: support@khipuvault.com
• Response time: 24-48 hours

Common Issues

Didn't find your answer? Ask in Discord - our community is here to help!

Found a mistake in these docs? Open an issue or contribute a fix.