# Maturation and holdback: when creators get paid

> Why SaTT waits 48 hours before paying a post and holds 20% of performance earnings until the final check after the pool ends.

Published by SaTT · Last updated 2026-10-29 · Features · https://satt.com/guides/features/maturation-holdback

## In short

SaTT pays nothing on a post during its first 48 hours after the first measurement: this is the [maturation](https://satt.com/guides/glossary#maturation). In performance pools, up to 80% of what a post earned is then payable while the pool runs, and the last 20% (the [holdback](https://satt.com/guides/glossary#holdback)) is paid after a final check once the pool ends. Fixed-price posts are paid once, in full, after the 48 hours.

## What are maturation and holdback?

**Maturation** is a 48-hour wait that starts at a post’s first measurement by the [oracle](https://satt.com/guides/glossary#oracle). Nothing is payable before it ends.

**Holdback** applies to [performance pools](https://satt.com/guides/glossary#pay-per-performance) only: 20% of a post’s earnings stay held until the pool has ended and the post passes a final check.

Both exist for one reason: bought views, deleted posts and engagement purges usually show up within days. Waiting lets the anti-fraud checks catch them before money leaves the pool.

## When is each part of a reward payable?

| Pool type | First 48 hours | While the pool runs | After the pool ends |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fixed reward per post | Nothing payable | Paid once, in full, after 48 hours | — |
| Performance (per view, like, share) | Nothing payable | Up to 80% of what was earned | The held 20% after the final check |

Example: a performance post has earned $50 after 5 days. Up to $40 is payable now. If it has earned $70 when the pool ends, nothing more was claimed in between and it passes the final check, the creator receives the remaining $30 (70 − 40) in one extra payment.

## What does the final check verify?

The final check runs once after the pool’s end date. The holdback is released if all three conditions hold:

1. The post is still live (not deleted or private).
2. Its numbers did not collapse by more than 30% compared with their peak.
3. Its [risk score](https://satt.com/guides/glossary#risk-score) is below the review threshold of 30.

If a condition fails, the holdback is forfeited and stays in the pool budget, which goes back to the advertiser at closing.

> **Tip:** A temporary outage of the data source at the final check never forfeits an honest creator’s holdback: the check is retried. Only a confirmed removal counts.

## Does it work the same in dollars and in crypto?

Yes. The same rules apply in the [dollar edition](https://satt.com/guides/glossary#dollar-edition) and the [crypto edition](https://satt.com/guides/glossary#crypto-edition). In crypto, a claim attempted too early is refused with the date it becomes payable; in dollars, matured amounts are credited to the balance automatically.

In crypto performance pools a creator can claim a growing post again at most once every 24 hours, plus one final claim after the pool ends. See [Claim crypto earnings](https://satt.com/guides/how-to/claim-crypto-earnings).

## Key takeaways

- Nothing is payable during the first 48 hours after a post’s first measurement.
- Fixed-price posts are paid once, in full, after maturation.
- Performance posts get up to 80% while the pool runs and the last 20% after the final check.
- The holdback is forfeited only if the post is removed, collapses by more than 30% or stays high-risk.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why was my claim refused with “maturing”?

The post was first measured less than 48 hours ago. The answer includes the date and time from which it becomes payable; try again after it.

### Do I lose the holdback if I delete my post after the pool ends?

If the post is gone when the final check runs, yes. Keep posts online at least until the final payment is received.

### Is the holdback taken from fixed-price rewards too?

No. Fixed-price rewards have no holdback: they are paid once and in full, 48 hours after the first measurement, if the post is not flagged.

## Related guides

- [Anti-fraud scoring: how SaTT flags fake engagement](https://satt.com/guides/features/anti-fraud-scoring)
- [How to claim your crypto earnings](https://satt.com/guides/how-to/claim-crypto-earnings)
- [Pay per performance: fixed prices per view, like, share](https://satt.com/guides/features/pay-per-performance)
- [Payments and fees FAQ: what SaTT charges and when](https://satt.com/guides/tips/faq-payments-fees)

## Official pages

- [How SaTT works](https://satt.com/how-it-works)

Glossary: https://satt.com/guides/glossary