Responsible Use

Your well-being matters more than any contract.

Our Commitment

Styx is designed to help people build positive habits through voluntary accountability. We take our responsibility seriously: financial commitment devices are powerful tools, and power demands safeguards. Every feature we build is evaluated against the question: “Could this cause harm?”

Healthy Use Guidelines

Stake only what you can afford to lose. Your financial stake should be meaningful enough to motivate, but never so large that losing it would cause financial hardship. If a stake amount feels stressful, it’s too high.
Set realistic goals. Behavioral change is incremental. Start with shorter contract durations and lower stakes. Build your integrity score over time. Failure is not a moral judgment — it’s information about what’s realistic for you right now.
Use grace days when you need them. Grace days exist because life happens. Using them is not weakness — it’s self-awareness. Two per month is your right, not a last resort.
Recovery contracts require extra care. No-contact recovery contracts deal with emotional situations. If maintaining your contract is causing psychological distress, please reach out to a counselor or therapist. Your mental health is more important than any contract.
Take breaks between contracts. The 7-day cool-off period after failure exists for a reason. Use that time to reflect, not to immediately re-stake out of frustration.

Built-In Safety Guardrails

Styx implements automatic protections you cannot override:

BMI Floor (18.5): Weight-loss contracts cannot target underweight goals
Velocity Cap (2%/week): Weight-loss rate is limited to prevent starvation-level targets
Recovery Duration Cap (30 days): No-contact contracts are limited to 30 days maximum
Stake Tier Limits: Your maximum stake is gated by your integrity score history
Automatic Downscale: Three strikes trigger automatic stake reduction
Cool-Off Period: 7-day mandatory pause after contract failure

Warning Signs

Please seek support if you experience any of the following:

Staking money you cannot afford to lose
Feeling anxious, obsessive, or distressed about your contracts
Using Styx as a substitute for professional medical or psychological treatment
Creating contracts immediately after failure without reflection
Hiding your Styx participation from family or partners
Borrowing money to fund stakes

Styx Is Not a Substitute For

Professional therapy or counseling
Medical treatment for eating disorders or body dysmorphia
Addiction recovery programs (AA, NA, SMART Recovery)
Domestic violence support services
Financial planning or debt counseling

Resources

If you or someone you know needs help:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 (call or text)
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (free, 24/7)
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
National Eating Disorders Association: 1-800-931-2237
National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700

Contact Us

If you have concerns about your use of Styx or believe the platform is causing harm, contact us at safety@styx.protocol. We will work with you to pause, modify, or cancel active contracts if your well-being is at risk.