Pause and unpause assets
Pause or reactivate one asset after launch checks, maintenance, or an incident response hold.
Pause state is the asset-level control that stops or resumes token movement for one asset. New assets start paused so operators can finish role, identity, and compliance setup before holders can transact.
An Emergency role holder can pause an active asset during maintenance, investigation, or incident response. The same pause-control surface reactivates the asset when the hold is cleared.
Use this page for the web console workflow. API operators can use the pause and unpause assets API guide.
Prerequisites
- You have the Emergency role on the asset.
- The asset supports pause controls.
- You know whether the asset is currently Paused or Active.
- Before unpausing a newly created asset, complete the required role, identity, and compliance configuration for the asset.
Choose the right action
| Current state | Action | Use when |
|---|---|---|
| Paused | Unpause Asset | The asset is ready for launch, maintenance is complete, or an incident response hold is cleared. |
| Active | Pause Asset | You need to stop token movement for maintenance, an investigation, or an operational hold. |
Example: a bond is active and a maintenance window needs to stop holder movement. An Emergency role holder pauses the bond and verifies that the workspace shows Paused. Servicing teams complete the maintenance checks before token operations resume. After maintenance, the same role holder chooses Unpause Asset and verifies that the workspace shows Active again.
Pause affects every holder
Pausing an asset blocks token movements for that asset. Coordinate the pause with the operators who handle holder support, settlement, and downstream reporting.
Pause or unpause an asset
Before you unpause a newly created or held asset, confirm that the teams responsible for roles, holder identity, compliance rules, and downstream reporting have finished their checks. The confirmation sheet shows the current state and the target state before you sign.
Open the asset
Go to Asset Management, choose the asset type, then open the asset you want to manage.
Find the available action
On the asset detail page, open Manage Asset or the related action card for the asset. The related action card appears only when the asset state and your permissions allow the operation. In Manage Asset, pause or unpause can appear unavailable when the asset state or your role does not allow it.
Choose pause or unpause
Choose Pause Asset when the asset is active, or Unpause Asset when the asset is paused. If neither action appears, confirm that you hold the Emergency role for this asset.
Review and sign
Review the asset name, current state, and requested action. Confirm the operation, then enter your PIN to sign the blockchain transaction.
| Before signing | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Asset name and symbol match the intended asset | Pause affects every holder of that asset. |
| Current state matches the action | Pause applies to active assets; unpause applies to paused assets. |
| Support and servicing teams know the operating state | Downstream reporting, settlement, and holder support may depend on the hold. |
Check the updated state
After the transaction confirms, the asset status changes to Paused or Active. The asset workspace shows the new state.
What the state means
| State | Token movement | Operational meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Transfers, mints, and burns can proceed when the caller also passes the required role, identity, and compliance checks. | The asset is open for normal lifecycle operations. |
| Paused | Transfers, mints, and burns are blocked until an Emergency role holder unpauses the asset. | The asset is under a global movement hold. Read-only review, role management, and the pause or unpause action can still be used. |
Pause state does not replace compliance policy. After an asset is unpaused, holders and operators still need the required roles, identity verification, claim status, and compliance-module approvals for their specific operation.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Check |
|---|---|
| Pause Asset or Unpause Asset is missing or unavailable | Confirm the Emergency role, current pause state, and pause-control support for this asset. |
| Transaction fails | Check your PIN, wallet verification setup, wallet gas, and network connection. Retry only after you know the previous transaction did not confirm. |
| Status does not update | Wait for confirmation, refresh the asset page, and check the transaction in the block explorer if available. |
| Holders still cannot transfer after unpause | Check holder identity status, required claims, country or investor-list rules, and any other compliance modules attached to the asset. |
Related operations
- Change asset admin roles explains how to assign the Emergency role.
- Asset compliance overview explains verification and compliance checks that still apply after unpause.
- Forced transfer explains administrative movement for eligible assets.