DeFi — frequently asked questions and troubleshooting
This article collects the situations most commonly encountered in DeFi: a transaction that cannot be completed, transactions that stay pending, what the token security review means, and the security of your assets.
My transaction could not be completed, what happened?
If a DeFi transaction cannot be completed, your balance does not change; your asset stays where it is. The screen shows the Transaction could not be completed title with the explanation "Something went wrong and your transaction could not be completed. Your balance has not changed. Please try again." You can retry with Try again or leave with Cancel.
The screen also states why the transaction was not completed. The most common reasons:
| Reason on the screen | What it means |
|---|---|
| The network was temporarily unavailable | The blockchain network the token is on is not responding at that moment; try again shortly |
| The transaction failed on-chain | The transaction was submitted to the network but did not complete; your balance is not affected |
| Your balance could not be reserved | The amount required for the transaction could not be set aside in your balance at that moment |
| This route was too complex to settle | No suitable transaction route was found for the token; you can try with a smaller amount |
| Signature verification failed | The passkey approval was not completed; restart the transaction |
I received a "your funds are on hold for a moment" message
This is not an error but a temporary hold, and it does not mean any loss of funds. Part of the balance reserved for a transaction in a previous attempt has not been returned yet; the amount is refunded automatically, usually within about two minutes.
The screen checks your balance on its own. When the refund is complete, it states that your funds are available again, and you can continue with the Try again button. If you prefer not to wait, you can leave the screen and come back later.
My transaction appears as "pending"
A short wait is normal in some transactions. In a sale, the step on the blockchain completes, but adding the resulting USDT to your Paribu balance can take a few minutes. During this time the transaction appears in the Pending tab of the Transactions screen; this does not mean it is stuck.
Once the amount is reflected, the transaction moves to the Completed tab. For details, see the How do I sell a token on a DEX? I sold, when will my money arrive? article.
A "quote has expired" warning keeps appearing
Because prices change quickly in DeFi, the price quote on the transaction screen refreshes at intervals. When the quote expires, the message "Quote has expired. Go back to get an updated price." appears on the screen and the confirmation button becomes inactive. Once you go back and get a new price, you can continue with the transaction.
What does the token security review mean?
Because issuing a token on a DEX is open to everyone, the app shows an automatic security scan for every token before you buy. The badge on the token detail states the result of the scan:
| Badge | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Safe asset | No issues detected with this asset |
| Caution required | Some warnings detected with this asset |
| Risky asset | Serious risks detected with this asset |
When you try to buy a token marked as risky, the Please review before buying screen opens; you can read the findings with Review risks or continue with Continue to buy. Buying is not blocked.
Warning: This scan is automatic; it does not mean that Paribu has reviewed or approved the token. As the disclaimer in the app states, the review does not guarantee 100% accuracy and does not constitute investment advice
What does the scan check?
On the Security review screen, the findings are listed item by item. The topics checked fall into two groups:
Contract and supply side — whether the contract source code has been verified, whether ownership has been renounced, whether a hidden owner exists, whether new tokens can be minted (supply inflation), whether the contract logic can be changed after deployment, whether the contract can self-destruct, whether the owner can change wallet balances, whether buying is possible while selling is blocked (honeypot), blacklist and whitelist restrictions, whether transfers can be paused, transaction size limits (anti-whale), and buy, sell, and transfer taxes.
Liquidity and distribution side — whether the token supply is concentrated in a few wallets, the depth of the liquidity pool, the distribution of liquidity provider tokens, whether the liquidity is locked (risk of sudden liquidity removal), and whether the token is listed on decentralized and centralized exchanges.
Each item has an explanation for both the safe and the risky outcome; you see the explanation that matches the result for that token.
I see a DeFi unavailable message
When a short maintenance is being performed on the DeFi side, the DeFi is under maintenance for a short time screen appears, and no DeFi transaction can be made during this period. You can return to Markets with the Return to markets button and try again after the maintenance is complete.
Important information
- When a transaction cannot be completed, your balance does not change; your asset is in your own wallet
- The "pending" status is normal; the amount is not lost
- Transactions completed on the blockchain cannot be reversed
- The token security scan is automatic and does not mean Paribu approval
- If a problem is not resolved, you can reach us through the support chat
Frequently asked questions
What happens to my asset if something happens to Paribu?
In DeFi products your asset is in a self-custody wallet that belongs to you; it is not held on the Paribu side. Because the control is yours, your access does not depend on Paribu.
My transaction could not be completed, is my money gone?
No. If the transaction cannot be completed, your balance does not change and the amount blocked for the transaction returns to your available balance.
I sold but my money has not arrived?
The transaction on the blockchain is complete; the reflection of the USDT in your Paribu balance can take a few minutes. You can follow the transaction in the Pending tab of the Transactions screen.
I cannot sell my entire token balance, why?
Some tokens cannot be sold in full because of restrictions in their contracts. The token's security review states this; you can check the review on the token detail.
My passkey approval is not working, what should I do?
If you canceled your device's verification screen, you can restart the transaction. If your passkey fails repeatedly, you can start the recovery process from the Did you lose your wallet access? screen — details are in the DeFi wallet recovery article.
Related articles
- Where and how do I access DeFi products? — DeFi product access and prerequisites
- What are a DeFi wallet, passkey, and self-custody? — The DeFi wallet and self-custody logic
- What happens if I lose my device or access? (DeFi wallet recovery) — The 48-hour wallet recovery process and its conditions
- How do I buy a token on a DEX? — Buying a token on a DEX and the confirmation process
Author:
Paribu