---
slug: "ExpiringToken"
name: "ExpiringToken"
type: "Protocols"
layer: "Society"
ref: "ExpiringToken#6cce"
sema_id: "sema:ExpiringToken#mh:SHA-256:6ccee8101ea0c081947b221568ce55d3b727412df9015a4ac8e876dc956efcaf"
tags: ["Society","Protocols"]
updated: 2026-11-11
mindscape: "bootstrap"
index_url: https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap.json
url: https://mindscape.world/bootstrap/ExpiringToken/
related: ["BearerToken","Decay","Powerreturn","Powerreturn#2a84"]
---

# ExpiringToken

Time-decaying privileges

Layer: Society · Category: Protocols

## Mechanism

Access tokens that strictly degrade in capability over time. A fresh key can do everything (Admin). After 1 hour, it degrades to Write-Only. After 2 hours, Read-Only. After 3 hours, Dead. The decay is encoded in the token logic itself. It extends [BearerToken](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/BearerToken.md) by embedding an immutable expiration timestamp within the signed payload.

## Invariants

- Expired tokens cannot be revived.
- Monotonic [Decay](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Decay.md): Capabilities cannot increase over time
- Time-Bound: Token is invalid if CurrentTime > ExpiryTime

## Failure modes

- Clock synchronization issues.

## Builds on

- [BearerToken](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/BearerToken.md) (Society; References)
- [Decay](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Decay.md) (Physics; References)

## Used by

- [Powerreturn](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Powerreturn.md) (Society; References)

## Identity

- Sema ID: `sema:ExpiringToken#mh:SHA-256:6ccee8101ea0c081947b221568ce55d3b727412df9015a4ac8e876dc956efcaf`
- Ref: `ExpiringToken#6cce`
- Supersedes:
  - `sema:ExpiringToken#mh:SHA-256:4e3cc3cee0de56a4eef0676629811cb4afa3383bc80bde227924d66a6af16f6e`
  - `sema:ExpiringToken#mh:SHA-256:a1c3ec3a2dcab7d534072c42b3829b0bb654f8a593c63a71075a38e75bedf72d`
  - `sema:ExpiringToken#mh:SHA-256:b0e80819310c7415a0348183bb08bdca243d7193f93e11a5f665f7ce1a9414d3`

## Links

- [Pattern page](https://mindscape.world/bootstrap/ExpiringToken/)
- [View in the interactive graph](https://mindscape.world/bootstrap/#ExpiringToken)
- [JSON](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/ExpiringToken.json)
- [Index of all patterns](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap.json)