> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://whitepaper.after-bell.uk/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://whitepaper.after-bell.uk/oracle-and-resolution/circuit-breaker.md).

# Circuit Breaker

Details the 5% discrepancy threshold that pauses automated resolution.

The circuit breaker is AFTERBELL’s defined safety boundary for conflicting resolution data. If Chainlink and the Robinhood REST API differ by more than **5%**, the market pauses.

### Two resolution paths

```
Difference ≤5% → verified normal path → resolution
Difference >5% → circuit breaker → market pause → manual review
```

The threshold applies after comparing the primary Chainlink price with the API cross-check. For example:

| Source        | Price |
| ------------- | ----- |
| Chainlink     | $152  |
| Robinhood API | $140  |

The $12 difference is approximately 7.9% relative to $152. It exceeds 5%, so the market pauses.

### Pause rather than guess

The source identifies conceptual reasons for disagreement: Chainlink may be stale, the API may be lagging, or one source may be wrong. The circuit breaker does not determine which explanation is correct. It contains the failure by preventing an automatic resolution on conflicting data.

It does not provide a fallback feed, automatic retry, timeout, cancellation, or refund mechanism. It also does not guarantee an oracle is correct. It moves the market to the exception path, where an administrator may resolve with off-chain evidence.

This is a deliberate design choice: it is safer to pause than to silently settle a binary market against materially conflicting inputs.


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://whitepaper.after-bell.uk/oracle-and-resolution/circuit-breaker.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.