Ahead-of-Time (AOT) Transactions

Ahead-of-Time (AOT) transactions are designed for users who require absolute certainty for planned operations. AOT allows users to pre-purchase a guaranteed inclusion slot for a transaction at a future time (35+ slots or >15 seconds ahead). This is indispensable for institutional settlements, complex DeFi operations like vault rebalancing, and large-scale batch processing.

When to Use AOT

Use AOT when timing is precise and predictable:

  • Repaying loans before specific deadlines (e.g., before 14:03 UTC)
  • Scheduled oracle updates every 30 seconds
  • Institutional settlement windows
  • Vault rebalancing operations
  • Batch processing at optimal times
  • Claiming staking rewards during low-fee windows

How AOT Works

AOT follows a "Put me in this specific future slot" approach. Users can reserve blockspace for exact future timing, with execution guaranteed at the pre-determined slot regardless of network congestion.

AOT Auction Flow

Select Slot
Open Auction
Bid & Compete
Reserve Slot
Execute

Pricing Model

AOT transactions are priced via an open English-style auction, where users can bid against each other in real time for specific future slots. This allows for more efficient price discovery for planned blockspace and often rewards users who plan ahead with potentially lower fees.

// Example: Reserve AOT slot
const aotBid = {
  type: 'AOT',
  slotNumber: currentSlot + 50, // 35+ slots ahead
  bid: 0.0042, // SOL
  transaction: myTransaction
}

await raikuClient.reserveAOTSlot(aotBid)

Key Benefits

  • Guaranteed execution at specific future slot
  • Predictable timing for planned operations
  • Often lower fees through advance planning
  • Protection against network congestion
  • Transparent price discovery through open auction