# governance staking (veFOREX)

users can lock FOREX/fxUSD (80/20) Balancer Pool Token (BPT) into the[ handle governance pool](https://app.handle.fi/earn) to receive **veFOREX** - 'vote escrowed FOREX'. 

holders of **veFOREX,  provide valuable 'locked' liquidity to the protocol,**  are in return are rewarded by being able to;

**(i)** participate in **protocol governance,**

**(ii)** up to 2.5x **boosted rewards & superior APRs** across a whole range of protocol actions - providing liquidity, trading & converting or referring new users. 

**(iii)** receive a share of any protocol fees **distributed to the governance pool,** and

{% hint style="info" %}
the longer the holder locks their [FOREX/fxUSD (80/20) BPT](https://app.balancer.fi/#/arbitrum/pool/0x4f14d06cb1661ce1dc2a2f26a10a7cd94393b29c000200000000000000000097), the more veFOREX they will receive and the larger their voting power and boosted rewards.<br>

the minimum locking time **one week** epochs and the **maximum, one year.** 1 BPT locked for the maximum duration is equivalent to 1 veFOREX.  a users veFOREX weight decreases linearly as the escrowed tokens approach their lock expiry.
{% endhint %}

*\*\*for instructions on how to add balancer liquidity and lock for veFOREX -* [***click here***](https://docs.handle.fi/high-priority/governance-staking-veforex/obtain-fxusd-forex-bpt-and-lock-for-veforex)*\*\**

***the following is a breakdown of reward categories and where veFOREX boosts apply***

| category                      | veFOREX boost |
| ----------------------------- | ------------- |
| governance pool - FOREX/fxUSD | YES           |
| hLP depositors                | YES           |
| fxKeeper pools                | YES           |
| curve fxUSD - handle 3pool    | YES\*         |
| curve fxEUR                   | YES\*         |
| trade & convert rebate %      | YES\*         |
| referral %                    | YES\*         |

*\*implementation in progress*

<figure><img src="https://2945677417-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MUR8MivZ356lgVw_jq_-887967055%2Fuploads%2FhnosRk5CtU4ZCROm3gWz%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=dd32624c-40f0-4d52-991c-3c39d9e0f04b" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

*\*\*this tokenomic system draws from the innovative and foundational work implemented by curve.fi.  we thank them for their inspiration and contribution to both defi and protocol tokenomics.*

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