Petition to Hydration Givernance for Intervention and UX improvements

A Call for Compassion and Action

Dear Hydration Governance, HDX Token Holders, Council, and Technical Committee, I come to you as a dedicated user of the Hydration protocol, a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform on the Polkadot network that promises innovation and opportunity.
With a heavy heart, I seek your intervention to right a wrong caused by a critical flaw in the platform’s
user experience (UX). On June 3, 2025, a well-intentioned attempt to transfer 0.206 ETH to my Coinbase self-custody wallet led to a devastating loss due to an unclear interface. I humbly request that you, the stewards of Hydration’s decentralized community, authorize a forceTransfer to return these funds to my wallet, restoring my faith in this ecosystem and demonstrating Hydration’s commitment to its users.

This petition is not just about recovering 0.206 ETH—it’s about upholding the trust, fairness, and integrity that define Hydration’s mission. As a user who believed in your vision, I ask for your empathy and action to address this preventable error.

The Heart of the Issue

On June 3, 2025, at 18:57:54 UTC, I initiated a transfer of 0.206 ETH from my Hydration address (12ZuLmUebwpydFkuo9mFXArZedJFnbtqb3SooZePaDNMRgLW) to my Coinbase
self-custody Ethereum wallet (12ZuLmUv3kB6bpzqX423Xjiu3CoUNu6KzFjnK1TDKNHnHFmW).
Tragically, due to a confusing UX in Hydration’s transfer interface, the ETH was sent to an incorrect Hydration address (12ZuLmUv3kB6bpzqX423Xjiu3CoUNu6KzFjnK1TDKNHnHFmW), which mirrors
my Coinbase wallet’s address string but exists on the Hydration network, where I have no control. The transaction is recorded on Hydration’s ledger (hash:
0x71a88ecb9ec966a8ce31df19cbbbff58d6a8860c7addb7879a4a1dbd9cd616b7).
The error stemmed from Hydration’s interface, which failed to:

Clearly distinguish between Hydration’s SS58 addresses (Substrate-based, sr25519) and Ethereum’s EVM addresses (secp256k1).
Provide robust address validation to prevent incompatible inputs.
Warn users about the risks of sending to self-custody wallets, with warnings focused only on centralized exchanges.

This loss of 0.206 ETH, while modest to some, represents a significant personal setback—a savings built through hard work, now trapped in an inaccessible address. Hydration’s forceTransfer function, a governance-controlled tool within the Substrate balances pallet, offers a lifeline to recover these funds, but it requires your approval to act.

Why Your Intervention Matters
As the guardians of Hydration’s decentralized ecosystem, you—HDX token holders, council, and technical committee—hold the power to protect users, foster trust, and ensure fairness. I appeal to your sense of responsibility and compassion for the following reasons:

A Devastating Loss for a Loyal User
The loss of 0.206 ETH is more than a number; it’s a blow to my financial stability and trust in
Hydration. As a user who chose your platform for its innovative Omnipool and cross-chain
capabilities, I acted in good faith, only to be let down by a preventable UX flaw. Your
intervention via forceTransfer can restore my funds, reaffirming Hydration’s commitment to
its community.
A Systemic UX Failure
The root cause of this error lies in Hydration’s interface, which misled me into entering an
incorrect address. The lack of clear network selection, inadequate validation, and vague
warnings about self-custody wallets created a trap for users. This is not an isolated mistake
but a design flaw that could harm others. By addressing this case, you signal a
commitment to improving UX and preventing future losses.
Upholding Trust in Hydration’s Vision
Hydration’s promise of seamless DeFi relies on user confidence. Unresolved losses like
mine erode trust, discouraging participation and tarnishing your reputation as a user-centric platform. Authorizing a forceTransfer demonstrates accountability, showing that
Hydration values its users and stands by them in times of need.
Governance’s Power to Act
Your governance has successfully used forceTransfer for community benefit, such as the
Polkadot Treasury’s 3M DOT allocation for liquidity mining. Recovering my ETH is a
straightforward use of this tool, requiring only a community-approved proposal. The action
will be transparent, recorded on-chain (via subscan.io), and auditable, preserving
Hydration’s decentralized integrity.
A Feasible and Fair Solution
ForceTransfer aligns with Hydration’s decentralized ethos, requiring only a governance vote.
As an individual user, I lack the resources to navigate the proposal process alone. Your
support can streamline this action, setting a precedent for compassionate, efficient
dispute resolution.

Our Shared Path Forward

I respectfully urge Hydration’s governance to take the following actions to address this
issue and restore trust:

Investigate the Incident:

Review the transaction (hash: 0x71a88ecb9ec966a8ce31df19cbbbff58d6a8860c7addb7879a4a1dbd9cd616b7) to confirm the ETH transfer to the incorrect address (12ZuLmUv3kB6bpzqX423Xjiu3CoUNu6KzFjnK1TDKNHnHFmW).
Verify my originating address (12ZuLmUebwpydFkuo9mFXArZedJFnbtqb3SooZePaDNMRgLW) for recovery.

Authorize a forceTransfer:

Propose and vote on a governance motion to execute a forceTransfer of the 0.206 ETH back to my address (12ZuLmUebwpydFkuo9mFXArZedJFnbtqb3SooZePaDNMRgLW).
Ensure the action is transparent and recorded on Hydration’s ledger.

Enhance the User Experience:

Commit to urgent UX improvements, including:
- Real-time address validation to prevent incompatible inputs.
- Clear prompts distinguishing Hydration from EVM networks (e.g., Moonbeam).
- Explicit warnings for transfers to self-custody wallets.
Engage the community via Discord and @hydration_net on X to prioritize these updates.

Establish a User Recovery Process:

Create a streamlined framework for handling similar errors, enabling governance to resolve mis-sent funds efficiently.
Document this process in Hydration’s documentation (docs.hydration.net) to build trust.

Keep Users Informed:

Update me on the proposal’s progress through Hydration’s official channels (Discord, Telegram, or support.polkadot.network).
Share the outcome publicly to reinforce accountability and community trust.

Addressing Potential Concerns

Concern: ForceTransfer undermines blockchain immutability.

Response: ForceTransfer is a built-in Substrate tool designed for governance-approved actions, preserving the ledger’s integrity while addressing exceptional cases.

Concern: Users should bear responsibility for errors.

Response: The error was driven by Hydration’s confusing UX, not just user oversight. Governance has a duty to fix systemic flaws that harm users.

Concern: Individual cases strain governance resources.

Response: This one-time forceTransfer is a low-effort, high-impact action that prevents further distrust and sets a compassionate precedent.

A Plea for Empathy
Imagine the sinking feeling of watching your hard-earned savings vanish due to a
momentary lapse, guided by an interface that failed to protect you. This is my reality, and I
turn to you, Hydration’s governance, for relief. By approving this forceTransfer, you not only
restore my 0.206 ETH but also send a powerful message: Hydration cares for its users,
listens to their struggles, and acts to make things right. Let’s work together to turn this loss
into a story of redemption and trust.

Closing
I trust in Hydration’s vision and the strength of its community. Please act swiftly to approve
a forceTransfer, address UX flaws, and ensure no user feels abandoned. Your action will
transform my loss into a testament to Hydration’s integrity and compassion.