diff --git a/src/guards.rs b/src/guards.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index e497682..0000000
--- a/src/guards.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,19 +0,0 @@
-use soroban_sdk::Env;
-
-use crate::types::{ContractError, DataKey};
-
-/// Returns `Err(ContractPaused)` if the contract is currently paused.
-///
-/// Called at the top of every state-changing entry point so that a paused
-/// contract immediately rejects all mutations without reaching business logic.
-pub fn require_not_paused(env: &Env) -> Result<(), ContractError> {
-    if env
-        .storage()
-        .instance()
-        .get::<DataKey, bool>(&DataKey::Paused)
-        .unwrap_or(false)
-    {
-        return Err(ContractError::ContractPaused);
-    }
-    Ok(())
-}