Escrow holds the seller’s crypto while the buyer sends the fiat payment. The crypto is released only when the trade completes or a moderator resolves a dispute.
1SellerLocks crypto in escrow
2EscrowHolds funds during the trade
3BuyerSends fiat off-platform
4ReleaseSeller confirms payment
Funds are locked by the seller, the buyer pays off-platform, and the seller releases crypto after confirming payment.
Escrow by network family
| Network family | Escrow mechanism | Wallet signing |
|---|---|---|
| Ethereum and EVM chains | Smart contract escrow | Connected EVM wallet |
| Solana | Anchor escrow program | Connected Solana wallet |
| Bitcoin / Arkade | Taproot tapscript coordinated with an Arkade operator | Connected Bitcoin wallet |