Release
Release is the moment where escrow conditions are fulfilled and funds are irreversibly transferred according to the rules defined at escrow creation.
At this stage:
the order has been completed,
the buyer has approved delivery,
no dispute is active.
Release is an on-chain action, enforced by Trustless Work.
Goal
Release escrowed funds to the seller only after approval, without requiring buyers or sellers to manage keys or interact directly with the blockchain.
Actors
Buyer (approver)
OfferHub Platform
Trustless Work Escrow
Trustless Work dApp (Backoffice)
Stellar Network
Preconditions
Escrow exists and is fully funded
Seller has marked delivery as done
Buyer has approved delivery
Escrow state is Approved
No active dispute
Release Flow
1. Escrow Is Ready for Release
Once buyer approval is recorded:
At this point:
funds are still locked,
no money has moved yet.
2. Platform Executes Release
Release is executed by the platform, acting under the Release Signer role.
This action:
is signed by the platform-controlled address,
follows the escrow’s predefined rules,
cannot be altered after execution.
3. On-Chain Enforcement
Funds are transferred:
directly from the escrow,
to the seller’s configured receiver address.
The marketplace does not intermediate this transfer.
Post-Conditions
Escrow state → Released
Order state → Closed
Funds are no longer locked
Transaction is final and auditable
Outputs
✅ Funds released to seller
✅ Escrow closed on-chain
✅ Order marked as completed
✅ On-chain transaction hash available
Security & Trust Notes
Buyers cannot trigger release directly
Sellers cannot self-release
Platform can only release after approval
Escrow rules cannot be bypassed
Educational Notes
Why Release Is Platform-Signed
Mirrors real marketplace behavior (customer support / ops)
Avoids requiring users to manage wallets or keys
Keeps UX simple while preserving trust guarantees
Trustless Work ensures:
the platform can only act within the rules encoded in the escrow.
Key Takeaway
Approval expresses intent. Release enforces value transfer.
Escrows ensure this separation is always respected.
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