⚒️Escrow Design

We don’t hold your money—we hold the logic.

Every escrow on Trustless Work is just a structured contract: a set of keys and values that define who does what, when funds move, and under which conditions.

This page gives you the mental model for designing escrows before you ever touch code. The schema defines the shape of an escrow; you decide the logic.

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Escrow structure

An escrow is a JSON body with these core parts:

• Escrow ID: On-chain identifier of the contract. Deposit Address.

• Engagement ID & Title → configurable strongs, help identify the contract.

• Roles → who marks, approves, releases, resolves, and receives

• Description → why the escrow exists

• Milestones → what must be completed to unlock funds

• Amount & Fees → how much is locked, how much the platform earns

• Trustline → which asset is used (USDC, or any Stellar-issued token)

• Flags → state indicators (disputed, released, resolved)

Escrow Properties

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Two Escrow Types

Trustless Work supports two escrow types:

1. Single-Release Escrow Multiple milestones, one payout. Useful for deposits, one-off jobs, or simple deliveries.

2. Multi-Release Escrow Multiple milestones, multiple payouts (one per milestone). Perfect for projects, grants, or milestone-based funding.

Escrow Types

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Roles in Context

Every schema includes a roles object. Roles are:

• Approver → validates milestone completion.

• Service Provider → delivers work, provides status updates.

• Platform Address → can make chanes before escrow is funded. Optional: can earn fees (platform fee).

• Release Signer → executes fund release.

• Dispute Resolver → arbitrates when things go wrong, can re-route funds if dispute is raised.

• Receiver → final destination of funds

Roles in Trustless Work

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Lifecycle Integration

Schemas map directly into the escrow lifecycle:

1. Initiation → define schema

2. Funding → lock assets via trustline

3. Milestone updates → service provider adds progress

4. Approvals → approver signs off

5. Release → release signer triggers transfer

6. (Optional) Dispute & Resolution

Escrow Lifecycle

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🚀 Next Steps

• Define Escrow Properties

• Choose Your Escrow Type

• Assign Roles

• Follow the Lifecycle

Then: Test it in our dApp Integrate Trustless Work into your platform Try out our Vibe-Coding Guide Use our escrow-blocks

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