Roles in Trustless Work
Let's understand what each role represents!
Anyone can deposit funds into an escrow. But only addresses with assigned roles can update milestones, approve work, release funds, or resolve disputes.
Escrow Roles and Their Actions
1. Service Provider
Purpose: Delivers the product, service, or outcome defined in the escrow. Can perform:
Change milestone status
Add evidence or proof of delivery
Raise a dispute
Examples:
Freelancer delivering work and marking it as done
Company updating crowdfunding milestones
Compliance team marking a “withdrawal check” milestone complete
2. Approver
Purpose: Validates that the milestone has indeed been completed and signs the approval. Can perform:
Sign the approval of a milestone
Raise a dispute if work is not satisfactory
Examples:
Buyer approving a freelancer’s deliverable
Host approving a checkout in a rental deposit
Platform approving milestones in a crowdfunding campaign
3. Release Signer
Purpose: Triggers the actual release of funds once approvals are in place. Can perform:
Release funds after all milestones are approved (Single-Release)
Release funds for each approved milestone (Multi-Release)
Can raise a dispute if there’s disagreement at release stage.
Examples:
Airbnb releasing a deposit to the host
DAO releasing a bounty payment to a contributor
4. Receiver (Final Recipient)
Purpose: The end destination of funds. Can perform:
Receive funds once release is triggered
Examples:
Freelancer wallet receiving payment
Company receiving milestone-based funding
Tourist receiving their deposit back
5. Dispute Resolver
Purpose: Steps in when parties disagree. Can perform:
Resolve disputes by redirecting funds
Examples:
Platform deciding how to split a disputed deposit
Arbitrator updating milestone pricing in a project
Escrow canceled and funds returned to buyer
6. Platform Address
Purpose: Represents the platform itself. Can perform:
Collect platform fees automatically
Update escrow details while escrow has not been funded
Examples:
Airbnb collecting service fees
Crowdfunding platform applying a percentage fee
Marketplace updating a milestone description before it’s funded
🧭 How Roles Interact
Service Provider marks milestones as complete
Approver validates or disputes them
Release Signer authorizes payout
Receiver gets funds
Platform Address takes its fee
If there’s a conflict, the Dispute Resolver steps in
📎 See it in action: Escrow Lifecycle
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