This section provides a list of the key tools you’ll need to effectively interact with Trustless Work, from setting up wallets to testing transactions. Whether you’re building on the testnet or deploying to production, these resources will get you started.

1. Wallets

To interact with Trustless Work and the Stellar blockchain, you’ll need a wallet for sending, receiving, and managing assets like USDC.

• Albedo Wallet A browser extension for secure key management and transactions. Get Albedo

• Freighter Wallet A Stellar wallet browser extension built for developers. Get Freighter

• Lobstr Wallet A user-friendly wallet for managing Stellar assets. Ideal for non-technical users. Get Lobstr

2. Testnet Faucets: Funding Development Accounts

Testing on the Trustless Work platform requires test XLM and USDC for transaction fees and escrow functionality.

• Stellar Testnet Faucet Get test XLM to cover transaction fees on the Stellar testnet.

• Circle USDC Testnet Faucet Receive testnet USDC to simulate real-world escrow scenarios.

Welcome to the story of Trustless Work—a journey fueled by innovation, collaboration, and a vision to redefine how escrows operate in the modern economy.

Our journey began with a problem: the inefficiencies and risks of traditional payment systems. From there, a passionate team came together to develop a groundbreaking solution that has already reached significant milestones and is poised to transform industries worldwide.

Discover Our Story

Our journey is divided into key chapters, each showcasing a crucial part of our evolution:

1. 🤔 The Problem: Learn about the challenges that inspired Trustless Work, rooted in firsthand experience with outdated payment models.

2. 👾 The Team Comes Together: Meet the passionate team of innovators who made this vision possible.

3. 💡 The Solution: Explore the foundation of Trustless Work—a smarter, faster, and trustless escrow solution.

4. 🏆 Key Milestones: Relive the pivotal moments, from hackathons to accelerator programs, that shaped our growth.

5. 🚀 Current Programs: Dive into the exciting initiatives and collaborations driving our current success.

6. 🛠️ Vertical Development: See how our technology is powering specialized solutions for industries like real estate, agriculture, and more.

7. 🌎 Spotlight: Kindify: Discover Kindify, a standout use case transforming social impact crowdfunding.

8. 🔮 Future Vision: Get a glimpse into where Trustless Work is headed and our aspirations for the future.

Start Exploring

Ready to dive deeper? Use the navigation below to follow our journey step by step or jump directly to the chapter that interests you the most!

At Trustless Work, we solve one of the most critical challenges in global payments: trust. By leveraging blockchain technology, we provide configurable, scalable, and transparent escrow infrastructure that eliminates costly intermediaries and complex processes, empowering platforms to build trustless payment flows with ease.

Our Vision

To drive the new economy forward by building a foundation of trust, scalability, and transparency in global payments.

Our Mission

To solve trust in global payments by providing configurable, scalable, and transparent escrow infrastructure and tools for the new economy.

Why Escrows Matter

At its core, an escrow is a neutral and secure way to hold funds while something else happens—whether it’s transferring a house, delivering a product, or completing a project.

In traditional payment systems, trust is built through:

• Costly Intermediaries: Banks, lawyers, or brokers.

• Complex Processes: Lengthy, manual procedures.

• Limited Transparency: Little visibility into where funds are and why delays occur.

These barriers slow innovation, increase costs, and limit accessibility for businesses and individuals alike.

How Trustless Work Changes the Game

We provide a new way to manage trust with blockchain-powered smart escrows. Our platform enables platforms and developers to:

• Configure escrow workflows for any use case.

• Scale payment processes with an API-first approach.

• Ensure transparency and fairness with blockchain technology.

By reducing the time, cost, and technical barriers traditionally associated with escrows, we enable businesses to focus on innovation while ensuring trust and security.

What We Offer

1. Escrow-as-a-Service Seamlessly integrate escrow workflows into any platform.

2. Developer-Friendly Tools API-first design, open-source templates, and testnet resources.

3. Diverse Applications Supporting industries from marketplaces to crowdfunding, real estate, and trade finance.

Next Steps

Learn more about how we’re building trust and innovation in payments:

• Our Vision and Mission: Dive deeper into our purpose.

• Our Journey So Far: Explore the milestones that shaped Trustless Work.

• Meet the Team: Get to know the people behind the platform.

In Construction :)

Understanding the core principles of Trustless Work is key to unlocking its full potential. This section explains what makes Trustless Work unique, how it works, and why it’s essential for modern digital economies.

What is Escrow?

Escrow is a neutral way to hold funds while specific conditions are met. Think of it as a secure envelope:

1. Funds are deposited: Money is placed in a trusted location.

2. Conditions are met: The agreed-upon tasks or milestones are achieved.

3. Funds are released: The money is sent to the intended recipient.

In traditional setups, escrow is managed by centralized entities like banks or lawyers. Trustless Work replaces these intermediaries with blockchain-powered smart contracts.

Why Use Blockchain for Escrows?

Traditional escrows come with inefficiencies, such as high fees, slow processing times, and limited transparency. Blockchain technology eliminates these challenges by offering:

• Decentralization: No single point of control or failure.

• Transparency: Every transaction is verifiable on the blockchain.

• Immutability: Smart contracts ensure funds are handled exactly as programmed.

Trustless Work builds on Stellar’s Soroban smart contract platform, combining the low costs and high speed of Stellar with the power of decentralized automation.

How Trustless Work Escrows Operate

1. Setup

• A smart escrow is configured using Trustless Work’s API.

• Key parameters include:

  • Amount: The value being held.

  • Roles: Learn more about roles here

  • Milestones: Rules for releasing funds.

2. Funding

• The payer deposits funds into the escrow.

• Funds are securely held on the blockchain, ensuring they cannot be tampered with.

3. Milestone Updates

• The service provider updates the escrow status.

4. Approval or Dispute

• The client approves the release of funds.

• In case of disputes, the escrow holds the funds until the issue is resolved by Dispute Resolver.

5. Release

• Once conditions are met, funds are released to the recipient.

• A small fee (0.3%) is deducted as a commission for Trustless Work.

• Extra Fee can be configured for the platform.

Key Features of Trustless Work Escrows

• Customizable: Configure escrows for a variety of use cases, from marketplaces to crowdfunding.

• Cost-Efficient: Leverage Stellar’s low transaction fees.

• API-First: Seamless integration into your platform using simple API calls.

• Open-Source Templates: Accelerate implementation with ready-to-use configurations.

Traditional vs. Trustless Escrows

Benefits of Trustless Work

• For Developers: Simplify payment workflows with an API-driven approach.

• For Businesses: Build trust and reduce fraud in transactions.

• For Innovators: Unlock new business models using blockchain escrows.

Next Steps

• Dive deeper in our Technolgy Overview.

• Explore API Reference to see how to implement these concepts in your platform.

• Learn about Use Cases.

At Trustless Work, we believe trust is the foundation of all financial transactions. Our vision and mission drive everything we do, empowering platforms, developers, and businesses to innovate without boundaries.

Our Vision

To drive the new economy forward by building a foundation of trust, scalability, and transparency in global payments.

We envision a world where financial transactions:

• Are secure and transparent by default.

• Eliminate the need for costly intermediaries.

• Empower businesses of all sizes to scale globally.

Through our platform, trust is no longer a barrier—it’s embedded into the system itself.

Our Mission

To solve trust in global payments by providing configurable, scalable, and transparent escrow infrastructure and tools for the new economy.

How We Fulfill This Mission:

1. Configurable Solutions Allow businesses to tailor escrow workflows to their unique needs, from milestones to multi-party agreements.

2. Scalable Infrastructure Support high transaction volumes and diverse industries, enabling seamless growth.

3. Transparent Tools Leverage blockchain technology to ensure visibility and fairness in every transaction.

Why It Matters

Escrows address one of the most critical challenges in payments: trust.

• In traditional systems, trust is built through intermediaries—banks, lawyers, and brokers—resulting in high costs, delays, and limited accessibility.

• These barriers slow down innovation, increase costs, and limit opportunities for businesses and individuals.

Trustless Work eliminates these inefficiencies, fostering trust through:

• Blockchain-Powered Automation: Escrows managed by smart contracts.

• API-Driven Simplicity: Easy integration for developers and businesses.

• Global Accessibility: Bringing secure transactions to everyone, everywhere.

Our Commitment

We are dedicated to empowering platforms and developers to unlock the full potential of blockchain without requiring deep technical expertise. By enabling trustless transactions across industries, we:

• Simplify payment logic.

• Reduce costs and time delays.

• Open new avenues for innovation.

Together, we’re building a trustless future where businesses thrive and transactions are effortless.

What’s Next?

Explore how we bring this vision to life:

• Our Journey So Far: Discover the milestones that shaped us.

• How It Works: Dive into the mechanics of smart escrows.

Getting Started with Trustless Work

Welcome to the future of secure, trustless transactions! This guide will help you start using Trustless Work, whether you’re a developer integrating our API or a business seeking to scale with blockchain-powered escrows.

1. Understand the Basics

Before diving into the technical details, take a moment to understand how Trustless Work can revolutionize your payment workflows:

• What is Trustless Work? A blockchain-based Escrow-as-a-Service platform that secures payments and ensures transparency for all parties involved.

• Why Use Trustless Work? Save time, reduce costs, and eliminate reliance on intermediaries.

Learn more about how it works.

2. Quick Start for Developers

Get started with Trustless Work’s API in just a few steps:

Step 1: Sign Up

• Create your account at Trustless Work to access your API key.

• Choose between testnet for experimentation or mainnet for production use.

Step 2: Set Up Your Environment

• Familiarize yourself with API Documentation.

• Use the SDKs or sample code provided in your preferred language.

Step 3: Create Your First Escrow

• Initiate a smart escrow contract with minimal setup.

Step 4: Test and Iterate

• Use our testnet environment to experiment safely.

• Debug using the detailed responses and error codes in our API Reference.

3. Quick Start for Businesses

Integrating Trustless Work into your platform is simple:

Step 1: Define Your Use Case

Identify where escrows can add value to your platform:

• Marketplaces: Secure buyer-seller transactions.

• Crowdfunding: Protect funds until milestones are met.

• Real Estate: Simplify deposit management.

Explore Use Cases for inspiration.

Step 2: Integrate the API

• Work with your development team to integrate Trustless Work’s API.

• Use our open-source templates for faster implementation.

Step 3: Contact Us

• Speak with our team to if you require a tailored integration plan.

• Schedule a demo or consultation: Get in Touch.

4. Resources and Support

• FAQs: Got questions? Find answers in our FAQ Section.

• Support: Need help? Contact us via Support.

Next Steps

• Developers: Explore the API Reference to build your integration.

• Businesses: Visit Use Cases to see how others are using Trustless Work.

• Join Our Community: Participate in hackathons and contribute to open-source projects.

Every great innovation starts with a problem. For Trustless Work, it began with firsthand experience in the inefficiencies of traditional contracting and payment systems.

A Firsthand Encounter with the Problem

👨‍💻Personal Experience in Product Agency

Alberto, the founder of Trustless Work, encountered these challenges while running a digital product agency. The pain points were clear: traditional payment models were unreliable, inefficient, and costly.

🔄Client & Service Provider Dual Role

Acting as both a client for Argentine development teams and a service provider for U.S.-based clients revealed a flawed system, including:

• ⏳Payment Delays: Long waiting periods created cash flow crunches.

• 💰Upfront Costs: High initial payments were risky for clients and service providers alike.

• ⚙️Inefficient Models: The typical payment structure—50% upfront and 50% upon delivery—left both sides vulnerable.

🌎Validation of the Problem

Alberto’s insights were validated while engaging with other agencies during a pop-up city in Buenos Aires. It became evident that these challenges weren’t unique—they were systemic.

The Need for a Solution

The inefficiencies of traditional systems inspired the idea of a better approach:

• 🤝A payment model that minimizes risk for all parties involved.

• ⚡Automation to eliminate delays and reduce manual intervention.

• 🔍Transparency to foster trust between clients and providers.

What’s Next?

Alberto now had a great problem to solve—he just needed a team crazy enough to believe in the vision and help make it real!

Welcome to Trustless Work Documentation!

Trustless Work is an Escrow-as-a-Service platform designed to secure transactions with transparency, efficiency, and scalability. Whether you’re a developer looking to integrate blockchain-powered escrows, a platform aiming to build user trust, or an innovator seeking new financial solutions, you’re in the right place.

Why Trustless Work?

• Smart Contracts and Blockchain Say goodbye to traditional inefficiencies. We provide a trustless solution powered by Stellar and Soroban, eliminating the need for centralized intermediaries like banks or lawyers.

• Transparent and Secure Every transaction is secure, tamper-proof, and auditable.

• Built for Growth Platforms can scale without the complexities of managing payment flows or disputes.

Who Is This Documentation For?

• Developers Get up and running with our API to integrate smart escrows into your platform.

• Marketplaces and Platforms Secure transactions with ease while enhancing user trust and satisfaction.

• Innovators Build the future of finance with blockchain-powered escrows.

How to Navigate This Documentation

We’ve organized everything you need into clear sections tailored to your role:

1. Getting Started A quick-start guide to help you onboard with Trustless Work. Perfect for developers and businesses looking to explore the platform.

2. API Reference Complete technical documentation for developers, including endpoints, code examples, and troubleshooting tips.

3. Use Cases Discover how Trustless Work transforms industries, from marketplaces to crowdfunding.

4. Technology Overview Dive into the technical architecture, featuring Stellar, Soroban, and smart escrows.

5. Community and Roadmap Join our growing ecosystem, explore our open-source projects, and see where we’re headed next.

Next Steps

• Get Started: Quick Start Guide Begin integrating Trustless Work today.

• Learn More: About Trustless Work Explore our mission, vision, and journey so far.

• Contact Us: Support Need help? Reach out to our team for assistance.

Great ideas need great teams. For Trustless Work, everything began to align when a vibrant community and a shared vision brought the right people together.

⛩️ Dojo Coding

Alberto joined Dojo Coding, a dynamic and vibrant community of web3 developers from Latin America. Focused on open-source innovation, collaboration, and solving meaningful problems with blockchain technology, Dojo Coding plays a pivotal role in fostering talent and building impactful projects.

🌟 A Two-Way Partnership Dojo Coding continues to be a cornerstone for Trustless Work’s development efforts, while Trustless Work contributes back to the community by engaging developers, sharing insights, and strengthening the broader web3 ecosystem.

The Core Team Assembles

Within Dojo Coding, Joel reached out to Alberto, eager to team up for something meaningful: ✉️ Joel’s Message

• “Hey, we’re forming a team, and we’re looking for a product idea. Want to collaborate?”

• “Yeah, sure.” 😎

Meet our founding team! 🥳

Alberto Chaves Armando Zuñiga Joel Vargas Caleb Loría

The First Call

On our first call, Alberto pitched the initial idea for Trustless Work and shared an exciting opportunity: the application for the Astro Hacker House program by Draper University. The team immediately recognized the potential and decided to target this program as their first milestone.

🎯 A Shared Goal From the beginning, their focus was clear: build a solution that could get into Astro Hacker House, refine the idea, and set the foundation for something transformative.

The Beginning of a Shared Vision

With a clear problem to solve and a team aligned on the mission, Trustless Work began to take shape. This was no longer just an idea—it was a collaboration fueled by a shared belief in the power of blockchain to simplify and secure payments. LFG! 🚀

With a great problem identified and a motivated team in place, it was time to explore the solution. Alberto presented his research and findings, laying the foundation for what would become Trustless Work.

The Core Idea

Escrows have long been a trusted mechanism for securing payments, but traditional systems are inefficient, costly, and inaccessible for smaller contracts.

💡 The Insight Trustless Work introduces decentralized escrow contracts—an agile, blockchain-based solution that ensures transparency, security, and fairness for all parties involved.

Escrow Benefits

Using Escrows to Mitigate Risks

• Guarantees payment for service providers.

• Protects clients from incomplete or subpar work.

• Builds trust in transactions by holding funds securely until conditions are met.

Traditional Escrow Limitations

Conventional escrow systems come with significant drawbacks:

• 🏦 Reliance on Banks and Lawyers: Intermediaries introduce high costs and delays.

• 💸 High Fees: Escrow services are often prohibitively expensive for smaller transactions.

• ⏳ Slow Processing: Settlement times can stretch into days or weeks.

Examples of Escrows in Action

Escrow solutions are already solving critical problems in established platforms:

• 🛒 eBay: Escrow mitigates risks between buyers and sellers in e-commerce.

• 💼 Upwork: Escrow protects freelancers and clients in service-based transactions.

Trustless Work builds on this proven concept but leverages blockchain to eliminate the need for centralized intermediaries.

A Focused Approach

Our team recognized that milestone-based payments would be the best starting point, especially for clients and service providers. This targeted solution provided a clear path to:

• Demonstrate feasibility.

• Showcase the potential of blockchain-powered escrows.

• Develop a scalable product.

🎯 The Result This focus on milestone-based payments and a clear value proposition helped us secure a spot in the Astro Hacker House program, where our journey truly began.

The next major milestone was the launch of our API V1, an essential step in validating our technology and gathering feedback from developers.

🎯 Our Plan We sponsored the ETH Pura Vida hackathon and allocated 10% of the DraperU grant to organize and support the event.

Hackathon Highlights:

• 📋 Participation:

  • 55 Developers Registered, with 35 actively participating across 8 teams.

• 💡 Diverse Projects: Developers built innovative solutions using our API, including:

  • House rentals with automated escrows

  • Agricultural financing

  • Privacy-focused payment systems

  • Revenue-sharing for ridesharing apps like Uber

• 🌱 Community Growth:

  • Created a Telegram group with over 30 members, fostering ongoing collaboration.

  • Received invaluable feedback on our codebase, documentation, and overall vision.

• 🤝 Customer Leads: Connected with potential reference customers interested in integrating Trustless Work into their platforms.

Every journey has pivotal moments that shape its future. Explore the key milestones in Trustless Work’s evolution:

1. 🌌 DraperU Stellar Astro Hacker House

   • A three-week accelerator program that validated our solution and shaped our focus on an API-first approach.

   • Learn More

2. ⚙️ Launching the API V1 at ETH Pura Vida Hackathon

   • Our first API release, tested and validated by developers during an Ethereum hackathon.

   • Learn more

This three-week program was a game-changer for us. Held at Draper University in San Mateo, it brought together 30 startups and provided us with a $20,000 grant to further develop our vision.

What Made It Special?

• 🚀 Validation from Entrepreneurs: Many fellow founders expressed interest in integrating our escrow solution into their platforms, confirming its market potential.

• 🔍 Diverse Use Cases: We identified various applications for escrows across industries, including:

  • Freelancer services

  • Influencer platforms

  • Marketplace transactions

• 📈 A Strategic Focus Shift: Encouraged by feedback from luminaries like Tim Draper and Denelle Dixon (Stellar), we pivoted to an API-first solution—positioning Trustless Work as an Escrow-as-a-Service provider.

Trustless Work was accepted into the Draper/Stellar Embark Program, marking a significant milestone in our journey. This 10-week program connected us with Draper University and Stellar Ventures, making them our first investors.

Program Highlights:

• 🌍 10 Startups from Around the World: Joined a global cohort of innovators.

• 📈 Focus on Growth: The program enabled us to refine our product strategy, improve our go-to-market plan, and scale further.

• 🎓 Access to Mentorship: Gained insights from experienced VCs and founders to prepare for an eventual fundraise.

• 📅 Demo Day to Investors: The program concludes with a public demo day, offering exposure to a network of investors.

Trustless Work is actively participating in programs and campaigns that fuel our growth, enhance our product, and build a strong developer community.

1. 🌟 Draper Embark Program

   • A 10-week accelerator helping us refine our product strategy and connect with investors.

   • Learn more

2. 💻 OD Hack Campaigns

   • Open-source developer engagement that has significantly contributed to our product maturity.

   • Learn more

Trustless Work is pioneering a whole new category of escrows, unlocking opportunities for innovative use cases across diverse industries. The potential is immense, and we’re supporting builders to turn their visions into scalable verticals—each targeting massive markets independently.

Evolving Hackathon Projects into Verticals

We believe in the power of builders to transform ideas into impact. While anyone can build on Trustless Work without needing permission, we offer support in product development, business models, and scaling for those who align with our vision.

From hackathon concepts to fully-fledged verticals, here’s how some of our initial projects are taking shape:

1. Security Deposit Vertical 🏨

• Origin: Initially focused on house rentals.

• Evolution: Pivoted to offer security deposit solutions for broader applications, including:

  • Hotels

  • Car rentals

  • Directories requiring secure payment interactions.

2. Crowdfunding Vertical 🌱

• Origin: Collaboration between Kindify and Revolutionary Farmers.

• Solution: An escrow-based crowdfunding mechanism allowing multiple funders to contribute.

  • Flexible Fund Release Options: By milestone or as a lump sum.

  • Applications: Social impact projects, agricultural financing, and community-driven initiatives.

3. Future Verticals 🌍

• Trade Finance: With Costa Rica’s recent invitation to join the CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership), new opportunities are emerging to integrate escrows into international trade finance.

  • Why It Matters: Escrows can streamline payments across member countries with diverse currencies, reducing friction and boosting trust in global trade.

• Marketplaces: This vertical is in development, with promising potential to create secure payment solutions for e-commerce and platform-based economies.

A Strategic Approach to Vertical Development

Each vertical is positioned as an independent product capable of:

• Pursuing its own funding through grants or investments.

• Leveraging Trustless Work’s infrastructure as the backbone for secure, transparent transactions.

• Targeting massive markets with scalable solutions.

We’re fostering a future where builders can capitalize on the stablecoin wave and leverage Trustless Work to create entirely new markets for escrow technology.

Your Opportunity to Build 🚀

• Permissionless Development: Anyone can build on Trustless Work without needing approval.

• Support for Builders: For those looking to scale their ideas, we offer resources, guidance, and a collaborative network to help you succeed.

Join us in shaping the future of escrow technology—one vertical at a time.

At Trustless Work, we’re not just building a product—we’re creating the foundation for a global, trustless ecosystem. Our vision is to redefine how payments are managed, risks are mitigated, and trust is established in the modern economy.

Scaling the Escrow Ecosystem 🌍

We aim to make Trustless Work an integral part of how businesses handle payments by:

• 🔗 Open-Source Tools: Continuing to expand and refine our developer-friendly, open-source tools.

• ⚙️ Modular Solutions: Offering flexible APIs and templates for seamless integration across platforms.

• 📈 Accessibility: Scaling to support transactions of all sizes, from micro-payments to enterprise-level deals.

Expanding Use Cases with Partners 🤝

While marketplaces and freelancing platforms were our starting point, the future holds immense opportunities in diverse industries:

• 🏠 Real Estate: Escrows for property sales, rental agreements, and security deposits.

• 🌾 Agriculture: Transparent financing mechanisms for farmers and cooperatives.

• 💳 Fintech: Integrating blockchain escrows into payment gateways and banking solutions.

• 📦 E-commerce: Revolutionizing buyer-seller protections with transparent, automated escrows.

Through partnerships, we’re unlocking the potential for Trustless Work to support and transform industries that rely on secure transactions.

Building a Trustless Ecosystem 🛠️

Our ultimate goal is to empower platforms with:

• 💡 Transparency: Eliminating black-box systems and ensuring all transactions are visible and verifiable.

• 🛡️ Security: Leveraging blockchain to provide tamper-proof, decentralized solutions.

• ✨ Simplicity: Abstracting blockchain complexities, enabling anyone—developer or not—to build on Trustless Work with ease.

Looking Ahead 🚀

The future of Trustless Work lies in:

• Network Effects: Growing a community of developers, partners, and users who contribute to and benefit from the ecosystem.

• Decentralized Governance: Transitioning to a DAO structure to ensure scalability, inclusivity, and resilience.

• Continuous Innovation: Pioneering new technologies and use cases to stay at the forefront of escrow innovation.

Join us in shaping the future—one transparent, secure transaction at a time.

Trustless Work provides an Escrow-as-a-Service (EaaS) platform that makes building Smart Escrows as simple and accessible as possible. By leveraging open-source tools and a developer-friendly API, we remove the barriers traditionally associated with escrows—making them secure, transparent, and easy to integrate.

How It All Works Together 🏗️

The diagram above illustrates the architecture of Trustless Work, showing how each component interacts to make Smart Escrows possible.

• Trustless Work API provides an interface for developers and platforms to easily configure, fund, and manage escrows, all without having to handle blockchain complexities. With simple API calls, integration becomes intuitive and hassle-free.

• Open-Source Escrow Smart Contracts form the trustless foundation of our system. Deployed on Soroban, Stellar’s smart contract platform, these contracts ensure that funds are securely managed and only released once conditions are met—offering transparency and tamper-proof execution.

• Open-Source Templates & Developer Tools are designed to assist developers in integrating Smart Escrows quickly. These templates are customizable, helping you transform your vision into functionality without the friction of building everything from scratch.

Together, these components allow developers to focus on building great products without the worry of complex payment flows or third-party dependencies.

Trustless Work API 🔌

Our Trustless Work API is designed to make integrating Smart Escrows into your platform as seamless as possible. You can use the API to:

• Initialize, Fund, and Manage Escrows: Easily set up an escrow contract, define conditions, manage its state, and approve fund releases—all in a developer-friendly way.

• Abstract Blockchain Complexity: Interact with our smart contracts without needing to know the intricacies of blockchain technology.

➡️ Learn more: Smart Escrow API

Open-Source Escrow Smart Contracts 🔗

At the core of Trustless Work are open-source escrow smart contracts that are secure, trustless, and deployed on Soroban. These smart contracts:

• Hold and Release Funds: Ensure that funds are securely held until all predefined conditions are met.

• Offer Transparency: Being open-source means anyone can audit the contracts, providing complete transparency to all participants.

➡️ Learn more: Open-Source Escrow Smart Contracts

Open-Source Templates & Developer Tools 📂

To make integration even easier, we provide open-source templates and developer tools. These templates help developers quickly implement:

• Common Escrow Workflows: From milestone payments to security deposits and crowdfunding, these templates offer easy-to-adapt solutions.

• Customizable Features: Modify templates to fit your unique needs and seamlessly integrate Smart Escrows into your applications.

➡️ Learn more: Open-Source Templates & Developer Tools

With Trustless Work, integrating trustless escrow solutions has never been easier. Dive in and start building today!

The was a significant success, bringing new contributors and advancing our product.

What is OnlyDust? 🌐

OnlyDust is a platform that connects open-source contributors with projects in need of development. It fosters collaboration within the web3 ecosystem by providing funding, mentorship, and tools for decentralized teams.

Why It Matters:

• OnlyDust empowers developers to work on impactful blockchain projects like Trustless Work.

• Through hackathons and campaigns, it helps projects scale while nurturing a thriving developer community.

Key Achievements:

• 🤝 First Contributors: Onboarded developers who contributed to our Smart Contracts and Escrow UI, laying a solid foundation for future iterations.

• 🛠️ Integration by Other Teams: Four teams using Trustless Work’s API also benefited from contributors and funding, helping them grow alongside us.

• 📋 Issue Assignments: A total of 58 issues (across Trustless Work and related projects) were completed, showcasing strong developer engagement.

Escrow UI Development: During OD Hack #10, we built the first version of our Escrow UI—a form-based interface enabling developers to:

• Fill in escrow details.

• Visualize how contracts are created.

Looking Ahead to OD Hack #11:

• 🛠️ Developer Mode: Introducing a new feature allowing developers to see how API requests are constructed as they interact with the UI.

• 📈 Simplifying Integration: This enhancement will make it easier for developers to implement our solutions in real-world use cases.

At Trustless Work, our team is dedicated to building a secure, scalable, and transparent payment infrastructure for the new economy. With a shared vision and diverse expertise, we’re paving the way for trustless transactions across industries.

Core Team

Tech Rebel

Role: Product Manager

• GitHub:

• Telegram:

Joel Vargas

Role: Frontend Developer

• GitHub:

• Telegram:

Armando Murillo

Role: Full Stack Developer

• GitHub:

• Telegram:

Caleb Loría

Role: Smart Contract Developer

Contact Us

Have questions or ideas? Connect with us:

What Drives Us

Our team combines technical expertise with a shared passion for solving trust challenges in global payments. We work tirelessly to deliver configurable, scalable, and transparent solutions for platforms worldwide.

Get In Touch

The Trustless Work API is a developer-friendly interface that enables you to integrate escrow functionalities seamlessly into your platform. Whether you're building a marketplace, a SaaS product, or any platform that requires trust in transactions, the API offers everything you need to easily manage the lifecycle of an escrow.

Core Functions of the API

Initialize Escrows 🏁

• Kickstart a new escrow by specifying key parameters such as amount, recipient, and conditions.

• The API handles the creation of a unique escrow smart contract, eliminating the need for manual blockchain interactions.

Fund and Manage Escrows 💰

• Fund Escrows: Deposit funds into the escrow securely—whether it's USDC or another asset supported by the Stellar Network.

• Manage Conditions: Define conditions and milestones to align with your project requirements. The API lets you monitor and update these as needed.

Approve and Release Funds ✔️

• Once the conditions are met, use the API to approve fund release. The open-source smart contracts ensure funds are released only when both parties fulfill their obligations.

• By making approvals programmatic, the Trustless Work API helps automate workflows, reducing the need for manual checks and verifications.

Track Escrow Status 📊

• Stay up to date with the escrow's status at every step. From initiation to completion, the API lets you retrieve information about the escrow state, milestones, and remaining conditions in real-time.

How It Simplifies Escrow Integration

• Abstracts Blockchain Complexity: No need to be a blockchain expert. The Trustless Work API makes interacting with smart contracts as easy as a standard API call—no need for specialized blockchain engineers or understanding complicated crypto processes.

• Secure and Transparent: The API integrates directly with open-source escrow smart contracts, deployed on the Stellar blockchain, ensuring that funds are managed securely and that every transaction is transparent and traceable.

• Seamless User Experience: You can configure the conditions, roles, and actions for an escrow without needing to touch any of the underlying blockchain logic. The Trustless Work API manages everything for you, allowing you to focus on building your platform’s unique features.

When to Use the Trustless Work API

• Marketplaces and Platforms: Ensure buyer and seller trust with secure milestone payments.

• Freelance Platforms: Protect clients and freelancers by releasing funds only upon verified completion.

• Rental and Security Deposits: Hold deposits safely until conditions are met, such as returning a rental item or completing an inspection.

• Crowdfunding Campaigns: Ensure contributors' funds are only used once milestones are achieved, providing trust and transparency for backers.

Technical Reference 📑

Ready to explore more? Visit our API Reference for technical details, and begin integrating trustless escrow solutions today!

Trustless Work is dedicated to making Smart Escrows accessible for all platforms and developers. To achieve this, we provide open-source templates and developer tools that streamline the integration of escrows—helping you go from concept to implementation without unnecessary complexity.

What Are Open-Source Templates & Developer Tools?

Our open-source templates are ready-made solutions that allow developers to quickly implement escrow workflows. These templates cover a variety of common use cases, enabling teams to integrate Smart Escrows with minimal effort, while still retaining the flexibility to customize as needed.

The developer tools further enhance this process by providing a suite of resources that make it easy to integrate, test, and deploy Smart Escrows effectively.

Key Features

1. Ready-Made Escrow Workflows 🏗️

   • Templates are provided for milestone payments, rental security deposits, crowdfunding, and more.

   • Each template comes with pre-configured settings, allowing you to understand how Smart Escrows can work in your scenario and quickly adapt the code to fit your platform.

2. Speed and Efficiency 🚀

   • Fast Implementation: The templates are designed to be as plug-and-play as possible, allowing you to get started with Smart Escrows without writing complex smart contract logic yourself.

   • Pre-Built Workflows: Each template includes the necessary business logic for the escrow flow, meaning less time spent on development and more time focusing on your unique value proposition.

3. Customizable and Adaptable ⚙️

   • While our templates provide out-of-the-box workflows, they are also highly customizable. You can easily adjust conditions, roles, and milestones to better fit your platform’s needs.

   • By being open-source, developers can modify these templates however they wish—adapting the workflows to match specific business logic or unique requirements.

How Templates & Tools Fit Into Trustless Work's Ecosystem

• Integrate with the Trustless Work API: All templates are designed to work seamlessly with the Trustless Work API, enabling you to set up, fund, and manage escrows with ease.

• Utilize Smart Contracts: Templates leverage our open-source smart contracts on Soroban, ensuring that all escrow activities are transparent, secure, and executed in a trustless manner.

• For Developers of All Levels: Whether you're new to blockchain or an experienced developer, these tools abstract away the blockchain complexities, allowing you to focus on integrating features that create value for your users.

Examples of Open-Source Templates

1. Milestone-Based Payments: A template designed for freelancer and project-based platforms, allowing you to hold funds and release them upon milestone completions.

2. Security Deposit Escrows: Ideal for rental platforms, this template allows for secure holding of deposits, ensuring that funds are only released when both parties agree.

3. Crowdfunding Campaigns: A template for managing funds raised in crowdfunding, holding contributions securely until funding goals are met or milestones are reached.

These templates reduce integration friction, enabling developers to take advantage of Smart Escrows without having to build the entire logic from scratch.

Kindify is one of the standout projects emerging from Trustless Work, demonstrating the transformative potential of blockchain-powered escrows. Focused on social aid and impact, Kindify is building a crowdfunding platform designed to connect funders with projects that make a difference.

The Vision Behind Kindify

Kindify seeks to revolutionize how aid and social impact projects are funded by offering:

• 🛠️ Transparency: Leveraging Trustless Work’s escrow technology to ensure every contribution is securely held and released only when milestones are met.

• 🌱 Inclusivity: Providing an accessible platform for small and large-scale projects alike.

• 💡 Flexibility: Supporting both milestone-based and lump-sum fund releases.

Building Momentum

💼 A Pitch That Resonated Alberto successfully pitched Kindify to representatives from USAID and other government programs, garnering strong interest in the platform’s ability to ensure accountability and transparency in funding.

🌐 Expanding Networks Outreach to foundations and NGOs in Costa Rica has begun to:

• Understand the unique challenges these organizations face in securing and managing funding.

• Explore how Kindify can address these pain points and serve as an exemplary application of Trustless Work’s infrastructure.

Why Kindify Matters

Kindify is not just a product—it’s a proof of concept for how blockchain technology can enable social good. By leveraging Trustless Work, Kindify demonstrates how secure and transparent escrows can empower:

• Donors: Ensuring their contributions are used as intended.

• Project Leaders: Providing a trusted platform to attract more funding.

• Communities: Driving impact through trust and accountability.

A Bright Future

Kindify is poised to become a flagship example of what’s possible with Trustless Work, paving the way for more social impact projects to embrace blockchain-powered escrows.

Whether you’re a foundation, an NGO, or an individual looking to fund meaningful initiatives, Kindify represents the next evolution in trust-based crowdfunding.

Trustless Work is powered by the Stellar blockchain and its innovative Soroban smart contract platform. Together, these technologies form the foundation for secure, scalable, and trustless escrow transactions.

Why Stellar? 🚀

Stellar is a powerful blockchain specifically designed for financial transactions. It enables fast, low-cost transfers of digital assets, which is crucial for ensuring our escrows are efficient and accessible to everyone.

1. Low Fees and Fast Transactions ⚡

• Speed: Transactions on Stellar are confirmed within seconds, meaning no more waiting for days like with traditional banking or slower blockchains.

• Low Costs: The transaction fees on Stellar are a tiny fraction of a cent, allowing escrows to operate economically, even for smaller-value transactions. This is a game-changer compared to the often high fees of traditional escrow solutions.

2. Stable and Scalable 🏗️

• Designed for Financial Use: Stellar was built with the financial sector in mind, providing stability for payments and transactions. This is a perfect fit for escrow services, where stability is key.

• Global Network: With Stellar, we can provide cross-border escrows with minimal fees, allowing businesses, freelancers, and marketplaces to interact globally without incurring high costs.

Introducing Soroban: Stellar’s Smart Contract Platform 💡

Soroban is Stellar’s smart contract platform, designed to bring programmable logic to the blockchain, allowing developers to create advanced, trustless applications.

1. Modern, Secure Smart Contracts 🔗

• Built with Rust: Soroban smart contracts are written in Rust, a language known for its security and performance. This ensures that Trustless Work is secure, efficient, and scalable—crucial for handling financial transactions.

• Decentralized Trust: By using Soroban, Trustless Work offers a decentralized, tamper-proof solution for managing funds. Funds are released only when conditions coded in the smart contract are met—removing the need for a trusted third party.

2. Flexibility & Programmability 🛠️

• Customizable Contracts: Soroban allows us to create custom smart contracts that fit a wide variety of use cases—from milestone-based payments for freelancers to complex multi-party transactions.

• Scalable Logic: The smart contracts on Soroban enable complex operations without compromising on speed or reliability, making it possible for Trustless Work to handle high volumes of transactions smoothly.

How Stellar and Soroban Power Trustless Work 🌐

• Escrow Transactions: All escrows on Trustless Work are secured by Soroban smart contracts, deployed on the Stellar blockchain. This combination ensures that funds are securely held and released transparently.

• Seamless Integration: The Trustless Work API abstracts the interaction with Soroban smart contracts, allowing developers to use escrow functionalities without dealing with blockchain complexities.

• Global Accessibility: By leveraging Stellar’s network, Trustless Work can provide global escrow services with low fees and instant settlement, making it an ideal choice for international transactions.

At Trustless Work, we use USDC to provide a secure and stable medium of exchange for all escrow transactions. USDC is a USD-backed stablecoin that ensures your funds are safe, predictable, and easy to transact with, providing a reliable bridge between traditional finance and blockchain technology.

Why USDC?

Stability and Reliability 📊

• Pegged to the U.S. Dollar: USDC is a stablecoin backed by reserves of U.S. dollars. This means that for every USDC in circulation, there is a corresponding dollar held in reserve, ensuring that the value of USDC remains stable and predictable.

• Ideal for Escrows: Stability is crucial when dealing with escrow transactions, as it ensures that the value of the funds held in escrow does not fluctuate unexpectedly, providing peace of mind for both parties.

Instant, Low-Cost Transactions ⚡

• Built on Stellar: Our escrows use USDC on the Stellar blockchain, which means low transaction fees and fast settlement times. Traditional financial rails can be slow and expensive—USDC on Stellar provides a scalable solution to process payments in seconds with minimal cost.

• No Banking Delays: Unlike traditional bank transfers, USDC transactions are completed in seconds, without the delays associated with banking hours, cross-border restrictions, or manual intervention.

Global Accessibility 🌍

• Borderless Payments: With USDC, you can participate in transactions globally, without the need to convert currencies or deal with high international fees. This makes Trustless Work a perfect solution for freelancers, businesses, and marketplaces operating across borders.

• Supports Emerging Markets: By using USDC, we enable participation from countries where access to stable banking may be limited. This inclusion provides new opportunities for businesses and individuals worldwide.

How USDC Fits into Trustless Work's Ecosystem 🔄

• Escrow Creation: When escrows are created through Trustless Work, funds are securely held in USDC. This ensures that the value remains stable throughout the escrow lifecycle, eliminating the risks of currency fluctuations.

• Fund Management and Release: When milestones are met or contract terms are fulfilled, USDC is used to release the funds, offering a transparent and traceable settlement process on the blockchain.

• Partner Integrations: Our Stellar Partner Network makes it easy to convert USDC to fiat or use it directly for payments. The flexibility of USDC allows you to either use it for future blockchain transactions or convert it to your local currency when needed.

Key Benefits of Using USDC in Escrows

• Security: Funds are fully backed and auditable, ensuring complete security.

• Fast Settlement: No delays, no waiting—instant payments.

• No Volatility: Unlike cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, USDC is designed to maintain a stable value, making it ideal for contractual payments.

Trustless Work and USDC together provide a stable, efficient, and secure escrow solution for the digital economy. Start building today!

Trustless Work provides a flexible Escrow-as-a-Service platform that can be applied across many different use cases. Our Smart Escrow Technology is adaptable, with configurations and fund flows that can be adjusted to fit the needs of different industries and applications.

Explore the Possibilities 🚀

We’re currently exploring a range of exciting use cases that can benefit from Smart Escrows:

• Security Deposits 🏠: Ideal for rental platforms—securely hold deposits until all parties agree conditions are met.

• Marketplaces 🛒: Protect buyers and sellers by holding funds until delivery is confirmed.

• Crowdfunding 🤝: Hold contributions securely, releasing them only when funding milestones are achieved.

• Revenue Share 💸: Automate the distribution of revenue among multiple stakeholders based on predefined conditions.

• Trade Finance 🌐: Facilitate cross-border transactions, holding funds securely until delivery conditions are fulfilled.

These use cases just scratch the surface of what’s possible with Trustless Work. Our technology is built to be adaptable, making it suitable for any scenario where trust, security, and transparent fund management are required.

Interested in Exploring More? 🤔

Have an idea for how Smart Escrows could work for your industry? We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to apply Trustless Work's technology. Whether you have a use case in mind or need support in figuring out how to leverage escrows for your platform—we’d love to hear from you!

➡️ Reach out to us and let’s build something amazing together.

Trustless Work is built on a foundation of open-source escrow smart contracts, providing a trustless, transparent, and programmable backbone for handling funds. These contracts are deployed on Soroban, Stellar's smart contract platform, and are designed to ensure that escrows are executed securely, fairly, and without intermediaries.

What Are Open-Source Escrow Smart Contracts?

Escrow Smart Contracts are programmable agreements that securely manage and release funds based on predefined conditions. They replace the traditional need for an intermediary, like a bank or lawyer, by embedding all terms directly in code.

Key Features

1. Trustless Transactions 🌐

   • The smart contracts manage funds autonomously. There is no need for human involvement once an escrow is set up—the contract ensures that all conditions are met before releasing funds.

   • This trustless nature removes third-party dependencies, reducing costs and the potential for errors or conflicts.

2. Transparency and Security 🔒

   • As open-source contracts, they are fully auditable by anyone. Participants can review every line of code to understand exactly how their funds will be handled.

   • Deployed on Soroban (Stellar's blockchain for smart contracts), they benefit from blockchain's inherent security—making them tamper-proof and resistant to unauthorized changes.

3. Flexible and Programmable Conditions ⚙️

   • The contracts can be configured to suit a wide variety of use cases. Conditions such as milestone completions, multi-party sign-offs, or specific timelines can all be encoded in the smart contracts.

   • Whether it’s milestone payments for freelancers, security deposits for rentals, or crowdfunding releases, our smart contracts provide flexible automation to fit your needs.

Benefits of Using Our Smart Contracts

• No Intermediaries Required: Traditional escrows depend on trusted third parties, which come with delays and fees. Our smart contracts act as the neutral party, eliminating the costs and delays associated with human involvement.

• Global and Accessible: Leveraging the Stellar Network, our escrow contracts support fast and low-cost transactions in assets like USDC, making them accessible across borders with minimal fees compared to traditional systems.

• Fully Open Source: By being open-source, developers and users can review and contribute to the code. This fosters community trust and allows for continuous improvements by developers worldwide.

How They Fit Into Trustless Work's Ecosystem

• Trustless Work API Integration: The Trustless Work API interacts directly with these smart contracts, abstracting away blockchain complexities and allowing developers to integrate escrows without needing deep blockchain knowledge.

• Open-Source Templates: To make it even easier, we provide open-source templates that work with these contracts to speed up the implementation process for common use cases—helping you get started quickly with minimal coding.

Why Soroban?

• Built on Stellar: Our smart contracts are deployed using Soroban, Stellar’s innovative smart contract platform that offers scalability, low fees, and high security.

• Modern and Efficient: Soroban uses Rust, a modern language known for its security and efficiency, ensuring that our contracts are robust, fast, and secure—crucial attributes for handling financial transactions.

See It in Action 🚀

Interested in seeing how our Open-Source Escrow Smart Contracts can fit into your platform?

• Check Out Our Templates to find ready-made examples that integrate seamlessly with our contracts.

• For more in-depth technical details, explore the contracts directly on GitHub and understand how you can customize them to suit your use cases.

Before you start:

A public and private address must be generated with this stellar resource:

Then stellar funds must be given to this address by placing the public key in this stellar resource:

USDC on testnet faucet Stellar testnet:

1. To be able to interact with USDC from a stellar address you have to define the trustline. For this you can use this api endpoint:

Case 1:

Normal case where a escrow is created and the escrow are completed correctly:

1. The escrow contract must be deployed, which in turn initializes the escrow with its metadata.

Among the information returned you will get the id of the contract you have just deployed, which you will need to enter to be able to use the other endpoints.

NOTE: This 50 percent that is being transferred goes directly to the balance of the deployed contract, not to the service provider. The escrow must then be funded so that the service provider can be assured of 50 percent of the escrow value.

1. To do this, the following endpoint must be executed:

1. The following endpoint must be executed in order to complete the escrow after mutual agreement:

With this step the other 50 percent of the escrow value will be transferred to the balance of the deployed contract.

1. After the escrow is completed, the service provider may claim the proceeds of the escrow through this endpoint:

Case 2:

Case in which the contract is deployed and the escrow is initialized and funded but the service provider decides to cancel the escrow:

1. The escrow contract must be deployed, which in turn initializes the escrow with its metadata.

Among the information returned you will get the id of the contract you have just deployed, which you will need to enter to be able to use the other endpoints.

NOTE: This 50 percent that is being transferred goes directly to the balance of the deployed contract, not to the service provider.

1. The escrow must then be funded so that the service provider can be assured of 50 percent of the escrow value.

1. Due to an external cause the service provider decided to cancel the escrow.

1. The escrow owner (signer) will be able to refund to his account the 50 percent that he financed for the escrow due to the above mentioned situation.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All endpoints related to escrow management return the transaction unsigned. This is done by means of a string returned in XDR (External Data Representation) format, which is a format that stellar uses to encode transactions. This string is what you should use to sign the transaction with the wallet of your choice. After being signed it will return the transaction signed in the same way by means of a string in XDR format.

1. This string is the one that must be sent to the next endpoint for the transaction to be sent to the Stellar network:

The only endpoints that do not require the previous step since they are signed and sent to the network directly when executed, are the following (mentioning them by the name they have in the documentation):

1. Invoke Deployer Contract

2. Get Escrow by Engagement ID

3. Set Trustline

Base URL: https://api.trustlesswork.com

GitHub Repository

API Swagger

Warning!

You'll have 50 as a request rate limit per client in the API every 60 seconds.

Introduction to the Trustless Work REST API

The Trustless Work REST API is designed to offer decentralized escrow solutions by leveraging the power of smart contracts on the Stellar blockchain through Soroban. This API enables platforms and businesses to integrate secure, fast, and transparent escrow services, eliminating the need to rely on centralized intermediaries.

What is the API for?

The Trustless Work API is a key component for any platform that requires secure conditional payments. It allows the creation, management, and automation of escrow contracts, providing security for both payers and payees. This API can be used across various industries including e-commerce, SaaS, real estate, freelance marketplaces, and more.

Key API Functions:

• Create and manage escrow contracts: Users can set up payment agreements with specific conditions that must be met before funds are released.

• Real-time status updates: The API provides real-time access to escrow statuses, allowing users to verify the state of funds at any time.

• Process automation: Through the use of smart contracts, actions such as fund releases, milestone verification, or dispute resolution can be automated.

Why is the API important?

This API is critical for offering businesses an efficient and secure way to manage payments without relying on third-party services. Trustless Work’s decentralized nature eliminates the risks associated with centralized intermediaries, such as delays or failures. Additionally, being blockchain-based guarantees full transparency and a significant reduction in operational costs.

REST API Advantages:

• Transparency: Every transaction is recorded on the blockchain, making it auditable and ensuring that all parties can track the flow of funds.

• Low Costs: Built on Stellar, the API benefits from minimal transaction fees compared to traditional solutions or even other blockchain platforms.

• Speed: Stellar's fast transaction finality ensures that payments are processed almost in real-time.

• Cross-chain compatibility: With USDC and Circle’s cross-chain transfer protocol, the API can operate across multiple blockchains, offering flexibility to businesses.

API Use Cases

1. Freelance marketplaces: Freelance platforms can use the API to manage milestone-based payments, enhancing trust and reducing disputes between clients and freelancers.

2. High-value e-commerce: In peer-to-peer transactions, escrow ensures that payment is only released once the product has been received and verified.

3. SaaS providers: Platforms managing recurring payments can leverage the API to release payments upon successful service delivery.

4. International real estate: Trustless Work helps secure funds in cross-border real estate transactions by releasing them only when all legal and contractual obligations are met.

5. Legal services: Law firms can manage complex multi-party agreements or settlements without needing manual escrow services.

In summary, the Trustless Work REST API provides a robust, transparent, and cost-effective solution for managing escrowed funds, catering to a wide range of industries and promoting security and trust in digital transactions.

POST escrow/complete-escrow

Headers

Body

Example of Request Body:

{
  "engamentId": "test", 
  "signer": "GD2SVFOJ...",
  "contractId": "SCMXDC..."
}

Possible Responses

{
    "status": "SUCCESS",
    "unsignedTransaction": "AAAAAgAAAABfQAm/gS..."  // XDR Hash Transaction
}

{
  "error": "Only the signer can complete the escrow"
}

{
  "error": "Escrow not funded"
}

{
    "error": "Escrow already completed"
}

{
  "error": "Escrow not found"
}

{
  "error": "The signer does not have sufficient funds"
}

{
    "message": "Message",
    "error": "Bad Request",
    "statusCode": 400
}

{
    "statusCode": 429,
    "message": "ThrottlerException: Too Many Requests"
}

What this Endpoint returns?

This endpoint returns the transaction unsigned so that the transaction can be signed by means of a customer wallet.

POST escrow/cancel-escrow

Headers

Body

Example of Request Body:

{
  "engamentId": "test", 
  "signer": "GD2SVFOJ...",
  "contractId": "SCMXDC..."
}

Possible Responses

{
    "status": "SUCCESS",
    "unsignedTransaction": "AAAAAgAAAABfQAm/gS..."  // XDR Hash Transaction
}

{
  "error": "Only the signer can cancel the escrow"
}

{
    "error": "Escrow already completed"
}

{
  "error": "Escrow not found"
}

{
    "error": "Escrow already canceled"
}

{
    "message": "Message",
    "error": "Bad Request",
    "statusCode": 400
}

{
    "statusCode": 429,
    "message": "ThrottlerException: Too Many Requests"
}

What this Endpoint returns?

This endpoint returns the transaction unsigned so that the transaction can be signed by means of a customer wallet.

POST escrow/fund-escrow

Headers

Body

Example of Request Body:

Possible Responses

What this Endpoint returns?

This endpoint returns the transaction unsigned so that the transaction can be signed by means of a customer wallet.

GET escrow/get-escrow-by-engagement-id

Headers

Params

Example of Request Params:

Possible Responses

By having a clear understanding of the roles and their function throughout the escrow lifecycle, it will be way easier to adapt the flow to your use case.

Only addresses who have a role assigned to them will be able to write and update to escrow.

Reading the escrow configuration, status, and transaction history does not require an assigned role.

Roles, Parties, and Fees in Trustless Work

• Roles: Each role pays a clear functions or action within the escrow flow. (e.g., approving milestones, releasing payments).

• Parties: Parties are entities or individuals assigned to one or more roles (e.g., buyer, seller, platform). The parties interact through a stellar wallet, from which they will sign any interactions they have with the escrow.

• Platform: you can also set a platform addresss, which is the address that will receive the platform fee. This fee is configured in the contract and calculated at each payment release. This is an optional additional fee collected by a platform, distinct from the Trustless Work fee which is not optional (for now).

Roles:

1. Milestone Approver

• Function: Approves or disputes milestones marked as completed by the milestone marker.

• Examples:

  • Buyer in a freelance marketplace approves the deliverable marked as done by the freelancer.

  • Host in a security deposit scenario approves the checkout marked as done by the turist.

  • Platform in a crowdfunding campaign approves milestone marked as done by the company.

2. Milestone Marker

• Function: Delivers the product, service, or objective set on milestine. Marks milestones as completed and ready for approval.

• Examples:

  • Freelancer delivering a service and marking it as done.

  • Company updating crowdfunding milestones and marking as done.

  • Compliance department marking a withdraw complaince check as done.

  • Real Estate inspector maks the house inispections as done.

3. Release Signer

• Function: Approves the release of funds for the amount set.

• Examples:

  • Airbnb (platform) releasing a deposit.

  • eBay (platform) releasing payment to a seller.

  • DAO releasing a payment to a contributor

4. Dispute Resolver

• Function: Resolves disputes by adjusting milestone amounts, updating status, or canceling the contract.

• Examples:

  • Platform (eBay, Airbnb) acting as arbiter for a deposit because turist broke something redirecting deposit to host.

  • Independent third-party arbitrator setting a new milestone price for an project milestone.

  • Cenceling an escrow amount and redirecting funds back to Client.

5. Receiver

• Function: The final recipient of funds after conditions are met or disputes are resolved.

• Examples:

  • Freelancer receiving payment.

  • Turist receiving a security deposit.

  • Company receiving funds

6. Platform Address

• Function: An address designated to receive the platform fee, a percentage or fixed amount of the total funds processed through escrow.

• Examples:

  • Airbnb collecting platform fees.

  • Crowdfunding platform taking a fee from funds raised.

1. Trustline The contract address of the token being used on the escrow. Can be any asset issued on Stellar network.

POST escrow/claim-escrow-earnings

Headers

Body

Example of Request Body:

{
  "engamentId": "test", 
  "serviceProvider": "GD2SVFOJ...",
  "contractId": "SCMXDC..."
}

Possible Responses

{
    "status": "SUCCESS",
    "unsignedTransaction": "AAAAAgAAAABfQAm/gS..."  // XDR Hash Transaction
}

{
  "error": "The escrow must be completed to claim earnings"
}

{
  "error": "Only the service provider can claim escrow earnings"
}

{
  "error": "Escrow not found"
}

{
  "error": "The escrow balance must be equal to the amount of earnings defined for the escrow"
}

{
  "error": "The escrow has already been cancelled"
}

{
  "error": "The contract does not have sufficient funds"
}

{
    "message": "Message",
    "error": "Bad Request",
    "statusCode": 400
}

{
    "statusCode": 429,
    "message": "ThrottlerException: Too Many Requests"
}

What this Endpoint returns?

This endpoint returns the transaction unsigned so that the transaction can be signed by means of a customer wallet.

POST helper/set-trustline

Headers

Params

Example of Request Body:

{
  "sourceSecretKey": "GDN6I...", 
}

Possible Responses

{
    "status": "SUCCESS",
    "message": "The trust line has been correctly defined in the USDC token"
}

{
  "error": "Internal server error"
}

{
    "message": "Message",
    "error": "Bad Request",
    "statusCode": 400
}

{
    "statusCode": 429,
    "message": "ThrottlerException: Too Many Requests"
}

POST helper/send-transaction

Headers

Body

Example of Request Body:

{
  "signedXdr": "AAAAAgAAAAB...",
}

Possible Responses

{
    "status": "SUCCESS",
    "message": "The transaction has been successfully sent to the Stellar network"
}

{
  "error": "Internal server error"
}

{
    "message": "Message",
    "error": "Bad Request",
    "statusCode": 400
}

{
    "statusCode": 429,
    "message": "ThrottlerException: Too Many Requests"
}

The escrow lifecycle represents the structured flow of actions and responsibilities involved in securely managing a transaction. At Trustless Work, we break this lifecycle into clear, logical phases, ensuring transparency and adaptability for diverse use cases.

Core Phases of the Escrow Lifecycle

2. Funding Phase: The phase where the funds are deposited into the escrow contract, securing the transaction and preparing for the next steps.

3. Milestone Updates Phase: As the transaction progresses, milestones are marked as completed by the designated party, providing visibility and enabling reviews.

4. Approval Phase: The phase where milestones are reviewed and approved (or disputed), moving the transaction closer to resolution.

5. Release Phase: Funds are released to the designated recipient based on milestone approvals or dispute resolutions, completing the financial component of the transaction.

6. Closure Phase: Marks the official end of the escrow process, ensuring all conditions are met, funds are distributed, and the contract is finalized.

Alternative Phases in the Escrow Lifecycle

In some scenarios, the lifecycle may include additional phases to address unique circumstances:

1. Dispute Resolution Phase: Engaged when there are disagreements between parties, this phase ensures fairness by resolving disputes and determining the final outcome.

2. Escrow Cancellation Phase: Allows for the early termination of the escrow contract under specific conditions, ensuring any funds or fees are appropriately handled.

Welcome to the Smart Escrow Design section.

To simplify the design process, we have subdivided the escrow lifecycle into distinct phases. Click on any phase to learn more:

Each phase plays a crucial role in the lifecycle, and each participating party has one or more defined roles.

To understand how roles interact accross the lifecycle, visit the

Figma Template for Escrow Design

Start designing your escrow configurations visually using our Figma template. Feel free to copy it and accelerate your Go To market by correctly planning your Trustless Work integration!

POST deployer/invoke-deployer-contract

Headers

Body

Example of Request Body:

Possible Responses

Trustless Work is on an exciting journey to build the next generation of Smart Escrows, and we’re accelerating towards our mainnet launch. Below is an overview of our short-term goals as we prepare to make trustless escrows accessible to all.

Short-Term Goals (Q1 2025) 🚀

Mainnet Launch: Q1 2025 🌐

• We’re working hard to launch Trustless Work on the Stellar mainnet sometime in Q1 2025.

• Our priority is to ensure that the system is secure, scalable, and ready for real-world adoption. The launch will mark a major milestone as Smart Escrows become available for anyone to integrate and use.

Building Developer Tools & Templates in Parallel 🛠️

• We’re developing open-source developer tools and templates in collaboration with the community.

• These tools will make it easier for developers to create custom workflows, adapt escrow solutions, and quickly integrate Smart Escrows into their applications—paving the way for smooth adoption post-launch.

Integration with Stellar Partner On/Off Ramps 🔄

• We plan to integrate Stellar partner on/off ramps into our open-source templates, providing easy conversion of USDC to local fiat and vice versa.

• This will make it even easier for users to get onboarded and start using Smart Escrows without worrying about blockchain complexities—providing a bridge between crypto and traditional finance.

Supporting Our First Adopters 🤝

• As we prepare for the mainnet launch, we are providing hands-on support to our first adopters and builders who are already exploring exciting use cases with Trustless Work.

• This includes helping them integrate escrows, offering insights, and co-developing solutions that fit their unique needs—ensuring they succeed in building value-driven applications.

The Road Ahead 🌟

The mainnet launch will be just the beginning. As we grow, we envision more features, templates, and use cases being developed in collaboration with our community—ensuring that Trustless Work remains a trusted, scalable, and accessible solution for escrow services in the modern economy.

Escrow has been a fundamental concept throughout history—enabling trust between traders, merchants, and individuals. It has evolved from the simplest of arrangements to more formalized processes, adapting to the needs of each era. Let's explore how it all began:

Ancient Civilizations: The Birth of Trust 🌍

Origins of Escrow

• The earliest roots of escrow can be traced back to ancient times, when intermediaries would hold money or goods until a transaction was complete. This practice was used to foster trust between traders, especially when long distances were involved.

• Merchants and Trade Routes: Early traders relied on trusted individuals or community leaders to oversee exchanges, particularly in complex transactions involving precious goods like silk, spices, or metals.

Purpose: The goal was simple—make sure both parties kept their promises, reducing the risk for both buyer and seller.

Medieval England: Formalizing Property Transactions 🏰

Formal Property Transactions

• During the medieval era in England, escrow became an important part of property sales. Third-party custodians, often clergy or local officials, were trusted to hold deeds or funds until the legal terms were satisfied.

• Feudal Land Transfers: In a time when property rights were of utmost importance, escrows ensured fair transfers of land. These early custodians added a layer of formality and neutrality to the process, making sure that obligations were met before ownership changed hands.

Escrow as a Social Institution

• These arrangements laid the groundwork for the modern concept of escrow, where an impartial entity acts to secure both parties' interests, preventing disputes and ensuring compliance.

Colonial America: The Spread of Escrow Practices 🌎

New Frontiers, New Trust Requirements

• As Europeans colonized North America, the need for fair land transactions and property agreements led to the spread of escrow practices. The vast, untamed land presented unique challenges and opportunities.

• Ensuring Fairness: Escrow became a common feature in colonial property deals, as it was essential to ensure fair exchanges between settlers, landowners, and governments in a new and unpredictable environment.

Building a New Society

• In the expanding colonial world, escrow practices provided a neutral ground in the often chaotic landscape of property sales, resource deals, and agreements. It was all about creating trust where none existed before—a key part of establishing stability in the New World.

Key Takeaways: Escrow in Ancient to Colonial Times 🔑

• 🌍 Ancient Civilizations: Intermediaries were used to secure trades and build trust over long distances.

• 🏰 Medieval England: Property transfers became more formalized, using custodians like clergy to secure transactions.

• 🌎 Colonial America: Escrow ensured fairness in property sales and helped establish trust in a rapidly developing society.

Escrow’s evolution in these early periods was driven by the universal need for fairness and security. These foundational concepts would continue to evolve, paving the way for the next era: the formalization of escrow during the Banking Era and beyond.

Next Section: Banking Era 🏦

Ready to see how banks took escrow to the next level during the Industrial Revolution? Learn about the rise of banks as formal escrow agents and how they influenced modern financial transactions.

The 19th and 20th centuries marked a significant evolution in escrow's history, driven by the rise of banking institutions and the changing needs of a rapidly industrializing world. During this era, escrows became a critical component of managing large-scale transactions, from railroads to mortgages, providing security and trust in complex deals.

Rise of Banking Institutions 🏛️

Banks as Formal Escrow Agents

• With the rise of banking institutions in the 19th century, escrow found its place in the formal financial system. Banks took on the role of trusted intermediaries, providing the infrastructure to secure funds until conditions were satisfied.

• Industrial Expansion: The Industrial Revolution brought about a surge of new industries and increased wealth, requiring more structured ways to manage financial risk. Banks emerged as the go-to solution for securing transactions between parties that did not always know or trust each other.

A New Level of Formality

• Escrow agreements became more standardized, with banks acting as custodians for deposits that would only be released once specific milestones were met. This added a layer of professionalism and security to what had previously been informal arrangements.

The Railroad Boom: High Stakes, High Trust 🚂

Railroad Expansion in the U.S.

• During the expansion of railroads in the United States, the stakes were incredibly high—vast amounts of land, money, and labor were involved. Escrows played a crucial role in managing complex deals between:

  • Landowners: Selling property required for railroad tracks.

  • Investors: Providing the capital needed to fund the expansion.

  • Railroad Companies: Responsible for fulfilling construction and operational obligations.

Why Escrow Was Needed

• Escrow ensured that funds were securely held until all the conditions were met, such as construction milestones or land agreements. This not only mitigated financial risk but also ensured transparency for all parties.

Post-War Housing Boom: Mainstreaming Escrow 🏠

Post-World War II Developments

• After World War II, the housing market experienced significant growth, with millions of families buying homes. Escrow accounts became a standard feature in mortgage agreements.

• Property Taxes & Insurance: Escrow accounts helped manage property taxes and insurance payments, ensuring that obligations were met consistently and providing stability during a period of rapid social change.

Escrow for Everyday Transactions

• This era wasn’t just about large-scale industrial applications; escrow began to take on a role in everyday financial transactions. Whether it was buying a home or financing a business, escrows were there to ensure everyone kept their end of the bargain.

Business Transactions: Mergers & Acquisitions 🤝

Corporate World Adoption

• During the mid-20th century, escrow services became a vital part of corporate transactions such as mergers and acquisitions. Companies needed a way to securely manage the transfer of assets until all the terms of an agreement were fulfilled.

• Neutrality & Trust: Banks provided a neutral third party to hold funds or assets, ensuring that deals were carried out smoothly, and both parties were protected against any form of default or unexpected changes.

Complex Financial Deals

• As businesses grew more interconnected, the complexity of financial deals increased. Escrow became a way to reduce risk and ensure that even in the most complicated transactions, obligations were met fairly.

Key Takeaways: Banking Era 🔑

• 🏛️ Rise of Banks: Formalizing escrow by establishing banks as trusted intermediaries.

• 🚂 Industrial Revolution: The rise of railroads and industry made escrow a necessity for high-value, complex transactions.

• 🏠 Housing Market Boom: Post-war escrow accounts secured mortgages, taxes, and insurance—bringing escrow into the lives of everyday people.

• 🤝 Mergers & Acquisitions: Corporate deals relied on escrow to ensure smooth and secure transfers of assets.

The Banking Era laid the foundation for the widespread, institutional use of escrow. It was a time when the concept of holding funds securely began to move from the fringes of financial practice to the core of modern economic systems.

Next Section: The Digital Era and Online Escrow 💻

Want to see how escrow adapted to the age of the internet? Discover how the digital era transformed escrow into a fully online service, bringing security to e-commerce and remote transactions.

The internet age has transformed how people buy, sell, and connect. Escrow services have adapted, shifting from physical paperwork and bank intermediaries to digital platforms that serve the vast, impersonal world of e-commerce. However, despite these advancements, the digital age brings significant challenges—particularly around fiat payments, Know Your Business (KYB) processes, and the inability to create custom escrow solutions. Let’s explore how escrow works today and its ongoing limitations.

Online Commerce and the Rise of Digital Escrow 🌐

The Emergence of Online Transactions

• Today, online marketplaces like eBay and Amazon require secure systems to manage transactions between buyers and sellers who often have no prior relationship, making trust a significant challenge.

• Digital Escrow services help bridge this gap by ensuring that goods and services are exchanged securely, even when the parties involved are separated by thousands of miles.

Companies That Pioneered Digital Escrow

• Companies like Escrow.com are still filling this trust gap, acting as a neutral party that holds funds until both sides fulfill their obligations.

• Digital escrow brings a sense of security to transactions that could otherwise feel risky, but it also comes with inherent limitations due to reliance on traditional payment rails.

Making the Virtual World Trustworthy 🛡️

Escrow for E-Commerce

• For platforms like eBay, escrow services act as a crucial trust layer. Buyers know their money won’t be transferred until they receive the item as described, and sellers are assured they will get paid once they deliver.

• The impersonal nature of the internet necessitates renewed forms of trust, and digital escrow becomes the digital handshake—replacing what is lost in face-to-face transactions.

High-Value Domains and Digital Assets

• Domain name sales and other high-value digital assets depend on escrow to ensure ownership is only transferred once payment is secure.

• Digital escrow also facilitates the trade of other digital assets—ranging from licenses to virtual goods—by bridging the gap between people across the globe.

Limitations of Digital Escrow Services ⚠️

Fiat Payment Rails: Slow and Costly

• Digital escrows today still rely on fiat payment rails such as banks and payment processors, which introduce significant delays and fees. Settlement times can take days or even weeks, particularly for cross-border transactions.

• Currency Conversion Challenges: Moving funds internationally often requires currency conversion, adding additional layers of complexity, cost, and time, which are challenging for both businesses and consumers.

Complex KYB (Know Your Business) Processes

• Escrow providers are required to conduct rigorous KYB checks for businesses that want to use their services. This involves bureaucracy and paperwork, making the onboarding process slow and cumbersome.

• High Barriers for Small Businesses: These KYB requirements make it almost impossible for smaller or independent businesses to seamlessly set up escrow services. For many, the process is prohibitively lengthy, acting as a barrier to entry.

No Flexibility for Custom Escrow Solutions

• Centralized Control: Most digital escrow platforms are centralized, meaning the service provider retains full control of the funds during the escrow period. Users depend entirely on the platform's infrastructure.

• Impossible to Innovate: It’s virtually impossible to program your own escrow or adapt escrow solutions to specific business needs with the current setup. Innovators are restricted by existing platforms, which don’t provide the flexibility needed to create bespoke escrow solutions or to integrate directly with other systems.

The Need for Blockchain Escrow 🔗

Challenges and Opportunities

• Centralized Escrow Services: Even though they offer more convenience than traditional banks, centralized digital escrow providers still present limitations like high fees, processing delays, and the necessity to trust the platform itself.

• Need for Speed and Flexibility: Today’s digital economy demands instant settlement and a more flexible escrow solution. Current reliance on fiat rails and cumbersome KYB processes emphasizes the need for a new model—one where trust can be distributed and transactions executed instantly.

Enter Blockchain

• These ongoing challenges are paving the way for blockchain-based escrows. The need for decentralization, reduced fees, instant payments, and programmability is leading escrow to evolve towards a trustless system, built on cryptographic security and smart contracts.

Key Takeaways: The Digital Era 🔑

• 🌐 Rise of Online Commerce: Escrow adapted to e-commerce by providing a trusted way for buyers and sellers to transact.

• 🖥️ Digital Platforms: Services like Escrow.com ensure high-value online transactions are safe, making escrow accessible to individuals and small businesses.

• 👥 Freelance and Gig Economy: Digital escrow is critical for securing payments between freelancers and clients in the gig economy.

• ⚠️ Limitations of Today’s Digital Escrow:

  • Fiat Rails: Settlement times are still slow, and cross-border transactions add complexity and cost.

  • KYB Bureaucracy: The onboarding process remains cumbersome, preventing smaller businesses from leveraging escrow.

  • Lack of Flexibility: Centralized control prevents users from innovating or customizing escrow solutions.

• 🔗 The Need for Blockchain: These limitations highlight why blockchain is the next logical step, offering speed, transparency, and programmability.

The Digital Era has brought escrow into the online world, but the limitations of fiat payment systems, KYB requirements, and lack of flexibility mean it is far from perfect. Escrow today is ripe for transformation—a transformation that blockchain is perfectly suited to deliver.

Next Section: Blockchain Era 🔗

Ready to see how escrow is transforming into a decentralized, smart contract-powered service? Explore how blockchain and smart contracts are reshaping escrow, making it trustless and programmable.

POST escrow/refund-remaining-funds

Headers

Body

Example of Request Body:

{
  "engamentId": "test", 
  "signer": "GD2SVFOJ...",
  "contractId": "SCMXDC..."
}

Possible Responses

{
    "status": "SUCCESS",
    "unsignedTransaction": "AAAAAgAAAABfQAm/gS..."  // XDR Hash Transaction
}

{
  "error": "Only the signer can request a refund"
}

{
  "error": "The escrow must be cancelled to refund the amounts"
}

{
  "error": "Escrow not found"
}

{
  "error": "The contract has no balance to repay"
}

{
    "message": "Message",
    "error": "Bad Request",
    "statusCode": 400
}

{
    "statusCode": 429,
    "message": "ThrottlerException: Too Many Requests"
}

What this Endpoint returns?

This endpoint returns the transaction unsigned so that the transaction can be signed by means of a customer wallet.

The Initiation Phase is the foundation of the escrow process. It ensures that all necessary details are captured, roles are assigned, and conditions are clearly defined. This phase lays the groundwork for a secure, transparent, and efficient transaction.

Participants and Roles

In the initiation phase key roles are assigned to specific parties. These roles determine responsibilities and actions throughout the transaction.

The roles are:

1. Milestone Approver: Approves or disputes milestones.

2. Milestone Marker: Marks milestones as completed and ready for approval.

3. Release Signer: Approves the release of funds for completed milestones.

4. Dispute Resolver: Resolves disputes and adjusts milestone statuses if necessary.

5. Receiver: The final recipient of funds once conditions are met.

6. Platform Address: An address designated to receive the platform fee.

Parties: Parties are entities (e.g., buyer, seller, platform) assigned to fulfill one or more roles based on the use case. You can learn more about how this can work for different use cases later on.

Other escrow properties configuredin this phase:

• Engagement ID

  • Definition: A customizable identifier that links the escrow to an external system or reference, such as a UUID, Order ID, or Invoice ID.

• Amount: The total funds to be held in escrow.

• Platform Fee: A fixed or percentage-based fee for the platform’s services, in bps.

• Milestones: Defined deliverables or outcomes that are tracked and verified throughout the process.

• Trustline: The Contract address of the Token used for the escrow.

Process Steps

Step 1: Configuring Terms

• Parties and Address are configured at a platform level. All parties agree on the transaction terms, including:

  • Deliverables or milestones.

  • Payment amounts and structure.

  • Roles and responsibilities.