FAQ
Is this custodial?
No. Funds are held by a per-deal smart contract on Tron, not by us. We can't move your USDT, the seller can't move the buyer's USDT, and the buyer can't reach into the escrow once funded. Only the deal's state machine + the arbitrator's resolve call (for disputed deals, after the appeal window) can release funds.
What does "non-custodial" protect me from?
If our service is hacked, our database is leaked, or our operator wallets are compromised, your funded escrow still settles correctly because the rules live in the on-chain contract, not our database. The operator's only on-chain power is to call resolve() on disputed deals (and only after the appeal window expires for undisputed ones).
What can Tether do to my funds?
Tether issues USDT-TRC20 and retains the ability to blacklist any address, including escrow contracts. If Tether freezes your escrow, the USDT inside becomes permanently inaccessible — neither you, nor us, nor the smart contract can move it. This is outside our control. Mitigations: per-deal isolation means only one deal's funds are at risk per freeze; we'll rotate fee recipients on a schedule. See the USDT-freeze runbook for the incident playbook (after launch).
Do you do KYC?
No. You sign up with an email and a Tron wallet. We do not collect identity documents, government IDs, biometrics, or proof of address. You and your counterparty transact pseudonymously and at your own risk.
How long do disputes take?
From dispute filing to on-chain settlement, typically 1–3 business days for the operator's decision, plus the 24-hour appeal window, plus up to 60 seconds for the executor to broadcast. If both parties click "Accept Decision" on the published resolution, the appeal window collapses and settlement happens within ~1 minute.
What if I lose access to my wallet?
If you lose access mid-deal, you may be unable to release/refund/dispute. The other side can still complete their actions. If the deal ends up in dispute and arbitration favors you, the resolution can pay an alternate address you provide via the support channel.
What if I lose access to my email?
You can't log in via magic link or code. Recovery: contact support from a verifiable alternative channel (the wallet that signed your deal attestations). Account recovery is manual and may take days.
Why Tron and not Ethereum?
Lower per-transaction cost (Tron gas is ~10–100× cheaper than Ethereum mainnet for the same contract calls) and Tether-on-Tron has the deepest liquidity for USDT users in the regions we're targeting. We may add other chains in v2.
Can I use this for any kind of deal?
Anything you'd normally use escrow for — services, digital goods, OTC crypto/asset transfers, freelance work — and the law of your jurisdiction permits. We don't police deal content. You may not use the service for any unlawful purpose or any restricted jurisdiction — see Terms of Service §2 and §6.
Who's the arbitrator?
In v1, the operator wallet (see "About" / footer) acts as arbitrator. Decisions are published with rationale + a 24-hour appeal window. In v2 we plan to support M-of-N arbitrator multisig for higher-value deals.
What happens if the operator goes offline?
Existing deals continue to function via the on-chain state machine: buyers can still approveRelease, sellers can still refund or claimAfterInspection. Only disputes and arbitrated resolutions require the operator. If the operator is unreachable for >7 days during an active appeal, the contract's buyer-claim-after-timeout path is available as a fallback.
Can I get a refund of the 1% fee?
No, the fee is deducted by the smart contract at settlement and we can't reverse it. The fee covers operator costs (RPC, infra, arbitration time).
How do I report a bug or security issue?
Email support@cryptoescrow.example for general bugs. For security issues, email security@cryptoescrow.example with PGP-encrypted contents. We pay bug bounties for verifiable vulnerabilities.