What optional escrow is, how it protects both sides of a deal, and when to use it.
Silky Road does not hold or guarantee funds by default — like eBay, you choose who you trade with. For deals where you want extra protection, you and the other party can agree to complete the deal using Silky Road's optional escrow.
Escrow places the buyer's payment with a neutral, smart-contract-secured holding point instead of paying the seller directly. The funds are only released to the seller once the asset has been transferred and the deal is complete. This protects both sides: the seller knows the money is committed before they hand over the asset, and the buyer knows their money is not released until they have received what they paid for.
Higher-value purchases where both parties want added assurance.
Deals between parties who have not traded together before.
Any transaction where the transfer of the asset takes place in stages.
Agree with the other party to use escrow for the deal.
The buyer funds the escrow rather than paying the seller directly.
The seller transfers the asset.
Once the transfer is confirmed, the funds are released to the seller.
If a problem arises before the funds are released, either party can raise it through Silky Road's Dispute Resolution Process for review.
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