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Before You Start

Make sure you have:

Connected Wallet

Your wallet connected to the Zenland app

USDC or USDT

Enough stablecoins to cover the escrow amount + 1% fee

Seller's Address

The seller’s Ethereum wallet address

Clear Agreement

Agreement on terms with your counterparty

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Step 1: Navigate to Create Escrow

  1. Open app.zen.land
  2. Connect your wallet
  3. Click “Create Escrow” in the navigation or dashboard

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Step 2: Enter Escrow Details

Fill in the following fields:

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Seller Address

Enter the Ethereum address of the person you’re paying: 
0x1234567890abcdef1234567890abcdef12345678
Double-check this address! Funds sent to the wrong address cannot be recovered.

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Amount

Enter how much you want to escrow:
  • Minimum: $1 (or equivalent in stablecoin)
  • Token: Choose USDC or USDT
  • Fee: 1% added on top (min 0.50,max0.50, max 50)

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Description

Write what this escrow is for. Be specific:

✅ Good Example

“Website development: 5-page portfolio site with responsive design, contact form, and CMS integration. Delivery in 2 weeks.”

❌ Bad Example

“Website”

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Buyer Protection Time

How long you have to review the delivery after the seller marks it complete:
TimeframeGood For
1 daySimple, small transactions
3-7 daysServices requiring testing
14+ daysComplex projects
After this time expires, the seller can claim funds even if you haven’t released them. Choose wisely!

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Step 3: Choose an Agent

This is one of the most important decisions: Browse available agents and check:
  • Reputation — resolution history, success rate
  • Fee — what % they charge for disputes
  • Specialization — some agents focus on specific industries

Why agents matter

If you and the seller disagree, the agent decides how funds are split. Choose someone trustworthy and qualified.

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Option B: No Agent (Locked Escrow)

Advanced users only! Locked escrows have no dispute resolution.
With no agent:
  • You and the seller must agree on everything
  • If you disagree, funds can be locked forever
  • Only use with highly trusted counterparties
Learn more about Locked Escrows →

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Step 4: Review the Contract

Before funding, you’ll see:
  1. PDF Preview — A contract summarizing all terms
  2. Escrow Address — The deterministic address where funds will go
  3. Fee Breakdown — Amount + protocol fee
The PDF is hashed and stored on-chain. This proves what you both agreed to.

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What to Verify

  • Seller address is correct
  • Amount matches your agreement
  • Description covers all deliverables
  • Protection time is adequate
  • Agent is acceptable (if applicable)

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Step 5: Fund the Escrow

Click “Create & Fund” and approve the transaction:
1

Approve Token Spend

Your wallet asks to approve USDC/USDT spending
2

Confirm Transaction

Sign the transaction to create and fund the escrow
3

Wait for Confirmation

Transaction is mined on Ethereum (~15 seconds)
4

Escrow Created!

You’ll see confirmation and can share the link with your seller

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After Creation

Your escrow is now in PENDING state, waiting for the seller to accept.

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What Happens Next?

  1. Notify your seller — Share the escrow link or let them check their dashboard
  2. Seller reviews — They verify the terms match your agreement
  3. Seller accepts — Escrow becomes ACTIVE, work begins
  4. Or seller declines — You receive an immediate refund

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If Seller Doesn’t Respond

If the seller doesn’t accept within the acceptance window:
  • You can call “Cancel Expired” to get a full refund
  • No penalties, you just get your money back

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Common Issues

Check that you have:
  • Enough stablecoins for amount + fee
  • Enough ETH for gas (unless using NYKNYC)
  • Token approval wasn’t revoked
Make sure:
  • They’re connected to the right wallet address
  • They’re on the correct network (Mainnet vs Sepolia)
  • They refresh their dashboard
Unfortunately, escrows are created atomically. If you used the wrong address, wait for the acceptance window to expire, then cancel for a refund. Double-check next time!