How escrow works
Escrow you can verify on-chain.
When a buyer pays, Nano sits in an escrow address that neither side can drain. The platform cannot release it unilaterally. Buyer confirms delivery and funds release in seconds. If something is wrong, a human resolves it within 24 hours.
From payment to release.
Buyer pays into escrow
At checkout, the buyer's Nano is sent to a per-order escrow address. The address is visible on the Nano block explorer. The seller sees the deposit and ships.Both sides watch the chain
Order status updates are pushed in real time, but anyone can verify the escrow balance independently on a Nano block explorer. There is no 'trust us' step.Buyer confirms delivery
Once the item arrives as described, the buyer marks the order received. Escrow releases to the seller's wallet. Sub-second confirmation, no waiting period.Or a dispute opens
If something is wrong (item didn't arrive, didn't match description, was damaged), either party opens a dispute. The order thread becomes the evidence channel.Human review within 24 hours
A Nagora reviewer looks at order messages, photos, tracking, and listing description. They make a binding call: release to seller, refund buyer, or split.Escrow releases per the decision
Funds move to the wallet specified by the resolution. Both parties get a written summary. The decision is final, but persistent issues route to a senior reviewer.
Honest about the boundaries.
- Not multi-signature
- Multi-sig escrow on Nano is not a native primitive. Nagora's escrow is a custodial address controlled by a hot key with strict release rules and full audit logs. Trade-off: simplicity and instant release, with the platform as a trusted custodian during the hold.
- Not 'buyer always wins'
- Disputes are reviewed on evidence. Buyers who claim 'item never arrived' against tracked-and-signed delivery lose. Sellers who ship late or wrong lose. The reviewer's job is to read the order thread and make the right call.
- Not a substitute for due diligence
- Escrow protects against 'paid but didn't receive' and 'received but not as described'. It cannot make a bad-faith counterparty into a good one. Read seller reviews. Use buyer protection on big-ticket items.
What helps your case.
Buyers
- Photos of the item as received, including packaging
- Screenshots of the original listing description
- Tracking that shows misdelivery or non-delivery
- Messages with the seller showing what was promised
- Reasonable timeline (open the dispute within 7 days of expected delivery)
Sellers
- Tracking number with proof of delivery (signature where available)
- Pre-shipment photos of the actual item shipped
- Original packaging shots if the buyer claims damage
- Listing screenshots and any custom-fit confirmation messages
- Any pre-sale agreement on returns or condition tolerance
Nagora escrow against the usual payment models.
| Nagora escrow | Card payment | Bank transfer | Direct crypto | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds while in transit | On-chain escrow address | Held by processor, frozen if disputed | Already in seller account, clawback-eligible | Already in seller wallet |
| Verifiable by either party | Yes, on the Nano block explorer | No, processor's internal ledger only | No | Send is verifiable, custody is not |
| Settlement on confirm | About 1 second | 1 to 3 business days | Same day to 5 business days | 10 minutes to 1 hour, plus fees |
| Chargeback risk to seller | None after confirm or dispute close | Up to 120 days | Up to 60 days | None (but no buyer protection either) |
| Buyer protection on misdescribed items | Human review within 24 hours | Issuer review, weeks to months | Limited, varies by jurisdiction | None |
Common questions about escrow.
Where exactly are funds held?
Each order has its own Nano escrow address. The seed for that address is held in Nagora's secure key store under hardware-backed encryption. Release is gated by the order's confirm/dispute state and logged.
Can Nagora steal escrow?
Technically yes (it is custodial during the hold), legally and reputationally no: the platform's revenue depends entirely on this not happening. Trusted-seller direct settlement (skipping escrow) is on the roadmap for high-volume sellers who want the platform out of the path entirely.
How long does a dispute take?
Both parties have 5 days to post evidence. A Nagora reviewer issues a decision within 24 hours of the evidence window closing, often sooner. Most disputes resolve in under 48 hours total.
What stops a buyer from claiming 'never arrived' on a delivered package?
Tracking and proof of delivery. When the seller adds a tracking number, Nagora records the carrier's delivery scan on the order, so the reviewer can see it was marked delivered and when. Signed-for delivery counts heavily. False claims get the buyer's account flagged and repeat offences end in suspension.
What if the seller ships, the buyer never confirms, and never opens a dispute?
The payment is released to the seller automatically 14 days after the order is marked shipped. If the carrier's delivery scan comes in late, the release moves to 3 days after the scan, so the buyer always gets time with the parcel. The buyer can also add 7 days once. Either side can pause the timer with a dispute.
What about international orders with customs delays?
Sellers should set a generous handling window on international listings. Reviewers factor in customs holds when timing the dispute window.
Are escrow addresses reused?
No. Each order gets a fresh address. Reuse would make balance verification ambiguous and would compound key-management risk.
Ready when you are.
Browse listings, or read the buyer protection policy that backs every order.