08_escrow_payments

Overview

All funds are held and distributed by autonomous smart contracts. The platform does not hold, control, or sign for any funds.

How It Works

Every action in the lifecycle is signed by the relevant participant from their own wallet. The platform verifies the transaction on-chain and records the state change.

Flow:

1. Employer calls createEscrow(token, maxCompensation, deadline) → deposits maxCompensation + 0.5% fee → reports txHash to API

2. Employer calls assignWorker(escrowId, workerAddress) → reports txHash to API

3. Worker calls markCompleted(escrowId) + submits EE → reports txHash to API. Worker is done.

4. Employer calls rateAndRelease(escrowId, rating) → rating recorded + funds distributed in the same transaction → reports txHash to API

Timeout Paths

Employer doesn't rate (72 hours): Worker calls releaseWithDefault(escrowId) — receives full payout at default rating 5★.* Worker knows exactly when this is available: completedAt + 72 hours.

Worker doesn't complete (deadline + 24 hours): Employer calls releaseIfWorkerGhosted(escrowId) — receives full deposit back, no fee collected.**

*Note: releaseWithDefault(escrowId) technically becomes callable by anyone after the timeout. In practice, the Worker (who receives the payout) is incentivized to call it.

**Note: releaseIfWorkerGhosted(escrowId) technically becomes callable by anyone after the timeout. In practice, the Employer (who receives the refund) is incentivized to call it.

Fees

Scenario	Employer fee	Worker fee	TaskMaster
Rated release (1–5★)	0.5% (paid upfront)	0.5% (deducted at release)	1% total
Rating 0★	0.5% (retained)	0%	0.5%
Cancel / ghost	0%	0%	0%

Fees are enforced by the smart contract. TaskMaster has no ability to waive or reverse them.

Finality

• All on-chain distributions are final and irreversible

• No refunds exist outside the contract's own mechanisms (cancel, ghost, 0★)

• The platform cannot intervene in, delay, or override any outcome

Outcome

Trust is replaced by deterministic execution. Funds move exactly as the contract specifies — no more, no less.