HodLOpen app
Live on Stellar Testnet

Pay strangers
without trusting them.

HodL locks USDC in a smart contract until the job is done. You release it, they refund it, or the deadline sends it back. No middleman ever holds your money.

Start an escrowSee how it works
Non-custodial · Open source · Test USDC, no real money
StellarSoroban smart contractsUSDC by CircleFreighterxBullLobstrAlbedoHana
The problem

Every online deal starts with someone going first. With HodL, nobody has to.

Pay first,and hope the work actually shows up.
Deliver first,and hope the money does.
Use a middleman,and pay them to sit on your money for days.

HodL swaps hope for a contract.

How it works

Three steps. Zero middlemen.

The whole thing takes about a minute and two signatures.
01

Agree on the terms

Set the amount, who gets paid and a deadline. The terms are saved on-chain, so nobody can change them later.

02

Lock the money

One tap in your wallet moves the USDC into the contract. The other side can see it's really there before they start.

03

Settle it

Release when you're happy. They can refund if it falls through. Miss the deadline and it comes back to you.

Outcomes

Three ways it can end. All of them fair.

Released

The work is done. You release the money and they're paid in seconds.

250.00 USDC → recipient

Refunded

Plans changed. They send it straight back. No chasing, no awkward emails.

250.00 USDC → payer

Returned

The deadline passed with no release. Your money comes home, untouched.

250.00 USDC → payer
Why it's safe

Rules written in code. In public.

The money lives in a public contract on Stellar, not in a company account. These rules are part of it, and they apply to everyone.

Live contract CCBBKX…FNLLDB
Only you can releaseThe contract won't pay out without the payer's signature.
Only they can refundSending the money back needs the recipient's signature.
Nothing pays out twiceOnce an escrow is settled, it's closed for good.
No freeze switchNo admin function can move or freeze your funds. Code upgrades are public, and can be locked for good.
The difference

Escrow, minus the waiting.

The usual way
  • A company holds your money
  • Days for bank transfers to clear
  • Support tickets, business hours
  • Fees taken as a cut of the deal
  • Proof is an email you have to trust
With HodL
  • A contract holds it. Only the two of you can move it
  • Settles in seconds on Stellar
  • Works 24/7, no one to wait on
  • No cut. Just tiny network fees
  • Every step leaves a public receipt
Made for

Any deal between people who just met.

Freelance workThe client locks your fee before you start. You deliver knowing it's there.
P2P tradesSwap with someone from a group chat without either side going first.
Online salesBuyer pays in, seller ships, buyer releases when it arrives.
BountiesProve the reward is real before anyone writes a line.
FAQ

Good questions.

Still unsure? Open an issue on GitHub and we'll answer.

Never. Your USDC sits in the escrow contract on Stellar. The website has no keys, and no admin function can move or freeze your funds. Code upgrades happen in public on-chain, and can be locked for good.

Make your next deal
the easy one.

Connect a Stellar wallet and lock your first escrow in about a minute. It's Testnet, so it costs nothing to try.

Start an escrowSet up a wallet