FiDeal/Documentation

Getting Started for Payers

This guide walks you through creating an escrow deal, funding it, and releasing payment on FiDeal.

Creating a Deal

  1. Go to the dashboard at fideal.app and connect your wallet (see Wallet Setup if you need help).

  2. Click "Create Deal" from the dashboard or navigation.

  3. Set the terms:

    • Amount — How much USDC to lock in escrow.
    • Description — What the deal covers. Be specific — this is what the payee agrees to deliver, and it's used as evidence if there's ever a dispute.
    • Duration — How long the payee has to deliver (7 to 60 days). If the deal expires without delivery, your funds are returned automatically.

  4. Add milestones (optional):

    • Split the deal into staged payments. Each milestone has its own description and amount.
    • Funds release incrementally as each milestone is completed and confirmed.
    • Useful for larger projects where you want to pay as work progresses.

  5. Specify the payee:

    • Enter the payee's wallet address or email.
    • If you leave this open, anyone with the link can accept the deal.

  6. Review and submit.

    • Confirm the total amount, fee breakdown, and terms.
    • Sign the transaction with your connected wallet.
    • Your USDC is locked in the on-chain escrow contract.

  7. Share the link.

    • After creation, you'll get a shareable link. Send it to your payee via email, message, or any channel.

Funding Options

You can fund a deal from multiple sources:

  • Privy wallet (email/Google sign-in) — Fund directly from your email-linked wallet. Easiest option for users new to crypto.
  • Keplr wallet — Fund from your Cosmos wallet with native USDC.
  • MetaMask wallet — Fund from Ethereum, Base, or Arbitrum using EVM USDC.
  • Credit card — Fund via Stripe. Your payment converts to USDC automatically and enters escrow. You never need to hold or manage crypto directly.

Managing Your Deals

From the dashboard, you can view all your deals filtered by status:

  • Active — Deals where funds are locked and waiting for delivery.
  • Completed — Deals where payment has been released.
  • Disputed — Deals with an open dispute.

Click any deal to see its full details: status, timeline, milestones, and available actions.

Confirming Delivery

When the payee marks their work as delivered:

  1. You'll see the deal status change to "Delivery Submitted" on your dashboard.
  2. Review the delivery. Check that the work matches what was agreed.
  3. Release funds. Click "Release Funds" and sign the transaction. The payee receives the USDC minus the settlement fee.

If you're not satisfied with the delivery, you can raise a dispute instead of releasing.

Managing Milestones

If the deal has milestones:

  1. The payee marks each milestone as delivered individually.
  2. You review and release funds for each milestone separately.
  3. The deal is complete when all milestones are released.

Cancelling a Deal

You can cancel a deal before the payee marks delivery:

  • Go to the deal page and click "Cancel."
  • Sign the transaction. Your full deposit is returned — no fees charged.
  • Once the payee has marked delivery, cancellation is no longer available. You can still raise a dispute.

Raising a Dispute

If something goes wrong — the work doesn't match the agreement, communication breaks down, or there's a disagreement — you can raise a dispute at any point before funds are released.

  1. Click "Raise Dispute" on the deal page.
  2. Provide a reason explaining the issue.
  3. The dispute enters a three-tier resolution process:
    • Negotiation — Both parties answer guided questions to try to agree.
    • AI Evaluation — An AI reviews the evidence against the original agreement.
    • Human Review — A human reviewer examines the case if needed.
  4. The resolution will be one of five splits: 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, or 0% to the payee (remainder to you).
  5. If no resolution is reached within 14 days, your funds are returned in full.

Fees

  • 3% settlement fee — Deducted only when funds are released to the payee. Tiered by deal size (higher amounts get a lower rate).
  • No fee on cancellations, refunds, or expired deals.
  • Dispute resolutions — The fee applies only to the payee's portion of any split.

Tips

  • Write clear descriptions. The deal description is the foundation for dispute resolution. Be specific about deliverables, timelines, and quality expectations.
  • Use milestones for large deals. They reduce risk for both sides and keep work on track.
  • Check your deal status regularly. You'll want to release funds promptly once delivery is confirmed — your payee is waiting.
  • Set a realistic duration. Too short and the deal might expire before work is done. Too long and funds are locked unnecessarily.

Next Steps

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Product Overview
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Getting Started for Payees