Mentor Group Gold - AD Thread! [ESCROW] Zenland - Smart Contract Escrow Platform | Community-Driven, Fees from 1.75%

[Zenland]

 

[Zenland]

Hello OCT Community,

I'm following up on the escrow service marketplace thread. I'm the founder of Zenland, and I want to be fully transparent about what we're building and why we're here.

We're developing a standardized escrow solution for crypto transactions, starting with a simple but crucial goal: making peer-to-peer trades safer. While we recognize that escrow isn't perfect (like in cases where a buyer claims they received rocks instead of an iPhone), we believe the OCT community's experience is invaluable in building a better system.

Our Current Implementation:
- Smart contract-based escrow system with verified agents
- Transparent agent selection process with public reputation tracking
- Server-hosted contract templates (moving towards full decentralization)

Important Note: While we offer default Zenland agents, we recommend not using them for complex trades like company acquisitions. These require specialized expertise that we currently don't claim to have.

Planned Features:
1. Direct Escrow Contracts
- No arbitrator needed
- Buyer locks funds until satisfied
- Both parties must agree for fund returns

2. Arbitrated Escrow Contracts
- Agents can set preferences for contract participation
- Custom fee settings (fixed or percentage-based)
- Complex cases can be escalated to community governance
- Additional security for high-risk trades

Near-term Development:
- Factory contract for standardized deployment
- Community-driven improvements
- Transition to DAO governance

Future Participation Opportunities:
We're looking for community members who understand the pain points of crypto trading to help shape this platform in several ways:

1. Platform Development
- Testing and providing feedback
- Helping improve user experience
- Participating in security reviews

2. Strategic Involvement
- Becoming an advisor
- Early-stage investment opportunities
- Joining the future DAO governance
- Contributing as an escrow agent

Platform Testing:
We understand the importance of hands-on experience. We've set up a test environment on Polygon where community members can try the platform's features. Reach out if you'd like to participate in our testing program.

Why We're Here:
We want to build this with the OCT community. This isn't about quick profits or empty promises. We're building a sustainable platform that addresses real needs, and we're starting with the community that knows these challenges best.

Happy to answer any questions or concerns openly in this thread.

 

[rss]

If you provide the code, what's stopping people from copying it and deploying it by themselves without paying a 1.75% fee?

 

[JohnnyDoe]

If you provide the code, what's stopping people from copying it and deploying it by themselves without paying a 1.75% fee?

What about the agents?

I like the idea in principle but what would prevent collusion between a party and an agent?

 

[TheCryptoAnt]

imagine the smell

 

[Zenland]

If you provide the code, what's stopping people from copying it and deploying it by themselves without paying a 1.75% fee?

While our contract code is open source (https://github.com/zenland-dao/contracts/blob/main/escrow/Escrow_v1.0.0.sol), the key value lies in trust and security. When deploying independently, both parties must trust the deployment process, as malicious code could be added that prevents proper fund transfers. That's where Zenland adds value - we provide verified, audited contracts and transparent processes. Additionally, half of our 1.75% fee goes directly to escrow agents as commission for their services.

What about the agents?

I like the idea in principle but what would prevent collusion between a party and an agent?

Great question about agent integrity. Our current trust model is reputation-based - our agents are active members of various internet communities who have built their reputations over years.

For example, @JohnnyDoe, you could become an agent yourself, and OCT members could choose you based on your established reputation here.

We're also developing additional security measures:
- Agent staking requirements
- Insurance pools for contracts
- Community governance oversight

We're actively seeking input from experienced community members like yourself to help build a system that's as secure and trustworthy as possible.

imagine the smell

Thanks for your interest in Zenland. We're happy to discuss our platform's features, security measures, or any technical questions you may have.

 

[JohnnyDoe]

Great question about agent integrity. Our current trust model is reputation-based - our agents are active members of various internet communities who have built their reputations over years.

For example, @JohnnyDoe, you could become an agent yourself, and OCT members could choose you based on your established reputation here.

I don’t like an escrow system where parties can choose the arbitrator.

Instead, I suggest to implement a decentralized pool of arbitrators, among which they are chosen randomly, ensuring no single entity consistently acts as arbitrator.

When a dispute arises, parties submit evidence to the arbitrators without revealing sensitive data on-chain, preserving privacy while maintaining verifiability.

Arbitrators could be required to stake tokens to participate. Collusion or biased rulings result in penalties and slashing of their staked funds, discouraging dishonest behavior.

The system should be governed by a DAO controlled by the arbitrators themselves and the founders.

Of course all this requires some critical mass to be able to lift off and start functioning properly.

Otherwise, why not just use the OCT escrow service?

 

[kokunut]

If @JohnnyDoe become arbitrator, I want to ask how I can trust him not to be paid by seller to decide in sellers favor anytime?

 

[W Fish]

Why should I choose you over a notary?

 

[JohnnyDoe]

Why should I choose you over a notary?

Try to explain the blockchain to a notary

 

[JohnnyDoe]

If @JohnnyDoe become arbitrator, I want to ask how I can trust him not to be paid by seller to decide in sellers favor anytime?

Exactly. The blockchain should allow trustless transactions.

(still, you should trust me, bro)

 

[JosephLL]

Another attempt at creating perpetuum mobile . The only reason why these type of tools work is actually the good will of the users. If you gwt stuck, God forbid, in a dispute, it's over...

 

[rss]

While our contract code is open source (https://github.com/zenland-dao/contracts/blob/main/escrow/Escrow_v1.0.0.sol), the key value lies in trust and security. When deploying independently, both parties must trust the deployment process, as malicious code could be added that prevents proper fund transfers. That's where Zenland adds value - we provide verified, audited contracts and transparent processes. Additionally, half of our 1.75% fee goes directly to escrow agents as commission for their services.

You can deploy it and verify the code on-chain just like any other contract.

 

[kokunut]

(still, you should trust me, bro)

You can deploy it and verify the code on-chain just like any other contract.

How can they decide if I get my money as buyer or not? if I buy a cloaked stripe account from you and @JohnnyDoe has to say yes or no it works, I say it don't work, seller say it does?

 

[W Fish]

Try to explain the blockchain to a notary

Well, using a blockchain addres is not more difficult than using a (escrow) bank account, understanding the blockchain is required exactly as much as understanding banking back office software for using bank escrow.
I dont think there is grounds for suspecting that general understandig of blockchain among notarys is worse than among the population in general. I

 

[JohnnyDoe]

Well, using a blockchain addres is not more difficult than using a (escrow) bank account, understanding the blockchain is required exactly as much as understanding banking back office software for using bank escrow.
I dont think there is grounds for suspecting that general understandig of blockchain among notarys is worse than among the population in general. I

Please call me when you find one such notary.

 

[rss]

How can they decide if I get my money as buyer or not? if I buy a cloaked stripe account from you and @JohnnyDoe has to say yes or no it works, I say it don't work, seller say it does?

Exactly, you still have to trust them making the right decision.

Why not build a network of people you can deal with without any escrow?

 

[JosephLL]

Exactly, you still have to trust them making the right decision.

Why not build a network of people you can deal with without any escrow?

That is an ill posed problem. Satoshi did not solve the paradox of distributed computing. It circumvented it by changing the defition of true statement (The true statement is the one that comes with the proof that it expanded the most heat in order to proliferate it). But this approach is possible only(!) with a pure informational token. It cannot solve any problem where that statement is about change of ownership of something that exists in thermodynamical realm (real-estate, "identity" == one oair of eyes, gold ounce, so forth) That's why "bitcoin not blockchain".

 

[W Fish]

Please call me when you find one such notary.

The reason I will not find one now is not their lack of blockchain understanding thoug.

 

[Zenland]

I don’t like an escrow system where parties can choose the arbitrator.
Instead, I suggest to implement a decentralized pool of arbitrators, among which they are chosen randomly, ensuring no single entity consistently acts as arbitrator.

Thank you for this suggestion. Actually, this was our initial implementation of the agent-based escrow system. However, after gathering feedback from various communities, we discovered a crucial insight: users often prefer choosing agents they already know and trust from their community.

For example, when trading SEO services or domains, users might prefer selecting a respected forum member who understands their specific field rather than using our default Zenland agents. A random agent selection, while seeming more decentralized, doesn't guarantee the agent will understand what the trade is about or have the community's trust.

We found that community trust and familiarity often play a key role in users' choice of agents.

When a dispute arises, parties submit evidence to the arbitrators without revealing sensitive data on-chain, preserving privacy while maintaining verifiability.

Exactly - this is how Zenland currently operates. Our platform features a secure chat system that:

1. Logs all contract interactions automatically
2. Allows parties to discuss delivery details privately
3. Maintains privacy by default - chat history is only visible to trading parties
4. Gives access to the agent only when explicitly invited on-chain by one of the parties

This ensures both privacy and verifiability: sensitive trade details remain private between parties until dispute resolution becomes necessary.

Arbitrators could be required to stake tokens to participate. Collusion or biased rulings result in penalties and slashing of their staked funds, discouraging dishonest behavior.
The system should be governed by a DAO controlled by the arbitrators themselves and the founders.
Of course all this requires some critical mass to be able to lift off and start functioning properly.

Absolutely - this aligns with our roadmap and that's exactly why we're here building with the community. You're right that these features need critical mass first, which is why we're focusing on growing organically with community input before implementing advanced governance features.

Otherwise, why not just use the OCT escrow service?

We're genuinely impressed with @JohnLocke's escrow service and the strong community trust he has built. However, Zenland serves a different need:

1. Instant deployment - users can create contracts immediately without contacting anyone
2. Privacy focused - no need to explain trade details unless a dispute occurs
3. Suitable for smaller trades - automated process makes it practical even for $5 transactions

Additionally, we're developing agent-free contracts where buyers can simply lock funds until delivery is satisfactory, making the process even more streamlined.

If @JohnnyDoe become arbitrator, I want to ask how I can trust him not to be paid by seller to decide in sellers favor anytime?

How can they decide if I get my money as buyer or not? if I buy a cloaked stripe account from you and @JohnnyDoe has to say yes or no it works, I say it don't work, seller say it does?

Thank you for these important questions, @kokunut.

Regarding trust: It comes down to reputation. If @JohnnyDoe has built stronger community trust than your trading partner, using them as an escrow agent is safer than direct trading. Think of it as reducing risk - while there's never 100% guarantee, you're choosing to trust someone with more to lose (their established reputation) over someone with less.

Regarding dispute resolution: We've implemented several safeguards:
1. Agents examine evidence from both parties
2. Higher complexity cases earn agents higher commissions, incentivizing thorough review
3. Our smart contract can split funds when absolute truth is hard to determine
4. In complex disputes, the agent can split 97% between parties while taking 3% fee (detailed in our Agents Handbook)

This way, even in worst-case scenarios, you might recover partial funds rather than losing everything. It also serves as a valuable lesson about choosing trading partners carefully.

Why should I choose you over a notary?

Thank you for your interest, @W Fish.

Zenland serves a different market than notaries. We're a smart contract platform designed for everyday digital transactions, where funds are locked until delivery satisfaction. Our users typically trade between $10-$15,000 - a range where notary services would be impractical due to cost and time constraints.

Think of us more as an automated escrow for digital services and goods, rather than traditional real estate escrow.

You can deploy it and verify the code on-chain just like any other contract.

True, but this requires both parties to be proficient in Solidity. Even a single character change in the contract could make it malicious. We provide verified, audited contracts so users don't need to be smart contract experts to trade safely.

Why not build a network of people you can deal with without any escrow?

Good point! While building trusted networks is ideal, we've actually observed an interesting trend: even users who have successfully traded before continue using escrow contracts for their subsequent deals. It shows that even trusted relationships benefit from the security and clarity that smart contracts provide.

Another attempt at creating perpetuum mobile . The only reason why these type of tools work is actually the good will of the users. If you gwt stuck, God forbid, in a dispute, it's over...

That is an ill posed problem. Satoshi did not solve the paradox of distributed computing. It circumvented it by changing the defition of true statement (The true statement is the one that comes with the proof that it expanded the most heat in order to proliferate it). But this approach is possible only(!) with a pure informational token. It cannot solve any problem where that statement is about change of ownership of something that exists in thermodynamical realm (real-estate, "identity" == one oair of eyes, gold ounce, so forth) That's why "bitcoin not blockchain".

You raise profound points about the fundamental limitations of blockchain in bridging digital and physical realms. Indeed, we're not claiming to solve the underlying philosophical paradox of trust and verification in physical transactions.

What we're building is more practical: a system that reduces, rather than eliminates, trust requirements. Our smart contracts create a verifiable checkpoint where funds are provably locked before physical delivery begins. This doesn't solve the oracle problem, but it does shift the trust dynamics.

When disputes arise, we acknowledge we're still dependent on human judgment and good faith. That's why we're building towards a DAO with a "Book of Precedents" - not to create a perpetual motion machine of trust, but to establish better frameworks for handling these inherent limitations.

We're under no illusion of perfect trustlessness - we're simply trying to make existing trust systems more efficient and accountable through smart contracts.

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I've been especially looking forward to joining this forum because of the intellectual depth of its community. This kind of thoughtful criticism is exactly what Zenland needs to build something truly valuable.

Diornov
Zenland Founder