Amount identifies the locked XRP or supported token.
XRP Ledger Escrow Guide
How XRPL escrow works: create, hold, finish or cancel.
XRPL escrow is a native ledger payment feature. An EscrowCreate transaction locks funds for a destination until time or cryptographic conditions allow completion, or until an eligible expired escrow is cancelled.
Create the escrow
EscrowCreate defines the funds, recipient and conditions.
The sender specifies the amount and destination, then supplies an allowed combination of FinishAfter, Condition and CancelAfter fields. Once validated successfully, the ledger creates an Escrow object that holds the funds.
Destination identifies the intended recipient.
FinishAfter can prevent early completion.
CancelAfter can establish an expiration time.
Hold the funds
Locked funds cannot be spent while the escrow remains unresolved.
The escrow exists as a ledger object. The sender remains responsible for its owner reserve while it is open, and settlement must follow the immutable fields established at creation.
Creation does not pay the recipient immediately.
Past time values cannot be used at creation.
Ledger close time determines time comparisons.
Conditional escrows support PREIMAGE-SHA-256 conditions.
Finish successfully
EscrowFinish delivers funds only when the requirements are satisfied.
A time-based escrow cannot finish before FinishAfter. A conditional escrow requires the matching fulfillment. If the transaction succeeds in a validated ledger, the Escrow object is destroyed and the funds reach the destination.
Anyone may submit EscrowFinish.
Required conditions must still be satisfied.
An expired escrow can no longer finish.
Conditional fulfillment increases transaction cost.
Cancel after expiration
Expiration permits cancellation; it does not automatically return funds.
After CancelAfter has passed, anyone may submit EscrowCancel. A successful cancellation destroys the Escrow object and returns the held funds to the sender.
The escrow remains on-ledger after merely expiring.
Cancellation fails before CancelAfter.
Expired escrow cannot be finished.
Completion or cancellation frees the owner reserve.
Official XRPL references
Verify the protocol behavior.
Ledger features and amendments can evolve. Check the current XRP Ledger documentation before implementing or funding a transaction.
XRPL Escrow concepts →Official XRP Ledger documentation used for this guide.EscrowCreate reference →Official XRP Ledger documentation used for this guide.EscrowFinish reference →Official XRP Ledger documentation used for this guide.EscrowCancel reference →Official XRP Ledger documentation used for this guide.
Frequently asked questions
How XRPL Escrow Works
What is XRPL escrow?
XRPL escrow is a native ledger feature that locks funds for a destination until specified time or cryptographic conditions permit settlement.
Does XRPL escrow refund automatically at expiration?
No. After expiration, an EscrowCancel transaction must successfully cancel the escrow and return the funds.
Who can finish an XRPL escrow?
Anyone can submit EscrowFinish, but all applicable time and cryptographic conditions must be satisfied.
Can XRPL escrow judge freelance work?
No. Native escrow evaluates ledger time and cryptographic conditions, not subjective off-chain work quality.
Explore XRPL Infrastructure →See the commercial solution and payment workflow.Read More Payment Guides →Explore crypto escrow, milestone contracts and safer internet work.Follow the Money →Understand verification, release, refunds and fee routing.Review the Risks →Understand what payment infrastructure can and cannot protect.
Rules before risk
Structure the agreement before money or work changes hands.
Create a wallet-based contract with defined milestones, deadlines, review rules and XRP settlement instructions.