Escrow.com

Escrow.com operates as a regulated and audited third-party payment platform, specializing in securing online transactions for a diverse client base. The company caters to individuals and businesses engaged in high-value deals where trust and security are paramount. Its services are utilized across various e-commerce sectors, including online marketplaces and auction sites for goods like vehicles, domain names, luxury items, and heavy machinery. Partners have included prominent names like eBay, GoDaddy, and AutoTrader. The business model centers on acting as a neutral intermediary that holds a buyer's funds in a secure trust account. These funds are disbursed to the seller only after the buyer has received and approved the goods or services, mitigating risks for both parties. Revenue is generated from fees charged for each transaction.

The service was established in 1999 by Fidelity National Financial, a major player in the title insurance and real estate services industry. This origin provided a strong foundation in regulated financial services. After a series of ownership changes, including a liquidation by Fidelity in 2002 and a purchase by a private investor in 2004, Escrow.com experienced a pivotal milestone in 2015. It was acquired by Freelancer.com, the world's largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace, for $7.5 million. This acquisition was a strategic move for Freelancer to enhance payment security for its millions of users and to establish a strong foothold in the broader payments sector. Under the leadership of Freelancer's CEO, Matt Barrie, the acquisition aimed to expand Escrow.com's resources for growth in staffing, marketing, and technical development. A significant achievement post-acquisition was facilitating the $15 million sale of the NFTs.com domain name in 2022.

The platform's core function is to provide a clear, step-by-step process for secure transactions. It begins with the buyer and seller agreeing to terms on the platform. The buyer then submits payment directly to Escrow.com's audited trust account. Once the payment is verified, the seller is authorized to ship the merchandise or deliver the service. The buyer is given an inspection period to approve the item, and upon acceptance, Escrow.com releases the funds to the seller. This process effectively eliminates the risk of non-payment for sellers and protects buyers from misrepresented goods or non-delivery. The company offers its services for a wide range of goods and services, from electronics and jewelry to contracted services and milestone-based projects. For developers and businesses, Escrow.com provides an API to integrate its secure payment functionality directly into their own platforms. Keywords: online escrow service, secure payments, transaction management, third-party payments, high-value goods, domain name escrow, vehicle escrow, merchandise protection, e-commerce payments, marketplace payments, Freelancer.com, Fidelity National Financial, Matt Barrie, secure settlement, fraud prevention, buyer protection, seller protection, payment holding, online transaction security, regulated payments, API payment integration, cross-border transactions, asset sales