Arkade Escrow is a lightweight, browser-native escrow platform for instant, trust-minimized Bitcoin deals on Ark—deployable as a standalone web app or seamlessly embedded inside any Ark-enabled wallet via iframe.
Built around a 2-of-3 multisig design (Sender, Receiver, Arbitrator) and powered by the open-source ARK protocol, it lets anyone create, join, fund, and settle escrows with fast, off-chain VTXO pre-confirmations and batched, fee-efficient on-chain settlement.
Escrows form through contracts: one party initiates, the counterparty accepts, and a deterministic Ark address is derived—ready for funding from on-chain Bitcoin.
Release and refund flows are coordinated through partially signed transactions, with co-signing handled directly in the browser or by the host wallet. In case of disputes, the arbitration server can finalize via time-locked Arb+party paths while enforcing configurable service fees and maintaining an auditable event log.
Designed for performance, clarity, and usability, Arkade Escrow provides a polished dashboard for managing active and past escrows, real-time updates, and a minimal built-in wallet for send/receive when running standalone. Whether embedded inside a full wallet or spun up as an ephemeral, single-use signer, it delivers a secure, beginner-friendly path to trust-minimized Bitcoin escrow with no accounts, no custodians, and no friction.
| Standalone (Orderbook) | Hosted (Contract funded) | Hosted (Contract completed) |
|---|---|---|
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Found in ./server/.env
| Variable | Description | Example Value |
|---|---|---|
JWT_SECRET |
Secret to sign the JWT | JWT_SECRET=161a40a6e029a45beb8459f0f5f5a95f66d8 |
PORT |
Port to run the server on | PORT=3002 |
NODE_ENV |
Environment to run the server in (development, production, test) | NODE_ENV=development |
SQLITE_DB_PATH |
Path to the SQLite database file | SQLITE_DB_PATH=./data/db.sqlite |
ARBITRATOR_PUB_KEY |
Public key of the Arbitrator (hex) | ARBITRATOR_PUB_KEY=86f5d11162ab25c88f4af9cc4224161a40a6e029a45beb8459f0f5f5a95f66d8 |
ARBITRATOR_PRIV_KEY |
Private key of the Arbitrator (hex) | ARBITRATOR_PRIV_KEY=62325754772ad366d149517311d5fe5cbccb4746ef0285c393ff67f0ad62dd87 |
ARK_SERVER_URL |
URL of the Ark server to use (e.g. http://localhost:7070) |
ARK_SERVER_URL=http://localhost:7070 |
BACKOFFICE_BASIC_USER |
Basic auth username for the Backoffice API (optional) | BACKOFFICE_BASIC_USER=operator |
BACKOFFICE_BASIC_PASS |
Basic auth password for the Backoffice API (optional) | BACKOFFICE_BASIC_PASS=aPassword |
SHARE_BASE_URL |
The URL to be used for creating "share request" link | SHARE_BASE_URL=http://localhost:3001/client/requests/ |
Found in ./client/.env
| Variable | Description | Example Value |
|---|---|---|
VITE_API_BASE_URL |
Base URL of the API endpoints | VITE_API_BASE_URL=http://localhost:3002/api/v1 |
VITE_APP_ROOT_URL |
Root URL of the client app (e.g. /client) |
VITE_APP_ROOT_URL=/client |
VITE_ITEMS_PER_PAGE |
Default page size for the UI | VITE_ITEMS_PER_PAGE=20 |
Found in ./backoffice/.env
| Variable | Description | Example Value |
|---|---|---|
VITE_API_BASE_URL |
Base URL of the API endpoints | VITE_API_BASE_URL=http://localhost:3002/api/v1 |
VITE_APP_ROOT_URL |
Root URL of the client app (e.g. /client) |
VITE_APP_ROOT_URL=/backoffice |
VITE_ITEMS_PER_PAGE |
Default page size for the UI | VITE_ITEMS_PER_PAGE=20 |
- Node.js >=20
- NPM >= 10
There is a .tool-versions file in the root of the project for use with asdf or mise.
Install dependencies
npm installThe DB is under data/db.sqlite
Using the commands below the page will reload if you make edits.
You will also see any lint and type errors in the console.
Runs the three apps in the development mode.
The server runs by default on port 3002 and the frontend is served as a static website.
Open localhost:3002/api/v1/docs to open the Swagger UI, http://localhost:3002/client/ to open the client app and http://localhost:3002/backoffice/ to open the backoffice app.
The DB is under data/db.sqlite
The page will reload if you make edits.
You will also see any lint and type errors in the console.
Runs the API server in the development mode.
The server runs by default on port 3002.
Open localhost:3002/api/v1/docs to open the Swagger UI.
Runs the Client app in the development mode.
The server runs by default on port 3001 and the frontend is served at
http://localhost:3001.
Runs the Client app in the development mode.
The server runs by default on port 8080 and the frontend is served at
http://localhost:8080.
Runs all the tests, including E2E tests (requires Nigiri)
Start the server:
$ make up
- The server runs by default on port
3002. - Swagger is available at
localhost:3002/api/v1/docs. - Client and Backoffice apps are served under
/clientand/backofficerespectively. - The DB is under
data/db.sqlite
Stop the server:
$ make down
This monorepo-like includes three apps:
- API - the API server (under
./server) - Client - the static web app to be hosted in a wallet provider like https://arkade.money/ (under
./client) or can run standalone - Backoffice - the static admin panel to manage escrows and arbitrations (under
./backoffice)
- NodeJS latest stable (24)
- TypeScript
- NestJS - opinionated API framework with DI, for quick scaffolding and easy testing
- SQLite - for the POC, we may consider other options for production
- Noble cryptography
- Biome.js instead of Prettier/ESLint, it's faster
- Jest test framework
- TypeORM - mostly because it has great NestJS integration
- React - UI framework
- Tailwind - CSS framework