An escrow arrangement separates committed funds from immediate control by either party. Release conditions can depend on delivery evidence, time, signatures, dispute outcomes, or another machine-verifiable event.
Escrow can support off-chain vouchers and delayed settlement by ensuring funds are reserved, but the design introduces custody, rule interpretation, availability, governance, and dispute risks. Participants must know who or what controls release and recovery.
ELI5
Escrow is a holding place for money while a transaction is being completed. The buyer cannot freely reuse the reserved funds, and the seller receives them only when the agreed conditions are met.
For example, an agent's wallet could place a small budget in escrow and receive vouchers for many purchases. Later, the system settles valid vouchers from that reserved amount and returns any unused balance.
