How HoldynWorks
Every online transaction carries counterparty risk
Holdyn is a transaction infrastructure that allows two parties to create an agreement where funds are locked and released only when predefined conditions are met.
No more paying upfront and hoping for delivery. No more delivering work and hoping for payment. Holdyn removes that risk for both sides.
Important: Holdyn Inc, a Delaware corporation, is a Payment Facilitation Platform. All funds are held by Stripe, Inc., a licensed money transmitter. Holdyn administers payment transactions and facilitates dispute resolution. By using Holdyn, you authorize us to administer the dispute resolution process and to execute fund distribution through Stripe according to the outcome of the resolution path chosen by the parties — direct settlement, Holdyn-facilitated mediation, or external arbitration.
View Stripe Terms of ServiceHow a Transaction Works
Five steps from agreement to settlement
Create the Transaction
Define the terms of the agreement between both parties.
Fund from your Wallet
The Sender funds the transaction from their Holdyn Wallet (top up via card, bank, or stablecoin). Funds move into Secure Hold on the Beneficiary's Stripe Connected Account — Holdyn never custodies the money.
Work or Goods Delivered
The agreed service or product is provided by the beneficiary.
Verification
Both parties confirm that the agreed conditions have been met.
Funds Released
Payment is manually or automatically released to the beneficiary once conditions are met. For deposit transactions, funds are returned to the depositor.
Roles & Responsibilities
Understanding who does what in the payment protection process
Holdyn
Platform Provider
Manages the transaction logic and agreement infrastructure — creating transactions, defining conditions, tracking milestones, messaging, and dispute resolution.
- Transaction creation and management tools
- Payment-stage tracking and conditions
- Secure messaging between parties
- Dispute initiation and evidence collection
- Notifications and reminders
- Document storage and e-signatures
Stripe
Licensed Money Transmitter
Securely holds and processes funds until the transaction conditions are verified. Handles all financial operations, compliance, and fund disbursement.
- Secure payment processing
- Fund custody and holding
- Bank-grade security and encryption
- Regulatory compliance (PCI-DSS, etc.)
- Fund disbursement to beneficiaries
- Chargeback and fraud protection
Built for the moment things don't go to plan
Holdyn doesn't leave dispute resolution to chance.
If a disagreement arises, the transaction freezes automatically — protecting both sides until it's resolved. No funds move. No pressure. No leverage games.
Resolve it directly
If the path forward is clear and both sides are willing, disputes can be resolved directly between the parties — no third party needed.
Holdyn's platform supports the process, keeping the conversation structured and the outcome documented.
Holdyn mediation
When a neutral hand is needed, Holdyn's own mediation is available — a structured review of transaction terms, evidence, and message history.
Funds remain frozen until resolution is reached.
External resolution
For disputes that require external resolution — legal, arbitration, or a professional mediator — Holdyn can help facilitate that process too.
Funds stay protected throughout, releasing only once a real resolution is reached.
Whatever the outcome, it's handled. That's the point.
Compliance Review (rare, automatic)
An automated risk layer occasionally flags a transaction for routine admin review before activation, funding, or release. While in review, those actions are paused — typically 1–2 business days. The Sender and Beneficiary are notified when it clears; if rejected, any held funds are returned to the Sender.
This is how Holdyn keeps the platform safe for everyone, without making every user fill out lengthy forms upfront.
Working with someone without a Holdyn account?
No problem. Guest counterparties receive a secure magic-link email and join the transaction in seconds — full account registration is only required when claiming funds or escalating to a dispute.
Magic-link email
Opens a scoped session for the one transaction
Step-up OTP
Money actions require a one-time email code
30-day claim window
Register and verify to claim Beneficiary funds
Account on escalation
Disputes require a full Holdyn account
Built for Every Transaction Type
From freelance projects to enterprise procurement
Freelance & Contract Work
e.g., a company hires a developer and payment is released when the project is delivered
Milestone-Based Projects
e.g., a marketing agency receives payment after each campaign milestone is completed
High-Value Transactions
e.g., the sender pays for a luxury watch and funds are released after delivery confirmation
B2B Services & Retainers
e.g., a consulting firm receives payment once agreed deliverables are verified
Supplier & Procurement
e.g., a retailer releases payment to a supplier once goods are delivered
Security Deposits & Rentals
e.g., a tenant's security deposit is held and returned to them once the property is in good condition
Digital Deliverables
e.g., payment for software, code, or digital assets released after delivery
Revenue Protection
e.g., an e-commerce company releases revenue only after orders are shipped or the return window passes
Built-In Trust Signals
Every layer of Holdyn is designed to build confidence between parties
Verified User Identities
All users complete identity verification before transacting, ensuring you know who you're dealing with.
Transaction History
View a counterparty's transaction track record to make informed decisions before entering an agreement.
Dispute Resolution Process
Disputes freeze the transaction automatically. Three paths to resolution: directly between parties, Holdyn's mediation, or external arbitration. Funds release only on real resolution.
Reputation Badges
Users earn trust badges based on completed transactions, response times, and dispute history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about payment protection
Who holds my money?
All funds are held by Stripe, Inc., a licensed money transmitter. Holdyn never touches, holds, or controls your funds. When you deposit money for a transaction, it goes directly to Stripe's secure payment infrastructure.
Does Holdyn hold my money?
No. Holdyn is a Payment Facilitation Platform that provides the technology for creating and managing payment transactions; Holdyn does NOT hold or custody user funds and is NOT a money transmitter. All fund custody is handled by Stripe, Inc., which IS licensed as a money transmitter in all 50 US states. Stripe holds the money under their license; Holdyn directs Stripe to release or refund according to the agreed terms of the transaction.
How are my funds protected?
Your funds are protected by Stripe's bank-grade security, which includes PCI-DSS Level 1 compliance (the highest level), encryption, and fraud detection. Stripe is regulated by financial authorities and holds appropriate licenses for money transmission.
What happens if there's a dispute?
The transaction freezes automatically — no funds move, no pressure, no leverage games. From there, both parties choose how to proceed: resolve it directly with Holdyn's platform supporting a structured conversation, request Holdyn's own mediation if a neutral hand is needed, or escalate to external resolution (legal, arbitration, or a professional mediator) which Holdyn helps facilitate. Funds stay held by Stripe throughout and release only once a real resolution is reached.
How do I know my payment is secure?
All payments are processed through Stripe's secure infrastructure. You'll receive email confirmations for all transactions, and you can track the status of funds in real-time through your Holdyn dashboard.
Ready to Protect Your Transactions?
Create secure payment transactions with confidence, knowing your funds are protected by Stripe's trusted infrastructure.
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