Escrow, built for
Ethiopian commerce.
Ethi-Trust is the trust layer for Ethiopian marketplaces. Open an account, generate a secure escrow link, and close high-value deals between buyers and sellers — without the bank queues, the disputes, or the sleepless nights.
- Held in escrow
- ETB 2.8B
- Avg. release
- 48h
- Dispute rate
- 0.12%
Integrated with
- Chapa
NBE Licensed
Regulated under National Bank of Ethiopia guidelines
Bank-Grade Security
256-bit encryption for all transactions
Funds Protected
Held in licensed Ethiopian commercial banks
KYB Verified
All businesses undergo verification
Fair Disputes
Neutral arbitration for all parties
Audit Trail
Complete transaction history
How it works
Three steps from handshake to settlement.
Built so a procurement team can use it on a Tuesday and an engineering team can embed it on a Wednesday. Simple and straightforward.
- 01Business nameTIN00-•••••42VerifiedContinue
Open a verified account
Sign up your business in minutes. KYB and trade license checks run in the background while you set up your team, roles, and payout rails.
- Fast KYB verification
- Multi-seat workspaces
- API keys + webhooks
- 02Escrow linkDraft↗ethitrust.et/e/8f3-addisAmountETB 482KReleaseOn deliverySend to buyer
Generate a secure escrow link
Drop a link into a checkout, an email, or a Telegram message. Each link is a tamper-proof contract: amount, terms, milestones, and release conditions.
- 1-click link or REST API
- Milestones & partial releases
- Auto-expiry & reminders
- 03BuyerESCROWSellerFunds depositedDoneGoods shippedDoneBuyer acceptedPending
Close the trade — trustfully
Funds sit in a regulated escrow account until both sides confirm. If something goes sideways, our resolution flow steps in. No funds lost. No relationships burned.
- Buyer & seller acceptance
- Dispute resolution included
- Audit-ready receipts
Platform metrics
Numbers that speak
trust.
Processed securely through our platform
Across all regions of Ethiopia
Zero security breaches since launch
From confirmation to fund release
Why teams choose Ethi-Trust
Trust, made operational.
We packaged the boring, regulated parts of B2B payments — trust accounts, KYB, dispute resolution — into a few primitives your team can ship in an afternoon.
Bank-grade by design
NBE Compliant · Audited · Encrypted
- 256-bit encryption
- MFA required
- Role-based access
- Immutable audit log
Regulated, segregated funds
Every Birr sits in a licensed Ethiopian commercial bank trust account — never on Ethi-Trust's balance sheet.
Milestone releases
Split a deal into shipments, deliverables, or sign-offs. Funds release the moment each milestone is met.
Embeddable APIs
REST + webhooks let your platform create escrows, listen for events, and trigger payouts in a few lines.
Multi-currency settlement
Hold in USD, EUR, GBP, or local currency. FX is locked at link creation so neither side gets surprised.
Audit-ready receipts
Every action — KYB, deposit, release, dispute — is signed and archived. Export to your ERP in one click.
Built-in dispute resolution
If a trade goes sideways, our licensed mediators step in. Most cases resolve in under 72 hours.
For e-commerce platforms
Drop-in escrow for the
cart you already have.
Ethi-Trust integrates with Ethiopian e-commerce platforms and ERPs. Add a "Pay with Escrow" option to high-ticket B2B transactions in a single day — no replatforming required.
- IntegrationsChapa
- SDKsTypeScript, Python, Java
- EventsWebhooks + REST API
- IdentityKYB, Trade License, TIN
import { EthiTrust } from "@ethitrust/sdk";
const ethitrust = new EthiTrust(process.env.ETHITRUST_KEY);
// 1. Create an escrow link from the buyer's cart
const escrow = await ethitrust.escrows.create({
buyer: { email: "ops@addisimports.et" },
seller: { email: "sales@bahirdarsteel.et" },
amount: { value: 482_000_00, currency: "ETB" },
terms: "Release on signed delivery receipt",
milestones: [
{ label: "Goods shipped", release: 0.5 },
{ label: "Buyer accepted", release: 0.5 },
],
});
// 2. Send the secure link
await sendEmail(buyer, escrow.url);
// → https://ethitrust.et/e/8f3-addis-steel
// 3. Listen for settlement
ethitrust.on("escrow.released", (e) => {
ledger.markPaid(e.id, e.amount);
});Trusted by Ethiopian businesses
“We were running millions of Birr monthly through bank transfers and WhatsApp confirmations. Ethi-Trust turned that into a link our buyers actually trust — and our finance team finally sleeps.”
“Before Ethi-Trust, we lost deals because buyers were nervous about paying upfront. Now our escrow link closes deals faster than our old process ever did.”
“The milestone releases changed everything. Our suppliers ship faster knowing funds are secured, and our warehouse only pays when goods arrive.”
“As a seller, I was always worried about chargebacks and payment disputes. Ethi-Trust protects both sides — my revenue is secure and buyers trust me more.”
“We integrated Ethi-Trust into our marketplace in one afternoon. Transaction disputes dropped by 90% in the first month alone.”
“Cross-border B2B trade was always risky. Ethi-Trust gives our international partners confidence to do business with Ethiopian suppliers.”
Simple pricing
Pay only when you
close deals.
No hidden fees, no setup costs. You only pay a small percentage when funds are successfully released from escrow.
Starter
For small businesses starting with escrow
- Up to ETB 500K monthly volume
- Basic KYB verification
- Email support
- Standard escrow links
- 48-hour settlement
Business
For growing businesses with higher volume
- Up to ETB 5M monthly volume
- Priority KYB verification
- Phone & email support
- Custom escrow terms
- 24-hour settlement
- Multi-user accounts
- API access
Enterprise
For large organizations with custom needs
- Unlimited transaction volume
- Dedicated account manager
- 24/7 priority support
- White-label solution
- Same-day settlement
- Custom integrations
- SLA guarantees
- On-premise deployment
Common questions
Everything you
need to know.
Can't find what you're looking for? Reach out to our support team and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.
Contact supportEscrow is a financial arrangement where a third party (Ethi-Trust) holds funds on behalf of two parties in a transaction. The money is only released when both parties confirm that the agreed-upon conditions have been met. This protects buyers from paying for goods they never receive, and sellers from delivering without getting paid.
Most businesses can complete the verification process in under 24 hours. You'll need to provide basic business documentation including your trade license, TIN certificate, and identification for authorized signers. Once verified, you can create escrow links immediately.
Currently, Ethi-Trust primarily supports Ethiopian Birr (ETB) for domestic transactions. We also support USD, EUR, and GBP for international trade. Currency conversion rates are locked at the time the escrow link is created, protecting both parties from exchange rate fluctuations.
If either party raises a concern, our dispute resolution team steps in. Both parties submit evidence, and our licensed mediators review the case. Most disputes are resolved within 72 hours. If mediation fails, the case can be escalated to binding arbitration. Throughout the process, funds remain safely held in escrow.
Yes. All funds held in escrow are maintained in segregated trust accounts at licensed Ethiopian commercial banks. These accounts are separate from Ethi-Trust's operational funds and are protected under Ethiopian banking regulations.
Absolutely. We provide REST APIs, webhooks, and SDKs for TypeScript, Python, and Java. You can automate escrow creation, monitor transaction status, and trigger payouts directly from your ERP, e-commerce platform, or custom software.
There's no minimum for the Starter plan. For Business and Enterprise plans, we recommend transactions above ETB 10,000 to maximize the value of escrow protection relative to fees.
Every business on Ethi-Trust undergoes KYB (Know Your Business) verification. You can see their verification status, business registration details, and transaction history before entering into an escrow agreement. This transparency builds trust before any money changes hands.
Get started
Your next deal,
held in trust.
Open an Ethi-Trust account in under five minutes. No setup fee, no monthly minimum — you only pay on settled escrows.
Or talk to sales · No card required