> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.boundlessfi.xyz/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # How Boundless works > How Boundless connects people who need work done with people who can do it using escrow so everyone gets paid fairly. > **TL;DR:** Boundless connects people who need work done with people who can do it using blockchain escrow so everyone gets paid fairly, without needing to trust each other. ## What you'll learn * Why Boundless uses escrow instead of trust * How reputation works across bounties, grants, hackathons, and crowdfunding * How money flows from posting a bounty to getting paid * How Boundless differs from traditional and other Web3 platforms *** ## The problem with traditional platforms On platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Kickstarter: * **Trust is required:** You hope the client pays, or the creator delivers. * **Disputes are messy:** Manual arbitration, frozen funds, unclear outcomes. * **Reputation is isolated:** Your rating on one platform doesn't help you elsewhere. **Boundless addresses this with three ideas:** *** ## 1. On-chain escrow (no trust needed) Instead of paying creators upfront or hoping clients pay after: **Every payment goes into escrow.** Boundless uses Boundless's on-chain escrow for escrow infrastructure on Stellar: secure, non-custodial, milestone-based. ``` Creator submits work ↓ Reviewer verifies it matches requirements ↓ Escrow releases payment to the creator ``` **What this means for you:** * **Creators:** You're guaranteed payment if you deliver what was agreed. * **Clients and backers:** You only pay when work is verified. * **Platform:** No manual payment handoffs; escrow enforces the rules. [How on-chain escrow works](/concepts/escrow-and-human-review) *** ## 2. Unified reputation (one score, everywhere) Your track record follows you across every module: | Activity | Reputation impact | | ---------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | | Complete a bounty with a good outcome | Higher completion and quality scores | | Win a hackathon and ship post-event milestones | Strong completion and collaboration signal | | Successfully deliver a grant | Better timeliness and quality | | Deliver on a crowdfunding campaign | Positive completion history | | Abandon work or lose disputes | Reputation can go down | **Why this matters:** * A hackathon win can make you more competitive for grants. * Grant delivery can unlock higher-value bounties. * Reputation is on-chain and portable. [Reputation system explained](/concepts/reputation) *** ## 3. Four modules, one platform One account, one wallet, one reputation and four ways to work: * **Hackathons** Time-boxed events. You build, submit, and winners get prizes from escrow; some events have post-event milestones. * **Crowdfunding** Campaign-based. Creators set milestones; backers fund; escrow releases money as milestones are approved. * **Bounties** Task-based. You complete a task, get paid from escrow. * **Grants** Milestone-based funding. You apply, get accepted, deliver milestones, get paid per milestone. **Example journey:** 1. You complete several bounties -> Your reputation grows (e.g., Contributor tier). 2. You join a hackathon, win, and ship post-event milestones -> You move up (e.g., Established tier). 3. You apply for a grant -> Reviewers see your track record -> You get approved. 4. You launch a crowdfunding campaign -> Backers trust your history -> You get funded. *** ## How money flows (example: bounty) The four-step Boundless flow: Fund, Work, Review, Settle ### Step 1: Bounty is posted Project creates a bounty (e.g., "Design a logo 2,000 USDC"). Funds are locked in escrow. ### Step 2: You apply or claim You apply (or claim, depending on the bounty type). The project reviews and selects you. ### Step 3: You deliver You submit the work. The project reviews and approves it. ### Step 4: Payment is released Escrow sends the USDC to your wallet. The transaction is on-chain. Your reputation updates. **Total time:** Minutes after approval (once the release is processed). *** ## How this differs from Web2 | Traditional platforms | Boundless | | --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | | Manual payment processing | Escrow releases automatically when conditions are met | | Trust-based (hope they pay) | Escrow enforces payment; a human decides the outcome | | Siloed reputation | Cross-module, on-chain reputation | | Platform holds your money | You control your wallet | | Fiat only | Paid in USDC; convert to local currency via an exchange | | Opaque fees | Transparent, on-chain fees | *** ## How this differs from other Web3 platforms | Other Web3 platforms | Boundless | | ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | | Code bounties only | All skills (design, writing, research, community) | | Hackathons end at submission | Winners can continue through post-event milestones | | Grants distributed upfront | Milestone-based escrow release | | Crowdfunding with no accountability | Milestone validation and escrow release | | Wallet complexity (seed phrases) | Managed balance (no seed phrase); passkey sign-in coming soon | *** ## Next steps * **Try it:** [Quick start](/start-here/create-your-account) (about 5 minutes) * **Understand escrow:** [On-chain escrow explained](/concepts/escrow-and-human-review) * **Understand reputation:** [Reputation system](/concepts/reputation) *** ## Need help? * **Platform:** [Boundless](https://www.boundlessfi.xyz) * "What if the reviewer is biased?" -> [Dispute resolution](/help/disputes-and-moderation) * "Do I need to understand blockchain?" -> [Wallets and accounts](/concepts/wallet-and-balance) * "How do I convert USDC to my local currency?" -> [Converting USDC to local currency](/reference/converting-usdc) [Discord](https://discord.gg/cNabHsV7PN) · [Support](mailto:support@boundlessfi.xyz) · [FAQ](/faq/general)