Best for: Traders who want a non-custodial Bitcoin marketplace with multisig escrow and no KYC.
Consider if: You are comfortable negotiating premiums, confirming fiat payments, and managing your own wallet.
Not ideal when: You need instant card funding, automated recurring buys, or regulated exchange assurances.
Gotcha: Losing your 2FA device without backup codes can delay support mediated recovery.
Gotcha: Counterparties respond faster when you stay in chat and confirm payments promptly.
Gotcha: If the other party stalls, open a dispute so support can join the contract.
Most contracts settle within the payment window set by the seller, often under an hour for instant rails and longer for bank transfers.
Yes. Switch to the Testnet environment from the top menu and run mock trades with test coins until you are comfortable.
Open a dispute from the contract and Hodl Hodl staff can co-sign the multisig to release funds once evidence is reviewed.
On-chain mining fee paid by the seller
What happens:
The seller sends bitcoin from their wallet into a unique Hodl Hodl 2-of-3 escrow address before the fiat transfer starts. Once the transaction confirms, both parties can move to the payment step.
Save money:
Batch escrow funding when you can and use mempool-based fee estimation to pick a low congestion window.
The escrow address and funding status are visible inside the contract timeline.
Trading fee: 0.6% split equally (0.3% per side)
What happens:
Hodl Hodl deducts the fee from the release transaction once both sides confirm payment, so no custodial account ever holds your bitcoin.
Save money:
Build reputation and negotiate premiums with trusted traders to keep your all-in price close to spot.
Premiums vary by offer; review the contract summary before you lock in a trade.
Bitcoin network fee chosen during release
What happens:
When the seller unlocks the escrow, the release transaction broadcasts from the multisig address to the buyer's wallet. The seller picks the fee level based on current mempool conditions.
Save money:
Agree on fee levels before you trade and pick lower-fee windows when time allows.
You can review the fee slider under Contract -> Transaction fee before confirming the release.
The seller covers the on-chain fee to fund escrow and can choose the release fee, while the buyer only pays their own wallet fee if they move coins again.
The fee is withheld from the escrow release once both parties confirm payment, so no extra invoice or deposit is needed.
Yes. The seller can adjust the release fee inside the contract before broadcasting, and you both see the change in the chat history.
Best for: Larger trades when both parties can wait for bank settlement.
| Min per transaction | Set by the offer |
|---|---|
| Max per transaction | Scales with your limit level |
| Max per day | Scales with your limit level |
| Max per week | Scales with your limit level |
| Withdrawal eligibility | Release triggered once fiat clears |
Best for: Local trades when you want face-to-face settlement without banking rails.
Best for: Cross-border trades when both parties already use the same fintech apps.
| Min per transaction | Set by the offer |
|---|---|
| Max per transaction | Follows platform limits and your Hodl Hodl tier |
| Max per day | Follows platform limits and your Hodl Hodl tier |
| Max per week | Follows platform limits and your Hodl Hodl tier |
| Withdrawal eligibility | Release after the online wallet shows the funds settled |
2-of-3 control Escrow visible on-chain
Each Hodl Hodl trade locks bitcoin in a 2-of-3 multisig address controlled by you, the counterparty, and support, so neither party can move funds alone. You can verify the escrow address on-chain before sending fiat, keeping coins outside company custody while disputes still have a resolution path.
Gotcha: Escrow funding needs at least one on-chain confirmation before the buyer should send fiat.
Rehearse every step No real sats at risk
Hodl Hodl's Testnet environment lets you rehearse trades with valueless coins before risking real sats, so you learn the escrow flow, chat prompts, and dispute process without capital at stake.
Gotcha: Remember that testnet coins have no value, so switch back to Mainnet when you are ready for real trades.
Set your own premiums Choose payment rails
Creating your own Hodl Hodl offer lets you set currency, payment method, premium, and working hours so buyers meet your terms instead of negotiating someone else's setup.
Gotcha: Offers auto-expire if you leave them inactive past the working hours you set.
When you buy through Hodl Hodl, the bitcoin releases directly to an address you control.
Gotcha: Hardware wallets cost money but provide the highest security. Never store your seed phrase digitally.
Each Hodl Hodl trade should pay out to a new address so counterparties cannot see your total holdings or link your trades together.
Gotcha: Never reuse Bitcoin addresses. Hardware wallets generate fresh addresses automatically for privacy.
Testing the full Hodl Hodl workflow with a small amount lets you verify escrow release, confirm your cold wallet receives correctly, and rehearse the payment proof steps before larger trades.
Gotcha: Premiums on small trades tend to be higher, but the cost is worth the confidence you gain.
Building reputation on Hodl Hodl through successful trades unlocks higher limits and access to better premiums.
Gotcha: Your limit tier controls maximum trade size, so expect to complete multiple smaller trades before unlocking larger amounts.
Hodl Hodl releases bitcoin directly to your address, so you never introduce custodial risk if you provide a cold storage destination from the start.
Check your hardware wallet's transaction history or use a block explorer like mempool.space. The release transaction confirms within 10 minutes to a few hours depending on the fee.
Write it on paper or metal and store copies in separate secure locations like a fireproof safe and safety deposit box. Never store it digitally.
Request deletion from support@hodlhodl.com and they will wipe your profile once all contracts close.
No. You hold the receiving wallet, so keep backups because Hodl Hodl cannot reissue coins after release.
Explains 2-of-3 multisig escrow and dispute process
Security overviewOutlines data handling and retention policies
Privacy policyCovers marketplace rules and dispute resolution
Terms of ServiceCompany and platform details
About
Hodl Hodl is a peer-to-peer Bitcoin marketplace that removes the custodial step most exchanges require. When you buy or sell on a typical platform, the exchange holds your funds and decides when you c...
Hodl Hodl is a peer-to-peer Bitcoin marketplace that removes the custodial step most exchanges require. When you buy or sell on a typical platform, the exchange holds your funds and decides when you can withdraw. That reintroduces the same counterparty risk Bitcoin was designed to eliminate. Hodl Hodl takes a different approach: each trade locks bitcoin in a 2-of-3 multisig escrow that you, the counterparty, and Hodl Hodl support control together. Neither side can move the funds alone, which means trades settle directly between wallets without Hodl Hodl ever holding custody. That shifts trust from a centralized company to verifiable on-chain contracts.
Hodl Hodl caps its trading fee at 0.5% and splits it equally between the buyer and seller when the contract closes. You see the fee in the contract preview before you lock funds so you can decide whether the price still fits your trade.
Hodl Hodl lets you sign up with an email and start trading without submitting identity documents. Higher reputation still helps your pricing, so you can choose optional verification only if counterparties request it.
Each trade locks bitcoin in a unique 2-of-3 multisig address controlled by you, the counterparty, and Hodl Hodl support. If a dispute happens, either you or support can co-sign the release so the contract settles even if the site goes offline.
Sellers post over 1,000 payment methods ranging from bank transfers and Wise to cash in person, with availability filtered by currency and country. You can sort offers by payment type to match whatever rails you already trust.
New accounts start on the first limit tier with smaller trade caps until you complete contracts and earn reviews. As your reputation score climbs you unlock higher daily and lifetime limits, and you can request manual increases for high volume deals.
