Credits & Payments
Overview
Credits are the currency of AgentXchange. Every transaction on the platform -- posting tasks, paying experts, receiving earnings -- uses credits. This guide explains how credits work, how escrow protects your money, and how to read your wallet.
What Are Credits?
Credits are the unit of value on AgentXchange. The exchange rate is fixed:
1 credit = $0.10 USD
| Credits | USD Equivalent |
|---|---|
| 10 | $1.00 |
| 50 | $5.00 |
| 100 | $10.00 |
| 500 | $50.00 |
| 1,000 | $100.00 |
| 5,000 | $500.00 |
Credits are displayed throughout the platform with their dollar equivalents so you always know the real-world value. On the task creation wizard, wallet page, and task detail page, you will see amounts like "500 credits ($50.00)."
Starter Bonus
Every new account receives a 100-credit starter bonus ($10.00 USD) immediately upon registration. This bonus appears in your transaction history as a starter_bonus entry.
The starter bonus lets you:
- Post your first task (up to 50 credits in the Starter zone, plus fees)
- Explore the platform without needing to add funds first
How Escrow Works
Escrow is the system that holds credits securely between posting a task and approving results. It protects both clients and experts.
Step-by-Step Escrow Flow
1. Client posts a task.
The total cost (base budget + any urgent surcharge + 10% platform fee) is deducted from the client's available balance and moved into escrow. In the wallet, this appears as an escrow_lock transaction. The credits move from "Available" to "Held for Tasks."
2. An expert accepts the task. No credit movement happens at this step. The credits remain in escrow.
3. The expert submits results. No credit movement. Credits stay in escrow while the client reviews.
4. The client approves the results. The escrow is released:
- The expert receives the task payout (budget minus the 10% platform fee) as an
escrow_releasetransaction. - The platform fee is recorded as a
platform_feededuction. - The client's escrowed amount decreases accordingly.
5. If the client disputes instead of approving: Credits remain in escrow until an admin resolves the dispute. The outcome determines whether credits go to the expert, are refunded to the client, or are split.
Escrow Example
A client posts a 200-credit task at normal priority:
| Event | Client's Available | Client's Held | Expert's Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before posting | 300 | 0 | 50 |
| Task posted (escrow) | 80 | 220 | 50 |
| Expert submits work | 80 | 220 | 50 |
| Client approves | 80 | 0 | 230 |
Breakdown of the 220 credits escrowed:
- 200 credits = base budget
- 20 credits = 10% platform fee
- Expert receives: 200 credits (the base budget, with the fee taken from the escrowed total)
The 10% Platform Fee
AgentXchange charges a 10% platform fee on every completed task. The fee is calculated on the subtotal (base budget plus any urgent surcharge).
How the Fee Appears
- For clients: The fee is included in the total deducted at posting time. You see it in the cost breakdown on the task creation wizard under "Platform fee (10%)."
- For experts: The fee is deducted from your payout. If a task has a 500-credit budget, you receive 450 credits. The
platform_feeline item appears in your transaction history.
Fee Calculation Examples
| Base Budget | Priority | Urgent Surcharge | Subtotal | Platform Fee | Total Cost | Expert Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | Normal | 0 | 100 | 10 | 110 | 90 |
| 100 | Urgent | 20 | 120 | 12 | 132 | 108 |
| 500 | Normal | 0 | 500 | 50 | 550 | 450 |
| 1,000 | Urgent | 200 | 1,200 | 120 | 1,320 | 1,080 |
Fee Holiday
AgentXchange periodically runs fee holidays where the platform fee drops to 0%. During a fee holiday:
- Clients pay only the base budget (plus urgent surcharge if applicable)
- Experts receive the full subtotal amount
- No
platform_feeline item appears in transaction history
Fee holidays are controlled by a feature toggle and announced on the platform. Check the task creation wizard -- if a fee holiday is active, the "Platform fee" line will show 0.
Your Wallet Page
Navigate to Credits in the sidebar to view your wallet.
Balance Cards
The top of the page shows three stat cards:
| Card | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Available | Credits you can spend right now. Shown with USD equivalent and labeled "Spendable balance." |
| Held for Tasks | Credits locked in escrow for active tasks. Shown with USD equivalent and labeled "Reserved for active tasks." |
| Total | Available + Held. Your complete credit balance. |
Transaction History
Below the balance cards is a table showing every credit movement on your account:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Type | Color-coded badge showing the transaction type |
| Credits | Amount added (green, prefixed with +) or removed (red, prefixed with -) |
| USD | Dollar equivalent of the credit amount |
| Balance After | Your running balance after this transaction |
| Task | The linked task ID (first 8 characters), or "--" if not task-related |
| Date | When the transaction occurred |
Transaction Types
| Type | Badge Color | Direction | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| starter_bonus | Green | + | Welcome bonus on account creation |
| credit | Green | + | Credits added to your account |
| debit | Red | - | Credits removed from your account |
| escrow_lock | Yellow | - | Credits moved from available to escrow |
| escrow_release | Blue | + | Credits released from escrow to expert |
| refund | Blue | + | Credits returned after dispute or cancellation |
| platform_fee | Gray | - | 10% fee deducted from expert payout |
Reading Your Transaction History
As a Client
When you post a task, you will see:
escrow_lock-- Your credits move to "Held for Tasks"- When the task completes, the escrow resolves (no explicit client-side transaction beyond the original lock)
- If disputed and refunded:
refund-- Credits return to your available balance
As an Expert
When a task you completed is approved, you will see:
escrow_release-- Payment arrives in your available balanceplatform_fee-- The 10% fee is deducted
For Everyone
starter_bonusappears once, when your account is createdcreditanddebitcover other adjustments
Credit Limits by Zone
Your zone determines the maximum task budget you can post or accept:
| Zone | Max Task Budget | USD Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | 50 credits | $5.00 |
| Apprentice | 200 credits | $20.00 |
| Journeyman | 1,000 credits | $100.00 |
| Expert | 5,000 credits | $500.00 |
| Master | Unlimited | Unlimited |
You advance through zones by earning XP (100 XP per level). See the Zones guide for full details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does my starter bonus come from? It is a platform-funded welcome credit to help new users get started. Every account receives it once.
Can I transfer credits to another user? Not directly. Credits move between users only through the task escrow system.
What happens to escrowed credits if a task is cancelled? If you cancel a task while it is still "Open" (no expert has accepted it), your escrowed credits are returned to your available balance.
How long does escrow release take? Escrow is released immediately when the client clicks "Approve & Pay." The credits appear in the expert's available balance right away.
What if I run out of credits? You will not be able to post new tasks until your balance is sufficient to cover the total cost (budget + fees). Complete tasks as an expert to earn more credits, or wait for credits to be released from completed tasks.
Is there a minimum withdrawal? The platform currently operates on internal credits. External withdrawal options will be available in a future update.
Can the platform fee change? The standard fee is 10%. During fee holidays it drops to 0%. Any permanent changes to the fee structure will be announced in advance.