# MiddleM: The Automated Crypto Middleman That Actually Works

:::info
:bulb: **Written by a crypto degen who's been burned too many times.** This is the comprehensive guide to MiddleM — the escrow service that finally gets it right.
:::

---

## :speech_balloon: The Problem No One Wants to Talk About

> *"What is needed is an electronic payment system based on cryptographic proof instead of trust, allowing any two willing parties to transact directly with each other without the need for a trusted third party."*
> — **Satoshi Nakamoto**, Bitcoin Whitepaper (2008)

Satoshi had a vision. Trustless transactions. No middlemen. Pure peer-to-peer.

**But here's what actually happens in 2025:**

You want to buy an OG Twitter handle. Or sell your Discord server. Or trade crypto OTC.

Someone has to go first.

And whoever goes first? They're gambling their entire stack on a stranger's word.

:::danger
:warning: **The Brutal Reality:**
- One party sends money → other party disappears
- One party sends product → buyer claims "never received"
- "Trusted" middlemen vanish with both sides' funds
- Fake escrow sites steal everything

**Cryptocurrency transactions are IRREVERSIBLE.** Once it's gone, it's gone forever.
:::

---

## :thinking_face: The "Going First" Paradox

> *"The root problem with conventional currency is all the trust that's required to make it work."*
> — **Satoshi Nakamoto**

Here's the fundamental problem:

| Scenario | Who Goes First? | Risk |
|:---------|:---------------:|:----:|
| Buyer pays first | Buyer | Seller disappears with money |
| Seller delivers first | Seller | Buyer claims non-delivery |
| Use human middleman | Both | Middleman runs off with everything |

**There is no safe option.** Someone always has to trust someone else.

> *"Bitcoin isn't a digital currency. It's a cryptocurrency. It's a network-centric money... A network that allows you to replace trust in institutions, trust in hierarchies, with trust on the network."*
> — **Andreas Antonopoulos**, The Internet of Money

The irony? We use trustless money to make trust-based deals.

Until now.

---

## :rocket: Enter MiddleM

:::success
:tada: **MiddleM is an automated crypto middleman service.**

No humans. No trust. Just code.

We hold the funds until EVERYONE delivers. The blockchain confirms. The system releases. Done.
:::

### What Makes It Different?

| Feature | Human Middlemen | MiddleM |
|:--------|:---------------:|:-------:|
| Availability | Sleep, timezone issues | 24/7/365 |
| Speed | Hours to days | Minutes |
| Trust Required | High (who is this person?) | None (code is law) |
| Can Run Away | YES | NO |
| Fees | 3-10% typically | 0.5% max |
| KYC Required | Sometimes | NEVER |

> *"Trustlessness is not a feature to add after the fact. It is the thing itself. Without it, everything else — efficiency, UX, scalability — is decoration on a fragile core."*
> — **Vitalik Buterin**, Trustless Manifesto (2025)

---

## :gear: How It Actually Works

:::info
:information_source: **The Core Concept:**
Two parties. One escrow. Automated release. No trust required.
:::

### The Flow

graph TD
    A[Create Ticket] --> B[Share Code with Counterparty]
    B --> C[Both Parties Join]
    C --> D[Select Crypto, Amount, Role, Warranty]
    D --> E{Both Confirm?}
    E -->|No| D
    E -->|Yes| F[Invoice Generated]
    F --> G[Sender Funds Escrow]
    G --> H[Blockchain Confirms Payment]
    H --> I[Off-Chain Deal Happens]
    I --> J[Sender Types 'complete']
    J --> K[Receiver Provides Wallet]
    K --> L[Automatic Payout]
    L --> M[DONE]

### Step-by-Step Breakdown

#### :one: Create a Ticket
Go to [middlem.com](https://middlem.com). Click "Create a Ticket."

You get a unique code. That's your deal room.

**Takes 5 seconds.**

#### :two: Invite the Other Party
Share the code. They join the same ticket.

Now you're both in the same deal.

#### :three: Set the Terms
Both parties independently select:
- [x] Cryptocurrency (BTC, ETH, SOL, LTC, USDC, USDT)
- [x] Amount (in USD)
- [x] Role (Sender or Receiver)
- [x] Warranty (optional protection period)

:::warning
:exclamation: **CRITICAL:** The system won't proceed until BOTH sides agree on ALL terms.

No more "I thought we said 0.5 BTC" arguments. No more confusion.
:::

#### :four: Invoice Generated
The Sender gets:
- Unique escrow address
- Exact crypto amount (including all fees)
- QR code for easy payment
- Full fee breakdown

**No hidden charges. Ever.**

#### :five: Fund the Escrow
Sender sends crypto to the escrow address.

Real-time confirmation tracking:

| Crypto | Confirmations Required | ~Time |
|:------:|:----------------------:|:-----:|
| BTC | 2 | ~20 min |
| ETH | 12 | ~3 min |
| LTC | 6 | ~15 min |
| SOL | 1 | **Instant** |
| USDC/USDT | Varies by network | 1-3 min |

:::success
:white_check_mark: **No screenshots. No "trust me I sent it."**

The BLOCKCHAIN confirms. Automatically. In real-time.
:::

#### :six: Do Your Deal
Funds are locked. Safe in escrow.

Now the off-chain transaction happens:
- Buying an account? → Transfer it
- Selling a service? → Deliver it
- Trading goods? → Ship them

**The receiver cannot touch the funds yet. They're LOCKED.**

#### :seven: Sender Confirms
When satisfied, the Sender types **"complete"**.

That one word triggers automatic payout to the Receiver.

**No waiting for a human to wake up. No delays. INSTANT.**

---

## :moneybag: The Pricing (You Won't Believe This)

:::success
:chart_with_downwards_trend: **Lowest fees in the industry. Period.**
:::

### Service Fees

| Deal Amount | Fee |
|:-----------:|:---:|
| Under $10 | **FREE** |
| Under $50 | **$0.25** |
| Under $250 | **$1** |
| $250+ | **0.5%** |

### Additional Fees

| Item | Cost |
|:-----|:----:|
| USDC/USDT Surcharge | +$0.50 flat |
| Network Fees | Variable (always shown before payment) |

**Example:** $10,000 deal = $50 fee (0.5%)

Compare that to human middlemen charging 3-10%. On a $10K deal, that's $300-$1000.

**You save $250-$950. Every. Single. Deal.**

---

## :shield: The Warranty System

:::info
:lock: **Optional protection for buyers who want extra security.**
:::

### What Is It?
Funds stay locked in escrow for the warranty period.

During this time:
- Sender can verify what they received
- If something's wrong → contact support
- Funds can be frozen pending investigation

### Warranty Options

| Duration | Cost | Best For |
|:--------:|:----:|:---------|
| None (instant) | FREE | Small deals, trusted parties |
| 3 Days | $1 | Quick verification needed |
| 1 Week | $3 | Digital goods, accounts |
| 1 Month | $5 | Services, larger purchases |
| 6 Months | $10 | Long-term verification |
| 1 Year | $15 | Maximum protection |

:::warning
:bulb: **Pro Tip:** Doing a $50,000 deal? Add 1-month warranty for $5.

That's **0.01%** for a full month of protection.

**There's zero excuse not to protect yourself.**
:::

---

## :bust_in_silhouette: Understanding the Roles

:::danger
:rotating_light: **This is the #1 source of confusion. Read carefully.**
:::

### SENDER
- The one **SENDING** crypto to escrow
- Typically the **BUYER** in a transaction
- Controls when funds are released (types "complete")

### RECEIVER
- The one **RECEIVING** crypto from escrow
- Typically the **SELLER** in a transaction
- Provides wallet address for payout

### The Golden Rule

BUYER = SENDER (sending money)
SELLER = RECEIVER (receiving money)

> *"Not your keys, not your coins."*
> — **Trace Mayer** (popularized by Andreas Antonopoulos)

With MiddleM, both parties maintain control. The Sender controls release. The Receiver controls their destination wallet.

**Nobody goes first. The escrow goes first.**

---

## :rotating_light: Scams MiddleM Protects Against

> *"Trusted third parties are security holes."*
> — **Nick Szabo**, Cypherpunk Pioneer

### :one: Fake Websites

**The Scam:** Clone sites that look identical to MiddleM.

**The Risk:** Your funds go directly to scammers.

:::danger
:skull: **Protection:**
- ONLY use **middlem.com**
- Bookmark the official site
- Check for HTTPS and correct spelling
- Never click links from strangers
:::

### :two: Fake Support

**The Scam:** Someone DMs you claiming to be MiddleM support.

**The Risk:** They trick you into revealing ticket URLs or sending funds elsewhere.

:::warning
:no_entry: **MiddleM staff will NEVER DM you first. EVER.**

All official support is through: [t.me/middlem](https://t.me/middlem)

Anyone else is a SCAMMER.
:::

### :three: Reverse Role Scam

**The Scam:** Attacker convinces you to select the wrong role.

**The Risk:** You send funds unprotected or wait forever for payment that never comes.

:::success
:white_check_mark: **Protection:**
The system requires BOTH parties to independently select their role.

If they don't match (one Sender + one Receiver), the deal doesn't proceed.
:::

### :four: Lying About Payment

**The Scam:** "I sent the BTC bro, here's the screenshot..."

**The Risk:** You deliver your product before actually receiving funds.

:::success
:white_check_mark: **Protection:**
MiddleM doesn't trust screenshots. It trusts the **BLOCKCHAIN**.

The system automatically verifies transactions. Only proceed when you see "Funds Confirmed."
:::

---

## :coin: Supported Cryptocurrencies

| Crypto | Network | Type | Speed |
|:------:|:-------:|:----:|:-----:|
| BTC | Bitcoin | Native | ~20 min |
| ETH | Ethereum | Native | ~3 min |
| LTC | Litecoin | Native | ~15 min |
| SOL | Solana | Native | **Instant** |
| USDC | Ethereum/Solana | Stablecoin | 1-3 min |
| USDT | Ethereum/Solana | Stablecoin | 1-3 min |

:::info
:zap: **Want the fastest experience?** Use Solana (SOL) or stablecoins on Solana.

Literally instant finality.
:::

---

## :closed_lock_with_key: Security Architecture

> *"We measure success not by transactions per second, but by trust reduced per transaction."*
> — **Vitalik Buterin**, Trustless Manifesto

### How Funds Are Secured

**Deterministic Escrow Addresses**
- Every deal generates a unique escrow address
- Uses BIP44 HD wallet derivation
- Same seed = reproducible addresses
- Auditable and recoverable

**Multi-Step Confirmation**
- Both parties must confirm crypto, amount, role, warranty
- System won't proceed until everything matches
- No ambiguity, no "misunderstandings"!

:::success
:shield: **The MiddleM Guarantee:**
1:1 compensation for any system errors.

(User mistakes like wrong addresses are not covered — crypto is irreversible)
:::

---

## :question: Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: What if the other party doesn't complete the deal?

**With warranty:** Contact support via Telegram. Funds can be frozen pending investigation.

**Without warranty:** The Sender controls release. If they don't type "complete," funds aren't released.

### Q: Can I cancel after funding?

Once funded, the deal proceeds according to its terms. This protects both parties from bad-faith cancellations.

### Q: What happens if I send to the wrong address?

:::danger
:warning: **Cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible.**

Always double-check the escrow address before sending. MiddleM cannot recover funds sent to wrong addresses.
:::

### Q: Is KYC required?

**No.** No registration. No accounts. No identity verification.

Create a ticket. Trade. Leave.

**Anonymous. As crypto should be.**

### Q: What if support doesn't respond?

Official support: [t.me/middlem](https://t.me/middlem)

:::warning
:rotating_light: Remember: MiddleM support will **NEVER** DM you first.

If someone messages you claiming to be support, they are a **SCAMMER**.
:::

---

## :checkered_flag: Quick Start Guide

Ready to make your first deal?

1. :arrow_right: Go to [middlem.com](https://middlem.com)
2. :ticket: Click "Create a Ticket"
3. :handshake: Share the code with your trading partner
4. :memo: Both parties select terms and confirm
5. :moneybag: Sender funds the escrow
6. :package: Complete your off-chain transaction
7. :white_check_mark: Sender types "complete"
8. :tada: Receiver gets paid automatically

**Total time for a Solana deal: Under 5 minutes.**

---

## :link: Official Links

:::danger
:rotating_light: **ONLY TRUST THESE LINKS:**
:::

| Platform | Link |
|:--------:|:----:|
| Website | [middlem.com](https://middlem.com) |
| Telegram | [t.me/middlem](https://t.me/middlem) |

**That's it.**

Anyone else claiming to represent MiddleM is a **SCAMMER**.

---

## :speech_balloon: Final Thoughts

> *"With e-currency based on cryptographic proof, without the need to trust a third party middleman, money can be secure and transactions effortless."*
> — **Satoshi Nakamoto**

The crypto space has a trust problem.

Not with the technology — the technology is trustless.

The problem is with **people**.

Human middlemen:
- Sleep
- Get greedy
- "Get hacked"
- Disappear
- Were scammers from the start

MiddleM removes the human.

**Code doesn't sleep. Code doesn't get greedy. Code doesn't run away.**

This is what crypto escrow should have been from day one.

---

:::success
:rocket: **Create your first ticket now:** [middlem.com](https://middlem.com)
:::

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*Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible. This guide is informational only. Always verify counterparty legitimacy and use appropriate warranty periods for your deals. MiddleM is not responsible for off-chain transaction outcomes or user errors.*

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###### Tags: `crypto` `escrow` `middleman` `bitcoin` `ethereum` `solana` `p2p` `trading` `security`