Definition · Non-custodial

A non-custodial off-ramp lets you cash out without giving up your keys.

Most exchanges are custodial: you deposit USDC into their account, they hold it, and you trust them to let you withdraw fiat. A non-custodial off-ramp removes that middle step. The asset sits in a smart contract you can withdraw from until a verified buyer payment releases it.

01

What non-custodial means here

Custody is about who can move your funds. In a custodial product, the operator holds your assets and decides when you can withdraw. In a non-custodial product, you sign every action from your own wallet and the rules live in a public contract, not in a company's internal ledger.

USDCtoFiat is non-custodial software. It never takes possession of your USDC and never receives your fiat. Your USDC is locked in ZKP2P's EscrowV2 contract on Base, and the contract releases it only when a buyer's payment is verified, or you withdraw it.

02

Custodial vs non-custodial off-ramp

DimensionCustodial exchangeNon-custodial (USDCtoFiat)
Who holds the USDCThe exchangeA public Base contract you control
Account onboardingMandatory KYC accountConnect a wallet, no account
Withdrawal controlSubject to holds and limitsWithdraw unfilled deposits anytime
Failure exposureInsolvency, freeze, hack of custodianSmart-contract and payment-app risk
Settlement visibilityPrivate internal ledgerPublic onchain transactions
03

How escrow replaces custody

  1. 1You lock USDC in the Base escrow contract by signing from your own wallet.
  2. 2A buyer signals an intent against your deposit and pays you directly in a payment app.
  3. 3Payment evidence is verified offchain and a signed attestation is checked onchain.
  4. 4The contract releases USDC to the buyer only after that proof clears.
  5. 5Anything unfilled stays withdrawable by you, with no custodial approval.
04

Where risk still lives

Non-custodial removes custodial risk; it does not remove every risk. The fiat leg runs on external payment apps that set their own limits, reviews, reversals, and account rules. Smart contracts carry their own code risk. And a buyer who starts but never completes payment can briefly tie up part of a deposit until the intent expires.

The honest framing: you trade away custodial counterparty risk and gain payment-app operational risk plus contract risk. For sellers who do not want a company holding their funds, that trade is usually worth it.

Self-custody

Your wallet signs. The contract enforces. No company holds the funds.

USDC never leaves the public contract path until a verified payment releases it or you withdraw it.

These addresses are protocol infrastructure, not custodial wallets. USDCtoFiat cannot move seller funds outside the contract rules.

EscrowV20x777777779d229cdF3110e9de47943791c26300Efnon-custodial seller escrow
Orchestrator0x888888359E981B5225CA48fbCdCeff702FC3b888intent and release lifecycle
USDC0x833589fCD6eDb6E08f4c7C32D4f71b54bdA02913native Circle USDC on Base

Common questions

What is USDCtoFiat?

USDCtoFiat lets you sell USDC on Base for money in Venmo, Cash App, Chime, Revolut, Wise, Zelle, PayPal, Monzo, N26, and Luxon. You keep control of your wallet, and trades settle through non-custodial ZKP2P smart contracts on Base.

Does USDCtoFiat hold my funds?

No. You sign every transaction from your own wallet. Your USDC is locked in a public Base contract and releases to the buyer only after their payment is proven. You can withdraw any unfilled deposit at any time.

What does it cost to sell?

Creating and managing a seller deposit is free, though Base gas applies to onchain actions. The offramp SDK is free to integrate. On delegated fills, Delegate's 0.10% manager fee comes from the USDC released to the buyer, not from your fiat proceeds or your quoted rate. Peerlytics analytics, webhooks, and API credits are priced separately.

Do I need a centralized exchange account?

No exchange account is required to use USDCtoFiat. You need a wallet holding USDC on Base and an account on the payment app you want to be paid in. The payment app's own account rules and limits still apply.

Do I need to complete KYC?

USDCtoFiat does not collect identity documents, hold your fiat, or hold your keys. The payment app you use still controls its own verification, limits, and account rules. USDC settlement happens through Base smart contracts, and we cannot change what Venmo, PayPal, Wise, Zelle, or your bank requires.

Is a non-custodial off-ramp safer than an exchange?

It removes custodial risk: no company can freeze your funds, become insolvent with them, or be hacked while holding them. It does not remove payment-app risk or smart-contract risk. For sellers who do not want a custodian, the non-custodial model is a meaningful safety improvement on the custody dimension.

Can USDCtoFiat freeze or seize my USDC?

No. USDCtoFiat is non-custodial software and cannot move your USDC outside the contract rules. Your deposit sits in a public Base contract that releases only on verified payment or your own withdrawal.