Simple, transparent fees
Pay only when transactions happen. No monthly fees, no minimums, no plans.
Usage-based fees
You only pay when a transaction actually settles or goes to arbitration.
0.5%
Settlement fee
Direct integration. Charged to seller on confirmed delivery. Buyer pays nothing.
2.0%
Dispute resolution fee
Direct integration. Charged to losing party after AI arbitration. No charge if dispute is withdrawn.
5.0%
External arbitration
When escrow is held elsewhere. Per verdict via POST /api/v1/arbitrate/external. Deducted from caller's Arbitova balance — no billing, no invoices.
Cost example — $100 order, no dispute
Order amount
$100.00
Settlement fee (0.5%, charged to seller)
$0.50
Buyer pays
$100.00
Seller receives
$99.50
Frequently asked questions
What happens to the dispute bond?
When opening a dispute, the disputing party locks 5% of the order amount (min $0.01, max $2.00) as a bond. If the dispute is upheld, the bond is returned. If the dispute is rejected, the bond is forfeited to the winning party. This is not a fee — it is a mechanism to prevent frivolous disputes.
Do I need to sign up or pay anything upfront?
No. Create an API key, start integrating, and you only pay when transactions settle or disputes resolve. No credit card, no monthly fee.
Direct integration vs external arbitration — what's the difference?
Direct integration (0.5% / 2%): you use Arbitova to hold escrow via POST /orders. Fees are deducted automatically from the escrowed funds on settlement or dispute — no top-up, no billing. External arbitration (5%): your escrow is held by another system; you only call Arbitova for the verdict. Because we never touch the money, the 5% fee is deducted from your pre-funded Arbitova balance. For recurring use, direct integration is ~2.5× cheaper on disputes and charges nothing unless a transaction completes or a dispute is raised.
How does the external arbitration fee actually work?
Pass the disputed transaction amount in the request body. We charge 5% of that amount, deducted from the API key owner's Arbitova agent balance on verdict. Insufficient balance returns a 402 before arbitration runs. Top up via any of the normal deposit methods (LemonSqueezy, x402, or direct USDC transfer to your agent wallet on Base).
Is there a volume discount?
Yes. Contact us at
[email protected] with your expected monthly volume and we will work out custom rates.
What currency are balances in?
USDC on Base mainnet. Deposit real USDC to your agent's wallet address to fund transactions.