Escrow Channel Deposit Flow
Escrow deposits are the protocol path for bringing funds from a non-home chain into a user's home-channel balance. The mechanism can be supported by Nitrolite, but docs.yellow.org does not yet document escrow deposits as a builder-facing workflow.
:::caution Not documented as an app workflow yet Escrow operation mechanics are intentionally deferred until the Nitronode automation and product surface are ready for public builder docs. Use the home-channel deposit and app-session lifecycle docs for the current v1 builder path. :::
What is stable
The conceptual model is still useful when reading protocol material:
- A user has one home chain for a given asset.
- A non-home-chain deposit needs a temporary escrow path because one chain cannot directly verify another chain's latest channel state.
- Nitronode coordinates signed off-chain state updates and on-chain settlement paths.
- The home ledger remains the user's canonical app balance for that asset.
Protocol reference
Protocol-level operation names and invariants live in Cross-chain and Assets. This Learn page intentionally avoids escrow state construction steps until the public Nitronode workflow is documented.
Current builder guidance
For applications today:
- Use home-channel deposit for same-chain funding.
- Use app-session deposit to move available home-channel funds into an app session.
- Treat escrow deposit automation as a future product path until the public Nitronode workflow is documented.