Web3 platform SmarTrust is taking on platforms like Upwork with an on-chain escrow system.
Web3 is coming to the growing market of freelance work. On Wednesday, April 30, Reactive Network Developer Fund announced the latest funding recipient, SmarTrust. The project is building a multichain escrow layer for Web3 freelancers and clients, based on Reactive Smart Contracts.
The network will enable clients to lock funds in smart contracts, which can be released in milestones for payments. These programs are transparent and programmable, without the need for centralized intermediaries. The network also enables third-party dispute resolution, which boosts security for both clients and freelancers.
Reactive Network at the core of SmarTrust
SmarTrust leverages Reactive Smart Contracts. Its event-driven infrastructure enables SmarTrust to work across several EVM-compatible chains and even to bridge logic and state across these chains. Emilijus Pranckus, Ecosystem Head at Reactive Network, explains the role Reactive plays in SmarTrust.
“SmarTrust is tackling a clear and pressing real-world problem. By placing Reactive at the core of their application, they are enabling trustless mechanisms between clients, freelancers, and adjudicators in a scalable way. This beautifully illustrates the value that a decentralized, events-driven IFTTT network brings to a wide range of smart contract-based applications,” Emilijus Pranckus, Reactive Network.
The global freelancing market is growing, both in terms of its workforce and revenue. Between 2020 and 2024, the number of freelancers in the United States increased by 90%, with the trend expected to continue.
By 2027, Statista projects that 86.5 million people in the US will be freelancing, which is more than half of its labor force. At the same time, the freelancing market will grow from the 2024 figure of $6.55 billion to $14.17 billion in 2029. A key factor driving this growth is the need for a more flexible workforce, enabling companies to adapt and scale faster.