Trade protection

What is ZenGuard?

Protected trades that release only when both sides are happy.

ZenGuard holds the buyer's Ducats safely until the in-game handoff is done and confirmed — so no one has to go first on trust alone.

How ZenGuard works

Four simple steps from handshake to payout.

  1. 1

    Agree on terms

    Buyer and seller agree on the item and price, then open a protected trade straight from a thread or private message.

  2. 2

    Buyer funds the trade

    The buyer adds Ducats to the protected trade. The funds are held safely, and the seller can see they're secured before handing anything over.

  3. 3

    Hand off in-game

    Both players meet in-game to complete the exchange, then each side confirms the handoff is done.

  4. 4

    Funds release

    Once both sides confirm, ZenGuard releases the Ducats to the seller. If something goes wrong, the trade goes to mediation instead.

Common questions

The things traders ask before their first protected trade.

What if the other person doesn't deliver?

Nothing is released until you confirm the handoff. If the seller never delivers, the Ducats stay protected and you can open a dispute instead of confirming.

How do disputes work?

If the two sides can't agree, the trade goes to private mediation. Our team reviews the evidence from both traders and decides a fair outcome.

What is the fee for?

The fee covers holding the funds, dispute support, and secure release. It scales with your standing — traders with stronger reputation pay less.

Are Ducats real money?

Ducats are platform credits used inside TradeZen to fund protected trades. They are not a cash-out or a currency exchange.

Does it work for thread trades and private messages?

Yes. Whether you arrange a trade in a public thread or over PM, the same protection and dispute support apply.

Trade with confidence.

Create a free account to open protected trades, build reputation, and get dispute support.

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