the chirograph
english scribes wrote a contract twice on one sheet and cut between the copies with a wavy line through a word. each party kept a half. a forgery could not match the cut.
tear the bill in half.
each side of the deal locks their half into escrow. the trade only settles when both halves meet, edge to edge. the broker gets a cut and never holds the money.
stamp both halves into escrow, then drag them together.
broker fee, 0.5%0.2 SOL
preview desk. nothing here touches a wallet.
an old trick
tally sticks
the exchequer notched a debt into a hazel stick and split it lengthwise. lender and borrower each kept a piece, and the notches had to line up. burning the old sticks in 1834 set fire to parliament.
half a banknote
smugglers and spies tear a bill and hand over one half. whoever shows up with the other half, torn the same way, is the right person.
$HALF
the same idea for otc on solana. two halves in escrow, one swap when they meet, and a broker who gets paid without holding either side.