Vault & Escrow

Vaults and escrows custody SOL or SPL tokens under PDA authority until program rules release them. Correct patterns validate parties, use canonical bumps, and apply checks-effects-interactions before CPI.

Recipe

// Hold: token CPI deposit to vault ATA owned by vault PDA
// Release: verify conditions -> invoke_signed transfer out

When to reach for this:

• Marketplace escrow.
• Stake or lock tokens.
• Protocol treasury vaults.

Working Example

pub fn release(bump: u8, escrow_auth: &AccountInfo, source: &AccountInfo, dest: &AccountInfo, token_program: &AccountInfo, amount: u64) -> ProgramResult {
    // 1. verify escrow state Open and expiry
    // 2. mark Filled in account data BEFORE CPI
    let ix = spl_token::instruction::transfer(token_program.key, source.key, dest.key, escrow_auth.key, &[], amount)?;
    invoke_signed(&ix, &[source.clone(), dest.clone(), escrow_auth.clone(), token_program.clone()], &[&[b"escrow", &[bump]]])
}

What this demonstrates:

• State updated before token CPI.
• PDA authority signs transfer.
• Amount validated against escrow record.

Deep Dive

SOL vs SPL

SOL: system transfer + PDA lamports. SPL: token account + mint checks.

ATA

Use associated token addresses for users.

Rust Notes

// Verify mint match source/dest token accounts.

Gotchas

• Release before state update - Reentrancy double payout. Fix: CEI ordering.
• Shared global vault PDA - One bug drains all. Fix: Per-user seeds.
• Wrong mint - Steal wrong token type. Fix: Unpack mint field.
• Escrow without cancel - Stuck funds. Fix: Timeout cancel path.
• Authority not PDA verified - Fake escrow signer. Fix: Derive and compare PDA.

Alternatives

FAQs

Related

• PDAs as Authorities - Authority
• CPI to SPL Token - Transfers
• Reentrancy & Safety - Ordering

Stack versions: This page was written for Agave 4.1.1, Solana CLI 3.0.10, Anchor 0.32.1, anchor-lang 0.32.1, Rust 1.91.1, @solana/kit 7.0.0, Surfpool 0.12.0, and LiteSVM 0.6.x.