Auction rules and workflow

How secured auctions work on xch.auction today: bid reserve, winner confirmation, seller action, buyer confirmation, fees and rating penalties.

How auctions work on the platform

Secured reserve

Auctions on xch.auction currently run in secured mode: the highest valid bid keeps funds reserved on the internal balance until the result is completed, cancelled or manually reviewed.

Winner confirmation

After the auction ends or is closed early, the winner must complete the required buyer confirmation step before the deadline. If this step is ignored, the result may be cancelled and rating penalties may apply.

Seller action

Once the buyer step is complete, the seller must transfer the asset or complete the required seller action before the seller deadline. In protected digital flow, admin review may be required before the final buyer confirmation step opens.

Buyer completion

After the seller confirms transfer, the buyer confirms receipt or completion. Successful completion finalizes settlement, releases the protected result and can increase both sides’ rating.

Responsibility and rule violations

Platform fee

For supported protected flow, the platform shows the fee before completion so both sides can see the gross amount, the fee and the expected seller payout before the final confirmation step.

The winner must complete the required buyer step before the deadline or the result may be cancelled and penalties may apply.
The seller must complete the protected seller step on time. Failure to transfer or ship may result in penalties, dispute loss or manual review.
In secured digital flows, the platform may require manual admin review before transfer approval or final completion.
Rating changes are tied to actual workflow outcomes such as successful completion, missed deadlines, dispute loss and confirmed abuse.

Active rating rules

Every rule below explains what triggers it, who receives the score change and where it is applied in the platform workflow.

rating.rule_dispute_won_title

rating.rule_dispute_won_summary

What triggers it

rating.rule_dispute_won_trigger

Where it is used

rating.rule_dispute_won_used_in

Who is affected

rating.party_dispute_winner

+10

Deal completed as buyer

The buyer receives a positive score after a standard protected deal is completed successfully.

What triggers it

Triggered when the buyer completes the final confirmation step in a completed deal.

Where it is used

Protected sell flow after final buyer confirmation.

Who is affected

Buyer / winning bidder

Deal completed as seller

The seller receives a positive score after a standard protected deal is completed successfully.

What triggers it

Triggered when the deal reaches successful completion and settlement is finished.

Where it is used

Protected sell flow after final buyer confirmation.

Who is affected

Seller / listing owner

Secured deal completed as buyer

The buyer receives a stronger positive score after a secured deal is completed successfully.

What triggers it

Triggered when the buyer confirms the final completion step in a secured deal.

Where it is used

Secured auction and protected marketplace completion flow.

Who is affected

Buyer / winning bidder

Secured deal completed as seller

The seller receives a stronger positive score after a secured deal is completed and settlement is finalized.

What triggers it

Triggered when a secured deal reaches completed status and protected settlement is captured successfully.

Where it is used

Secured auction and protected marketplace completion flow.

Who is affected

Seller / listing owner

Deal completed as buyer

The buyer receives a positive score after a standard protected deal is completed successfully.

What triggers it

Triggered when the buyer completes the final confirmation step in a completed deal.

Where it is used

Protected sell flow after final buyer confirmation.

Who is affected

Buyer / winning bidder

Deal completed as seller

The seller receives a positive score after a standard protected deal is completed successfully.

What triggers it

Triggered when the deal reaches successful completion and settlement is finished.

Where it is used

Protected sell flow after final buyer confirmation.

Who is affected

Seller / listing owner

Admin manual bonus small

Small positive score that can be applied manually by an administrator.

What triggers it

Triggered only when an administrator manually applies a small positive adjustment.

Where it is used

Admin rating adjustment tools.

Who is affected

The selected user in manual admin action

Buyer completed required step on time

Small positive score for a buyer who completes a mandatory step before the deadline.

What triggers it

Triggered when the buyer finishes a required workflow step on time.

Where it is used

Protected buyer confirmation stages.

Who is affected

Buyer / winning bidder

Seller completed required step on time

Small positive score for a seller who completes a mandatory step before the deadline.

What triggers it

Triggered when the seller finishes a required workflow step on time.

Where it is used

Protected seller transfer or shipment stages.

Who is affected

Seller / listing owner

Owner cancelled before any bid

Neutral rule for cancelling an auction before any bid exists.

What triggers it

Triggered when the owner cancels an auction before the first valid bid is placed.

Where it is used

Owner cancel action before bidding starts.

Who is affected

Auction owner

Owner closed early with a winner

Neutral rule when the owner accepts the current highest valid bid before the scheduled end.

What triggers it

Triggered when the owner uses the close early action while a valid highest bid already exists.

Where it is used

Owner close early action in secured auction flow.

Who is affected

Auction owner

Admin manual penalty small

Small negative score that can be applied manually by an administrator.

What triggers it

Triggered only when an administrator manually applies a small negative adjustment.

Where it is used

Admin rating adjustment tools.

Who is affected

The selected user in manual admin action

-5

Buyer missed required deadline

Negative score when the buyer misses a mandatory deal step before the deadline.

What triggers it

Triggered when the buyer does not complete the required step before the deadline expires.

Where it is used

Deal lifecycle overdue processing for buyer-side deadlines.

Who is affected

Buyer / winning bidder

-5

Seller missed required deadline

Negative score when the seller misses a mandatory deal step before the deadline.

What triggers it

Triggered when the seller does not complete the required step before the deadline expires.

Where it is used

Deal lifecycle overdue processing for seller-side deadlines.

Who is affected

Seller / listing owner

-5

Winner did not confirm

The winning bidder loses score if the required confirmation step is ignored before the deadline.

What triggers it

Triggered when a winner confirmation deadline expires without the buyer completing the required step.

Where it is used

Deal lifecycle overdue handling after auction result creation.

Who is affected

Buyer / winning bidder

-8

Buyer unresponsive confirmed

Negative score after admin review confirms that the buyer stopped responding during a required step.

What triggers it

Triggered only when admin review confirms that the buyer became unresponsive in a required workflow stage.

Where it is used

Manual admin actions and dispute-related review outcomes.

Who is affected

Buyer / winning bidder

-10

Seller unresponsive confirmed

Negative score after admin review confirms that the seller stopped responding during a required step.

What triggers it

Triggered only when admin review confirms that the seller became unresponsive in a required workflow stage.

Where it is used

Manual admin actions and dispute-related review outcomes.

Who is affected

Seller / listing owner

-10

Owner cancelled after bids

Negative score when an auction is cancelled after users already placed bids.

What triggers it

Triggered when the owner cancels an auction that already has one or more bids.

Where it is used

Owner cancel auction action with bid cleanup and reserve release.

Who is affected

Auction owner

-12

Buyer opened bad-faith dispute

Negative score for a buyer who opens or pushes a dispute in bad faith.

What triggers it

Triggered after admin review confirms that the buyer acted in bad faith during a dispute.

Where it is used

Manual dispute resolution and admin rating actions.

Who is affected

Buyer / winning bidder

-12

Dispute lost

Negative score for the side that loses a dispute after manual admin review.

What triggers it

Triggered when an administrator resolves a dispute against one of the deal participants.

Where it is used

Dispute resolution workflow.

Who is affected

The side that loses a dispute

-12

Seller cancelled in bad faith

Negative score for a seller who breaks the deal or cancels in bad faith.

What triggers it

Triggered after admin review confirms that the seller intentionally disrupted the protected deal flow.

Where it is used

Manual admin penalties and dispute outcomes.

Who is affected

Seller / listing owner

-12

Admin manual penalty medium

Medium negative score that can be applied manually by an administrator.

What triggers it

Triggered only when an administrator manually applies a medium negative adjustment.

Where it is used

Admin rating adjustment tools.

Who is affected

The selected user in manual admin action

-15

Seller failed to transfer or ship

Negative score when the seller fails to transfer the asset, ship the item or complete the required seller step.

What triggers it

Triggered when the seller deadline expires or admin review confirms seller-side failure to complete the transfer step.

Where it is used

Deal lifecycle overdue handling and manual admin penalties.

Who is affected

Seller / listing owner

-15

Wrong transfer or delivery data confirmed

Negative score when incorrect transfer, shipping or delivery data is confirmed.

What triggers it

Triggered after review confirms that a required transfer, shipping or delivery field was intentionally or materially wrong.

Where it is used

Manual admin actions and dispute outcomes.

Who is affected

The side responsible for the confirmed violation

-15

False receipt claim confirmed

Negative score when a buyer falsely claims non-receipt despite confirmed completion.

What triggers it

Triggered when admin review confirms that the buyer knowingly made a false non-receipt or non-transfer claim.

Where it is used

Manual dispute review and admin penalties.

Who is affected

Buyer / winning bidder

-20

Item not sent or not delivered confirmed

Stronger negative score when review confirms that the item was not sent or delivery failed due to the seller.

What triggers it

Triggered when manual review confirms non-shipment or confirmed non-delivery caused by the seller.

Where it is used

Physical goods dispute resolution and admin penalties.

Who is affected

Seller / listing owner

-20

Admin manual penalty large

Large negative score that can be applied manually by an administrator.

What triggers it

Triggered only when an administrator manually applies a large negative adjustment.

Where it is used

Admin rating adjustment tools.

Who is affected

The selected user in manual admin action

-30

Fraud confirmed

Severe negative score for confirmed fraud, deception or intentional malicious conduct.

What triggers it

Triggered only after manual admin review confirms fraud or clear intentional abuse.

Where it is used

Serious dispute outcomes and admin enforcement.

Who is affected

The side responsible for the confirmed violation

-50

Repeat fraud or severe abuse

Critical negative score for repeated fraud or severe platform abuse.

What triggers it

Triggered only after admin review confirms repeated fraud or an especially severe case.

Where it is used

Manual admin enforcement for repeat abuse cases.

Who is affected

The side responsible for the confirmed violation

-75