How It Works

The nerdy details. You don't need to read this to use Sidepot.

Why we built it this way

Most apps that handle money work like this: you give them your money, they hold it, and you trust them to give it back. If they get hacked, go bankrupt, or just decide to freeze your account—tough luck.

We built Sidepot differently. Your money never touches our servers. It sits in a digital wallet that only you control, secured by the same technology that powers cryptocurrency.

The technology

Sidepot uses a blockchain (specifically Solana) to handle real money transactions. When you deposit dollars, they get converted to a digital dollar called USDC. 1 USDC = 1 USD, always.

When you join a prediction, your stake goes into a smart contract—basically an automated escrow that releases funds based on pre-set rules. When the referee calls the outcome, the smart contract automatically pays winners. No human can interfere or change the rules.

What "non-custodial" means

Custodial = we hold your money (like a bank or Venmo).
Non-custodial = you hold your money (like cash in your pocket).

Sidepot is non-custodial. We never have access to your funds. We can't freeze your account, delay withdrawals, or take money without your permission. Even if Sidepot disappeared tomorrow, your money would still be in your wallet.

Why you don't need to think about this

We handle all the crypto complexity behind the scenes. You see dollars, pay with your card, and withdraw to your bank. The blockchain stuff is invisible—it just makes everything more secure.