You worked hard.
Don't let them take it.

Every freelancer knows the fear: you send your work, and they ghost you — or worse, they use it without paying. FreelanceShield creates a cryptographically timestamped proof of your work before you hit send. Ten cents. Thirty seconds. Unforgeable.

Shield your first file

No sign-up. No account. Your file never leaves your browser.

How it works

Three steps. No accounts, no subscriptions, no fine print.

Step 1

Upload your file

Drag and drop your mockup, draft, or code. Your file stays in your browser — only a SHA-256 hash leaves your device.

Step 2

Pay $0.10 USDC

Confirm a one-time micropayment of 10 cents in USDC on Base. No subscriptions, no hidden fees. Just your wallet, one click.

Step 3

Get your PDF certificate

Download a Shield Certificate with a QR code. Anyone who scans it sees the cryptographic proof on verify.aotrust.link.

Sound familiar?

Every freelancer has a story like these.

You're a designer

You spent three days on a logo mockup. The client said "we went another direction." Two weeks later, your design is live on their website — with someone else's name on it. A Shield Certificate proves the file existed in your hands first.

You're a writer

You sent a draft article for review. The client "passed" — then published your words under a staff byline. Your draft existed, timestamped and cryptographically signed, before their publication date. That's your leverage.

You're a developer

You shared a code snippet to "show you can do the work." They used your code, shipped the feature, and never hired you. Shielding the file creates an immutable record that ties the work to you — before they ever see it.

You're a consultant

You delivered a strategy report as part of a paid engagement. The invoice is still "processing" but your analysis is already in their board deck. Shield your report before sending — so "processing" can't mean "we already used it."

Why you can trust it

No blind faith required. Here's what backs every Shield Certificate.

Cryptographic proof

Your file is hashed with SHA-256 right in your browser. That hash — a unique fingerprint of your work — is what gets timestamped. Change a single pixel and the hash breaks.

Your file never leaves your browser

We never see your work. We never store it. We never upload it. Only the SHA-256 hash is sent — and a hash cannot be reversed back into your file. Your intellectual property stays yours.

Blockchain-anchored timestamp

The hash and your authorship claim are anchored to the Base blockchain — a public, immutable ledger. The timestamp is permanent, tamper-evident, and independent of any single company.

Openly verifiable by anyone

Anyone can verify a Shield Certificate at verify.aotrust.link — no account, no app, no "trust us." The proof speaks for itself. The verification page is open and works on any device with a browser.

New to crypto?

Three steps. About five minutes. No prior experience needed.

1

Install MetaMask

Add the MetaMask browser extension or mobile app. It's a free, self-custody wallet — you hold the keys, not a bank.

2

Buy $2 USDC on Base

Open MetaMask, switch to the Base network, and use the built-in buy feature to purchase about $2 worth of USDC. That's enough to shield 20 files — plenty of room to try it out.

3

Shield your file

Come back here, drop your file, and click Shield. MetaMask will ask you to confirm the $0.10 payment. Done — you'll get your PDF certificate in seconds.

Need help? The MetaMask warning you'll see is normal — it's a one-time signature for exactly $0.10. Read the warning box above for details.

Got a Shield Certificate?

Someone sent you a file with a Shield Certificate PDF. Here's how to verify it's authentic.

Option 1

Scan the QR code on the PDF with your phone camera.

Option 2

Visit verify.aotrust.link and enter the Shield ID (8 characters, shown on the PDF).

Verification is instant, free, and works on any device. No wallet or account needed.

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers. No jargon.

Is my file safe?

Yes. Your file never leaves your browser. FreelanceShield computes a SHA-256 hash — a one-way fingerprint — entirely on your device. Only that hash is sent to our servers. It is mathematically impossible to reconstruct your file from the hash. We never see, store, or have access to your actual work.

Do I need crypto experience?

No. If you can install a browser extension and click a button, you can use FreelanceShield. The onboarding guide above walks you through it in three steps — about five minutes total. After that, shielding a file is as simple as uploading and confirming.

What is Base?

Base is a Layer 2 blockchain built by Coinbase on Ethereum. It's fast, cheap, and secure — transactions cost fractions of a cent instead of dollars. We use Base because it makes a $0.10 micropayment practical. You don't need to understand blockchain to use it; MetaMask handles the technical parts.

What is USDC?

USDC is a digital dollar — a cryptocurrency pegged 1:1 to the US dollar and issued by Circle. 1 USDC always equals $1. We use it for payment because it's stable (no price swings) and works on Base with near-zero fees. When you pay $0.10, you're paying exactly ten cents — no conversion, no surprises.

What happens if I lose my PDF?

The cryptographic proof is anchored on the Base blockchain, not in the PDF itself. The PDF is just a convenient way to carry the QR code and Shield ID. If you lose it, you can retrieve the proof by looking up your transaction on basescan.org using your wallet address. We recommend storing the PDF safely, but the underlying proof is permanent regardless.

Can someone fake this?

No. Each Shield Certificate contains a SHA-256 hash of your file, a cryptographic signature, and a blockchain transaction hash. All three are independently verifiable. Changing the file changes the hash. Forging a signature requires breaking Ed25519 cryptography — which is computationally infeasible. And the blockchain timestamp is immutable. Anyone can verify all of this at verify.aotrust.link without trusting us at all.

Is this legal proof?

FreelanceShield provides cryptographic proof of existence and authorship — not legal notarization. It proves that a specific file existed at a specific time and was associated with your wallet. This can be powerful evidence in a dispute, but it is not a substitute for a contract, copyright registration, or legal advice. Think of it as a tamper-evident digital timestamp that strengthens your position.

How much does it cost?

$0.10 per file. That's it. No subscription, no monthly fee, no tiered plans. You pay ten cents in USDC each time you shield a file. The blockchain network fee (gas) on Base is typically less than a cent and is included automatically. Shield one file or a hundred — the price never changes.

You worked hard. Don't let them take it.