Privacy Policy

Thank you for choosing to be part of the BitNet community. This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) explains how BitNet (“we”, “us”, or “our”) collects, uses, stores, and shares your personal information when you interact with any of our online platforms, tools, smart contract interfaces, and related websites, including but not limited to any other domains or interfaces operated by BitNet or its affiliates (collectively, the “Services”).

By accessing or using our Services, you agree to the collection and use of your personal data as described in this Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please discontinue use of the Services.

This Policy aims to help you understand:

• 🔹 What data we collect
• 🔹 How we use and store it
• 🔹 When and with whom we may share it
• 🔹 What rights you have in relation to your data

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us using the information provided in the Contact Us section below.

1. What Information Do We Collect?

Information You Provide Directly We collect personal information you provide through your interaction with BitNet services, including:

• 🔹 Identity Data: Name, username, profile image, or other identifiers. When legally required, we may request identity verification documents.
• 🔹 Contact Information: Email address, mailing address, or phone number.
• 🔹 Usage Information: Details about how you use BitNet tools or services (e.g., staking, bridging, subnet interfaces).
• 🔹 Marketing Preferences: Your communication and notification settings.
• 🔹 User Communications: Your messages, feedback, or support inquiries.
• 🔹 Payment Data: When applicable, financial information for purchases or transactions.
• 🔹 Blockchain Data: Wallet addresses and on-chain activity related to BitNet products or subnets.

Information Collected Automatically

When you use the Site or smart contract interfaces, we may automatically collect:

• 🔹 Device Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, and language settings.
• 🔹 Usage Metrics: Pages visited, time of access, referral URLs, and feature interactions.
• 🔹 Transaction Data: On-chain interactions, product or token purchases, and event activity.

We use Google Analytics and similar tools to enhance user experience. Learn more about how Google uses your data here.

Information from Third Parties

We may receive data from:

• 🔹 Service Providers: Partners offering hosting, analytics, payments, ticketing, KYC/AML processing, or event operations.
• 🔹 Public Sources: Blockchain networks, GitHub profiles, or publicly shared social data.
• 🔹 Professional Advisors: Legal, accounting, or cybersecurity service providers supporting BitNet operations.

2. How Do We Use Your Information?

To Operate and Improve BitNet

We use personal information to:

• 🔹 Provide access to wallets, bridges, subnet dashboards, and tools.
• 🔹 Deliver requested services and confirmations.
• 🔹 Personalize your experience and enhance performance.
• 🔹 Process transactions and event participation.
• 🔹 Notify you about security alerts, updates, or support responses.

To Meet Legal Obligations

In certain cases, we use your data to:

• 🔹 Comply with legal obligations (e.g., AML/KYC requirements).
• 🔹 Respond to subpoenas, regulatory requests, or law enforcement investigations.

To Prevent Fraud and Ensure Security

We use your information to:

• 🔹 Detect suspicious activity, prevent phishing or exploits, and mitigate security threats.
• 🔹 Enforce our [Terms of Use] and internal guidelines.

To Send Marketing and Updates

With your permission, we may send you:

• 🔹 Promotional messages about BitNet products, grants, or ecosystem events.
• 🔹 Event invites, token updates, or staking campaign details.
• 🔹 You may opt out of marketing at any time.

For Analytics and Product Research

We may analyze aggregated, anonymized usage patterns to:

• 🔹 Evaluate feature usage and optimize product development.
• 🔹 Measure the performance of communications and campaigns.

With Your Consent

We may use or disclose your data:

• 🔹 To share testimonials or promotional content.
• 🔹 If you authorize third-party communication or integrations.

3. How Do We Share This Information?

We do not share your personal information without your consent, except in the limited cases described below:

Service Providers and Professional Advisors

We may share your personal data with third-party vendors who help us operate BitNet services. This includes:

• 🔹 Hosting, payment processing, analytics, identity verification, customer support, and email delivery
• 🔹 Legal, accounting, compliance, and security partners

Legal Compliance and Security

We may disclose information when required to:

• 🔹 Comply with applicable laws (e.g., KYC/AML regulations)
• 🔹 Respond to legal processes or governmental requests
• 🔹 Enforce our [Terms of Use] and defend against claims
• 🔹 Prevent harm or ensure the safety of users, developers, or infrastructure

Affiliates and Foundation Entities

We may share your data with affiliated foundations or corporate entities supporting the BitNet protocol, as allowed under this Policy.

Business Transitions

If BitNet participates in a corporate transaction (e.g., merger, asset sale, reorganization), your information may be transferred in accordance with applicable law.

Event Partners

If you register for BitNet-hosted or co-sponsored events (e.g., hackathons, AMAs, or IRL meetups), your data may be shared with co-organizers, subject to their privacy practices.

Other Users

If you use community-facing services (e.g., forums, chat integrations, leaderboard interfaces), your public-facing profile data may be visible to other users.

Your Consent and Custom Sharing

You may authorize BitNet to share information with other parties. In such cases, the use of your data is governed by the receiving party’s policies.

Aggregated or Anonymized Data

We may share aggregated, de-identified data that cannot reasonably be used to identify you—for research, development, or reporting purposes.

4. International Transfers

BitNet and its service providers may process your information in countries outside your own, including the United States and other jurisdictions that may not provide the same level of data protection. If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, or the United Kingdom, see our “Notice for EEA Users” for additional information about cross-border transfers and legal safeguards.

5. Data Retention

We retain personal data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including for: Legal, regulatory, tax, and accounting requirements Security, fraud prevention, and dispute resolution We may also retain anonymized or aggregated data indefinitely, as it no longer identifies you and is not considered personal information.

6. How Do We Secure This Information?

We implement administrative, technical, and physical security measures to protect your data. However, no digital system is completely secure. You are responsible for safeguarding access to your wallets, passwords, biometric devices, or private keys. BitNet cannot retrieve lost keys or restore access to decentralized wallets. If we detect or suspect a security breach, we may suspend or restrict your access to Services without prior notice to investigate and mitigate potential risks.

7. Minors

BitNet does not knowingly collect personal data from individuals under the age of 18. By using our Services, you affirm that you are at least 18 years old or the legal guardian of a minor using the Services with your consent. If we discover that data has been collected from users under 18 without verified parental consent, we will deactivate the account and delete the data. If you become aware that we have collected information from a child under 18, please notify us immediately at [email protected].

8. Your Choices

Access, Update, or Delete Your Data

You may request access to the personal information we hold about you. You may also ask us to correct, update, or delete that data. For verification purposes, we may require you to provide additional information to confirm your identity and authority.

Opt Out of Marketing Communications

To stop receiving promotional or marketing emails, follow the unsubscribe instructions in those communications or contact us directly.

Opt Out of Data Sharing with Third Parties

You may request that we limit or stop sharing your personal information with third parties by contacting us at [email protected].

Disable Cookies and Tracking

Most browsers allow you to control cookies via settings. For details, refer to our [Cookie Policy]. You can also opt out of Google Analytics by installing their opt-out browser add-on here: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

Do Not Track (DNT)

BitNet currently does not respond to Do Not Track browser signals or similar mechanisms.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may revise this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last Updated” date at the top of this document reflects the latest version. Continued use of BitNet Services after any update constitutes your acceptance of the revised Policy.

We encourage you to review this Policy regularly for updates on how your data is collected and used.

10. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact:

BitNet Privacy Team Email: [email protected]

11. Notice to California Residents

Pursuant to California Civil Code Section 1798.83, California residents may request information about how BitNet shares certain categories of personal information with third parties for direct marketing purposes. To request such details, please contact us at the email provided in the Contact Us section. This request may only be submitted once per calendar year.

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (“CCPA”), California residents have additional rights regarding their personal information, including the right to request:

• 🔹 The categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you in the preceding 12 months;
• 🔹 The sources from which your personal information was collected;
• 🔹 The business or commercial purposes for which we collect or share your information;
• 🔹 The categories of third parties with whom we have shared your information;
• 🔹 Whether we have sold or disclosed your information and to whom.

BitNet does not sell personal information to third parties. If this changes, this Privacy Policy will be updated accordingly.

You may also request that we delete your personal information, subject to legal exceptions. We may ask for identity verification, such as government-issued ID, before fulfilling such requests.

You may designate an authorized agent to make these requests on your behalf. We reserve the right to deny requests if authorization cannot be verified.

BitNet does not discriminate against users for exercising their privacy rights.

12. Notice to Nevada Residents

Under Nevada law, residents have the right to opt out of the sale of certain personal information. BitNet does not currently sell personal information to third parties. If this policy changes, we will update this Privacy Policy and provide opt-out mechanisms as required.

13. Notice for EEA, UK, and Swiss Users

If you reside in the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or equivalent laws apply to your data rights.

References to "personal information" in this Privacy Policy refer to "personal data" under GDPR.

Legal Bases for Processing

We process your personal data under the following legal grounds:

• 🔹 Contract Performance: To provide or facilitate access to BitNet tools and fulfill your service requests.
• 🔹 Legal Obligation: To comply with applicable laws such as AML/KYC or fraud prevention regulations.
• 🔹 Legitimate Interest: For security, analytics, user support, marketing (as permitted), and ecosystem improvements.
• 🔹 Consent: Where required, we rely on your explicit consent, which may be withdrawn at any time.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

• 🔹 Access your personal data and request a copy.
• 🔹 Correct or update inaccuracies.
• 🔹 Request deletion of your data.
• 🔹 Request data portability.
• 🔹 Object to or restrict data processing in certain circumstances. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [email protected]. We may request proof of identity to protect your data and prevent misuse.

Complaints

You may also lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority if you believe we are processing your data unlawfully or have failed to respect your rights. International Transfers If your personal data is transferred outside the EEA, UK, or Switzerland, we will ensure appropriate legal safeguards are in place, including standard contractual clauses or equivalent measures under applicable law.