Privacy Policy

2.1 Account Information

As a fully decentralized platform, Vertikals does not require KYC (Know Your Customer) or ID verification for any of our services. We may collect limited information that you voluntarily provide when you:

• Connect your wallet to our platform
• Sign up for our newsletter
• Contact our support team
• Create a profile on our platform
• Participate in user surveys or promotions

This information may include:

• Display name or username (which can be pseudonymous)
• Email address (optional, for communications you opt into)
• Social media handles (optional)
• Profile pictures or avatars (optional)

2.2 Blockchain Data

Due to the nature of blockchain technology, we collect and process certain blockchain-related information, including:

• Wallet addresses
• Transaction hashes
• Smart contract interactions
• Token balances
• NFT ownership information
• Cross-chain bridging activity

Please note that blockchain transactions are publicly accessible. While we do not directly link your personal identity to your blockchain activities on public ledgers, anyone with knowledge of your wallet address may be able to track your transactions due to the transparent nature of blockchain technology.

2.3 Automatically Collected Information

When you access our Services, our servers automatically record information that your browser or device sends. This data may include:

• IP address
• Device information (type, model, operating system)
• Browser type and version
• Pages you visit within our platform
• Time and date of your visit
• Time spent on particular pages
• Referring website addresses

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve our Services
• Process transactions and send related information, including confirmations
• Verify your identity for project verification and other security purposes
• Facilitate the creation and management of your projects and NFTs
• Support omnichain and Bitcoin bridging functionality
• Respond to your comments, questions, and requests
• Send you technical notices, updates, security alerts, and support messages
• Communicate with you about products, services, offers, and events
• Monitor and analyze trends, usage, and activities in connection with our Services
• Detect, investigate, and prevent fraudulent transactions and other illegal activities
• Personalize and improve your experience on our platform
• Comply with applicable laws and regulations

As a platform focused on blockchain technologies with omnichain and Bitcoin integration capabilities, it's important to understand how blockchain transaction information is handled:

• Public Nature: Blockchain transactions are publicly visible on the respective blockchain networks. This includes transaction addresses, amounts, and timestamps.
• Omnichain Bridge Data: When you use our bridging services between blockchains (particularly to and from Bitcoin), transaction data is recorded across multiple blockchain networks.
• Platform Storage: We store transaction hashes and wallet addresses associated with your account to provide transaction history and facilitate platform functionality.
• NFT Metadata: The metadata associated with NFTs created on our platform may be stored on decentralized storage systems (such as IPFS) and is publicly accessible.

While blockchain transactions are pseudonymous by design (linked to wallet addresses rather than personal identities), users should be aware that techniques exist that may potentially link wallet addresses to real-world identities.

We may share your information in the following situations:

• Third-Party Service Providers: We may share your information with third-party vendors, service providers, contractors, or agents who perform services for us or on our behalf and require access to such information to do that work.
• Blockchain Networks: By using our Services, transaction data is necessarily shared with the relevant blockchain networks.
• Business Transfers: We may share or transfer your information in connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, sale of company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business to another company.
• With Your Consent: We may disclose your personal information for any other purpose with your consent.
• Legal Obligations: We may disclose your information where we are legally required to do so in order to comply with applicable law, governmental requests, judicial proceedings, court orders, or legal processes.
• Vital Interests and Legal Rights: We may disclose information where we believe it is necessary to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding potential violations of our policies, suspected fraud, situations involving potential threats to the safety of any person, or as evidence in litigation.

As a decentralized platform, Vertikals does not require KYC or identity verification for our project verification process. Instead, our verification is based on:

• Blockchain-based proof of ownership
• Public on-chain activity and transaction history
• Community recognition and reputation
• Optional social media account linking (without personal identification)

This approach allows us to establish project authenticity while preserving creator privacy and maintaining our commitment to decentralization. The verification process focuses on validating the project itself rather than collecting personal information about the creator.

We have implemented appropriate technical and organizational security measures designed to protect the security of the limited information we process. However, despite our safeguards and efforts to secure your information, no electronic transmission over the Internet or information storage technology can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.

As a decentralized platform that doesn't collect KYC or identity information, our main security focuses are:

• Secure wallet connection protocols
• Protection of any optional contact information you provide
• Security of transaction data related to Bitcoin and cross-chain activities

Although we will do our best to protect your personal information, transmission of personal information to and from our Services is at your own risk. You should only access our Services within a secure environment and take steps to protect your wallet credentials.

Our platform requires you to connect your cryptocurrency wallet to access certain features. When connecting your wallet:

• We do not store your private keys or seed phrases
• Wallet connections are established through secure methods like WalletConnect or direct browser wallet integration
• We store your public wallet address to associate it with your account and transactions
• We may request digital signatures to verify your wallet ownership without requiring private key exposure

For Bitcoin wallets specifically, we use industry-standard security practices for integration and never request or store private keys or seed phrases. All signatures required for Bitcoin transactions are executed securely within your wallet application.

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

• Right to Access: You may request copies of your personal information held by us.
• Right to Rectification: You may request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate or complete information you believe is incomplete.
• Right to Erasure: You may request that we erase your personal information under certain conditions. Note that blockchain data cannot be erased due to the immutable nature of distributed ledger technology.
• Right to Restrict Processing: You may request that we restrict the processing of your personal information under certain conditions.
• Right to Object to Processing: You have the right to object to our processing of your personal information under certain conditions.
• Right to Data Portability: You may request that we transfer the data we have collected to another organization or directly to you under certain conditions.

If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. Please note that certain information may need to be retained for legal or operational purposes, and information recorded on public blockchains cannot be modified or deleted due to the technical nature of blockchain technology.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@vertikals.io.

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our Services and store certain information. Cookies are files with small amounts of data which may include an anonymous unique identifier.

Types of cookies we use:

• Essential Cookies: Necessary for the functioning of our Services, such as session management and security features.
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our Services by collecting and reporting information anonymously.
• Functional Cookies: Enable enhanced functionality and personalization, such as remembering your preferences.

You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our Services.

Our platform integrates with various third-party services, including:

• Blockchain networks (various chains including Bitcoin)
• Wallet connection providers
• Blockchain explorers and indexers
• Cross-chain bridging services
• Payment processors (for future credit card integration)

When you interact with these services through our platform, your information may be collected by these third parties according to their own privacy policies. We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of these third-party services.

Particularly for bridging services between blockchains and Bitcoin integrations, your transaction data is processed according to the protocols and requirements of the respective blockchain networks.

Our Services are not intended for use by children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under 18. If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so that we can take necessary actions.

We are a global platform and may process, transfer, and store information on servers located around the world. Your information may be transferred to, and maintained on, computers located outside of your state, province, country, or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ from those in your jurisdiction.

If you are located outside the United States and choose to provide information to us, please note that we transfer the data to the United States and process it there. By using our Services and providing your information, you consent to this transfer.

We will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy, and no transfer of your personal data will take place to an organization or a country unless there are adequate controls in place.

We will retain your personal information only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy. We will retain and use your information to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our policies.

Different types of data are retained for different periods:

• Account information: For as long as your account remains active, plus a reasonable period thereafter
• Transaction data: As required for platform functionality
• Optional contact information: Until you request removal or unsubscribe
• Usage data: Typically 2 years for analytics and service improvement purposes

Please note that information recorded on blockchain networks is permanently stored on that network and cannot be deleted by us.

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date.

You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

• By email: hello@vertikals.io

For urgent privacy concerns or data subject access requests, please include "Privacy Request" in your subject line.