Terms Of Service
Terms of Service for ProtoLayer Effective date: August 15, 2025
Overview and Acceptance
By accessing or using ProtoLayer, including the website at ProtoLayer.app, the ProtoLayer protocol smart contracts, related interfaces, and any tools, APIs, or documentation (collectively, the “Services”), you agree to these Terms of Service (the “Terms”). If you do not agree, do not use the Services.
These Terms apply worldwide to both individuals and businesses. You affirm that you are at least 18 years old and have the legal authority to bind yourself or the entity you represent.
What ProtoLayer Is
ProtoLayer is a decentralized technology stack available on public blockchain networks (currently focused on Ethereum). It enables users and organizations to create and operate blockchain components, including “Co-Chains” and related features, as described in the official documentation available through ProtoLayer.app (the “Documentation”).
The Services include both: (a) the permissionless protocol components deployed on-chain (the “Protocol”), and (b) one or more non-custodial front-end interfaces that let you interact with the Protocol (the “Interface”).
Non-Custodial; Wallets
ProtoLayer is non-custodial. You retain full control of your digital assets and private keys. ProtoLayer does not and cannot access or recover your private keys, seed phrases, or assets.
You connect through your own Ethereum wallet (e.g., browser extension, hardware wallet, mobile wallet). Your wallet provider is a third party and not part of ProtoLayer. Your use of any wallet is subject to that provider’s terms.
You are solely responsible for safeguarding your wallet, private keys, seed phrase, and devices. Loss or compromise of your credentials may result in irreversible loss of assets.
Eligibility and Geographic Use
ProtoLayer is offered worldwide, subject to applicable law. You may not use the Services if you are on any U.S. sanctions list or located in, or a resident of, a jurisdiction embargoed by the United States, or if doing so would violate applicable laws or regulations.
You represent that your use complies with all laws and regulations applicable to you.
Documentation and Rules of Use
You must use the Services only as permitted by the Documentation. If the Documentation states rules, limits, or parameters for how features must be used, you agree to follow them.
Any attempt to bypass, exploit, or manipulate documented rules, rate limits, fee mechanisms, or consensus/security assumptions of the Protocol or Interface is prohibited.
Prohibited Activities; You agree not to:
Break the rules set out in the Documentation.
Hack, attack, probe, or attempt to exploit the Protocol, Interface, or underlying networks, including attempts to gain unauthorized access, interfere with other users, or disable any aspect of the Services.
Use the Services for illegal activities or to violate any law, regulation, or rights of others.
Upload, transmit, or execute malicious code; run denial-of-service attacks; manipulate or spam on-chain processes; or use automated means that degrade or misuse the Services.
Infringe intellectual property, publicity, or privacy rights; or impersonate ProtoLayer or misrepresent affiliations.
Evade sanctions or anti-fraud, anti-abuse, or security controls.
Fees, Payments, and Refunds
Pricing and Fees: ProtoLayer is a paid service. Certain actions may incur fees as described in the Interface and/or Documentation. Network transaction (gas) fees are separate and are paid to the network, not to ProtoLayer.
Accepted Payment: Payments are made in Ethereum (ETH) unless otherwise stated.
Finality; No Refunds: Due to the nature of blockchain transactions (which are public, permissionless, and generally irreversible), all transactions are final. ProtoLayer does not offer refunds.
Taxes: You are responsible for all taxes, duties, and governmental assessments associated with your use of the Services and any rewards or fees you may earn.
Co-Chain Owners and Earnings
Co-Chain Ownership: If you create, operate, or own a “Co-Chain” or analogous Protocol component, you may be eligible to earn fees or rewards as described in the Documentation and applicable smart contracts.
No Guarantees: Any potential earnings are not guaranteed and may vary or cease based on Protocol parameters, network conditions, governance decisions, smart contract upgrades, forks, or other factors. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Your Responsibility: You are solely responsible for understanding how earnings accrue and are distributed on-chain, and for any reporting or tax obligations that arise.
Service Availability; Decentralization
Protocol Availability: The Protocol is decentralized and designed for continuous, global availability on public blockchain infrastructure. However, actual availability can be affected by the blockchain network, validators/miners, node providers, indexers, bridges, or other third-party infrastructure outside of ProtoLayer’s control.
Interface Availability: The Interface and any hosted tooling are provided on an “as available” basis and may experience downtime, maintenance windows, rate limiting, or disruptions. Your ability to interact with the Protocol does not depend on the Interface; you can interact directly on-chain using your wallet or other tools.
Intellectual Property
Protocol and Open-Source Components: Decentralized and/or open-source components of the Protocol may be made available under separate open-source licenses or on-chain terms. To the extent applicable, your rights to use those components are governed by those licenses or terms.
Brand and Site Content: The ProtoLayer name, logos, trademarks, the Interface, website content, and Documentation are owned by ProtoLayer or its licensors. Except as permitted by applicable law or explicitly authorized in writing, you must not use the ProtoLayer marks, copy or mirror the Interface, or misrepresent that your product or service is affiliated with or endorsed by ProtoLayer.
Third-Party Services and Links
The Services may rely on or link to third-party services (e.g., wallets, RPC/node providers, oracles, indexers, analytics, cloud providers, domain/DNS providers). ProtoLayer does not control and is not responsible for third-party services, their availability, or their terms and privacy practices.
Your interactions with third parties are solely between you and those providers.
Privacy (Integrated Privacy Terms)
No Personal Data Collected: ProtoLayer does not collect personal data from users via the Interface. We do not maintain user accounts, and we do not request names, emails, phone numbers, or similar identifiers.
On-Chain Data: Your blockchain addresses, balances, transactions, and other on-chain activity are public and permanently recorded on the blockchain. Anyone can access this data. ProtoLayer does not control how the blockchain publishes or stores such data.
Local Device Data: The Interface may store minimal settings locally on your device (e.g., preferences) for user experience. This data stays on your device unless you export it.
Third Parties: Wallet providers and linked services may collect data under their own policies. Review their terms and privacy policies separately.
Security: While we use reasonable measures to secure the Interface, transmission of data over the internet and interaction with public blockchains carry inherent risks. You use the Services at your own risk.
Contact: Privacy-related questions can be directed via the official channels provided at ProtoLayer.app.
Security; Responsible Disclosure
Do not exploit vulnerabilities. If you discover a potential security issue, please report it through the official channels listed at ProtoLayer.app.
ProtoLayer may implement mitigations or emergency measures (including temporary Interface changes) to address critical risks. Such measures do not alter the permissionless nature of the underlying Protocol.
Governance; Changes to the Protocol
Protocol governance and certain parameter changes may be subject to community or on-chain voting as described in the Documentation (“Governance”).
Governance decisions can modify how the Protocol operates, including fees, reward parameters, or access rules, in accordance with the Documentation and applicable smart contracts.
Suspension, Restriction, and Termination
Protocol Access: ProtoLayer does not maintain user accounts and does not have unilateral authority to terminate your ability to interact with the Protocol on-chain.
Interface Access: ProtoLayer may, however, suspend or restrict use of the Interface (front-ends, APIs, or hosted tools), including to comply with law, address security risks, or prevent abuse. Such actions do not prevent you from interacting with the Protocol directly via the blockchain.
Community Actions: Restrictions or penalties at the Protocol level, if any, may occur only through Governance as specified in the Documentation. No prior notice is guaranteed.
No Financial, Legal, or Tax Advice
Information provided through the Services (including Documentation and Interface content) is for informational and technical purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisors.
Disclaimers of Warranties
The Services (including the Protocol, Interface, and Documentation) are provided “as is” and “as available.” To the maximum extent permitted by law, ProtoLayer disclaims all warranties, whether express, implied, or statutory, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, and non-infringement.
Without limiting the foregoing, ProtoLayer does not guarantee that the Services will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free; that any defects will be corrected; or that the Protocol or Interface will be compatible with your hardware or software.
Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, ProtoLayer and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, developers, and contributors will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages, or for lost profits, lost revenues, lost data, or business interruption, arising out of or relating to the Services or these Terms.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, ProtoLayer’s total aggregate liability for any claims arising out of or relating to the Services or these Terms will be the greater of: (a) zero U.S. dollars (USD $0), or (b) the amount you paid directly to ProtoLayer for use of the Interface in the 3 months preceding the event giving rise to the claim (excluding gas fees and on-chain transfers).
Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on implied warranties or exclusion/limitation of liability for certain damages; in such jurisdictions, these disclaimers and limitations apply to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Indemnification
You will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless ProtoLayer and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, developers, and contributors from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your use or misuse of the Services; (b) your violation of these Terms or the Documentation; or (c) your violation of applicable laws or third-party rights.
Compliance; Export and SanctionsYou represent that you are not subject to U.S. sanctions or located in a restricted jurisdiction, and you will not use the Services in violation of U.S. export control or sanctions laws.
Changes to These TermsProtoLayer may update these Terms. We will post the updated Terms on ProtoLayer.app and, where appropriate, provide notice through official channels referenced on ProtoLayer.app. Changes take effect when posted unless a later effective date is stated. Your continued use of the Services after changes become effective constitutes acceptance.
Governing Law; Venue; Dispute Resolution
Governing Law: These Terms are governed by the laws of the United States and, to the extent not preempted, the laws of the state in which ProtoLayer has its principal place of business, without regard to conflicts of law principles.
Forum; Court Only: All disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services will be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in that state, and each party consents to the personal jurisdiction and venue of those courts. Arbitration is not required unless both parties agree otherwise in writing.
Class Actions and Jury Trial: To the maximum extent permitted by law, disputes must be brought in an individual capacity and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding; and the parties waive any right to a jury trial.
Miscellaneous
Entire Agreement: These Terms and the Documentation constitute the entire agreement between you and ProtoLayer regarding the Services and supersede prior or contemporaneous agreements on the subject matter.
Severability: If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.
Assignment: You may not assign or transfer these Terms without ProtoLayer’s prior written consent. ProtoLayer may assign these Terms without restriction.
No Waiver: Failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver.
Force Majeure: ProtoLayer is not liable for delays or failures due to events beyond its reasonable control, including blockchain network issues, internet or utility failures, cyberattacks, acts of government, or other force majeure events.
Language: These Terms are in English. If translated, the English version controls in case of conflict.
Contact
Questions or notices related to these Terms should be submitted through the official channels provided within ProtoLayer.app.
Last updated