TERMS OF USE

Welcome!

We provide you with The Dniester connection, which is a facilitated access to an open protocol (the “Protocol”) that enables you to spend your sats whenever a merchant accepts payments via Blik, a mobile payment system offered by several banks in Poland (the “Blik Service”). By using the Protocol you can (1) offer your sats to other users in exchange for a Blik payment code (acting as a “Maker”), and/or (2) accept offers from other users to receive sats in exchange for your Blik code (acting as a “Taker”).

The Protocol has been based on publicly available open-source software and communication protocols. Our role is limited to coordinating offering and accepting processes relating to transactions concluded with the use of the Protocol.

These Terms of Use (“ToU”) set forth the rules and guidelines for your use of the Protocol, with our facilitation in the role of coordinator. Please read these ToU carefully before you start using the Protocol. By using the Dniester connectionyou agree to these ToU and acknowledge that you are bound by them.

1 Prerequisites

1.1 To participate as a Maker, you will need access to a Bitcoin Lightning wallet that supports Bolt-11 payments.

1.2 If you want to act as a Taker, you will need access to the Blik Service, which allows you to generate a valid Blik payment code. You will also need a Bitcoin Lightning wallet that supports receiving Bolt-11 payments and LN address functionality.

2 How it works for the Maker

2.1 You can become a Maker whenever you need to pay a merchant using a Blik payment code. Simply request the Blik payment code from other users by creating a new offer in the app (the “Offer”). When creating the Offer, you will need to provide a security deposit and specify the PLN amount required to complete your transaction with the merchant. Your Offer will be available for all users to accept as soon as you provide and lock the security deposit and the satoshis equivalent of the PLN amount required to complete your transaction with the merchant.

2.2 When a Taker accepts your Offer, they will be prompted to enter a valid Blik payment code into the app. Once entered, the code will be made available to you for payment. You will then need to use the code by entering it into the merchant’s payment interface and wait for the Taker to confirm the payment using their banking app. You will be asked to confirm the payment in the app as soon as the funds are received by the merchant. This confirmation will release the locked sats and send them to the Taker’s LN wallet, completing the transaction.

2.3 You can also create an Offer to withdraw cash from an ATM. However, please note that depending on the ATM service terms and the Taker’s agreement with their bank providing the Blik Service, the Taker may be required to pay a fee for the withdrawal. If the Taker is not willing to pay this fee, they can cancel the Offer and withdraw from the transaction.

3 How it works for the Taker

3.1 You can accept the Offer as soon as it appears in the app and after you provide a security deposit. Once you take the Offer, you will need to enter a valid Blik payment code from your banking app within 40 seconds. After that, reopen your banking app and wait for the request to confirm the payment made by the Maker using your code.

BEFORE CONFIRMING THE PAYMENT IN YOUR BANKING APP, MAKE SURE THE PAYMENT AMOUNT IS CORRECT. IF IT IS NOT, DO NOT CONFIRM THE PAYMENT. DO NOT ACCEPT THE PAYMENT IN YOUR BANKING APP, IF (1) THE MERCHANT REQUESTING THE BLIK CODE APPEARS SUSPICIOUS, AND/OR (2) THE PAYMENT APPEARS TO BE CONNECTED WITH ILLICIT ACTIVITY AND/OR, (3) YOU DON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE MAKING PAYMENT TO SUCH MERCHANT AND/OR (4) YOU CONSIDER THAT THE PAYMENT MAY IN ANY WAY PUT YOU IN TROUBLE.

3.3 If you confirm the payment in your banking app, the Maker will be prompted to confirm in their app that the funds have been received by the merchant. Once they confirm, the app will release the locked sats and send them to your LN address. At the same time, your security deposit will also be released. This will complete the transaction.

4 Security deposit and fees

4.1 The specific fee will be presented to you during the process of creating the offer (for the Maker) or before you enter into the transaction (for the Taker). By creating a new offer (as a Maker) or entering into the transaction (as a Taker), you agree to pay these fees.

4.2 You can find information about the current fees charged by us in a separate section in the client screen interface you use when creating a new offer or taking an existing offer.

4.3 Both the security deposit and fees will be charged in satoshis via the Lightning Network.

5 Your General Obligations

5.1 You should use Bitcoin and/or the Dniester connection in accordance with its intended purpose and these ToU. You should also take reasonable steps to prevent any unauthorized use of or access to your keys to your client on the Protocol. Please refrain from actions that could negatively impact us, the Protocol or its other users. In particular, avoid cheating other users and refrain from attempting to hack or attack them, us or the Protocol.

5.2 You must comply with the laws that apply to you in your jurisdiction. You are solely responsible for protecting the device and software you use to access the Protocol, as well as the keys to your wallets and passwords for banking applications.

5.3 Please note that we do not collect, save, store, or otherwise use your data. We also do not have access to or view any data that you share, connect, or store while using the Protocol.

5.4. You are required to familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions of the Blik Service and use the Protocol in full compliance with them. Please note that using the Software is prohibited if doing so would breach the Blik Service regulations applicable to you.

6 No Solicitation. No Crypto-Assets Related Services

6.1 If you are located in a member state of the European Union, you may use the Dniester connection only if you do so on your own initiative. You acknowledge that you have read, understood, and accepted this information. Furthermore, you affirm that you are accessing this site voluntarily, without any active promotion or solicitation from us.

6.2 Please be aware that Bitcoin and Lightning Networks are public networks, and we do not own or control them. By using the Dniester connection, you acknowledge that you understand and accept that you are using Bitcoin and the Lightning network at your own risk.

6.3 We do not offer any other financial services or services related to crypto-assets. Specifically, we do not:

a) hold, manage, provide custody or administration, or otherwise control any bitcoin, PLN and/or any other funds for you or on your behalf,

b) provide any service that involves exchanging bitcoin for other funds or exchanging funds for bitcoin,

c) receive, transfer, or execute any orders for bitcoin for or on your behalf, and/or

d) offer any advisory or portfolio management services related to bitcoin.

7 Our Right to Suspend your access to the Dniester connection

7.1 Please note that we may suspend your access to the Dniester connection for technical reasons, including but not limited to maintenance, updates, renovations, or upgrades. We may also modify the specifications and functionalities available during your use of the Dniester connection by updating these ToU.

7.2 Additionally, we may immediately suspend all or part of your access to the Dniester connection if:

a) we become aware that your use of the Dniester connection and/or the Protocol violates these ToU,

b) it is necessary to protect the Protocol or us or any other user, such as in the case of an attack or potential attack, and/or

c) suspension is required to comply with applicable laws or a decision from a court or administrative authority,

d) we become aware that your use of the Dniester connection and/or the Protocol violates the Blik Service regulations applicable to you.

8 Privacy and Data Protection

8.1 Your privacy and its protection are our top priorities.

8.2 We do not collect or process any of your personal data. We do not use cookies or create logs of your activity.

8.3 We may request and temporarily hold limited information solely to facilitate your transaction and resolve disputes between the parties involved. We do not retain this information and we will delete it shortly after the successful completion of the transaction.

8.4 We make every effort to ensure the highest standards of security to protect the information you provide to us, guided by principles of responsibility and integrity while adhering to applicable laws.

9 Limitation of liability

9.1 While we implement the highest security standards, we are not liable for any temporary or unexpected malfunctions of the Dniester connection and/or the Protocol caused by cyber-attacks, accidental circumstances, natural disasters, force majeure, or other events beyond our control.

9.2 To the full extent permitted by applicable law, we will not be liable for interruptions or errors in the operation of the Dniester connection and/or the Protocol, including but not limited to the following:

a) breach of these ToU by you or any person acting on your behalf while using the Dniester connection and/or the Protocol,

b) technical issues attributable to you, including device failures or using devices or software that are incompatible with the Dniester connection and/or the Protocol,

c) overloads of our website that are independent of us, such as those caused by computer systems or network services, including Denial of Service (DoS), Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), and other types of attacks,

d) issues caused by third parties for which we are not responsible, including third-party service providers, particularly delays or interruptions in internet access (data transmission),

e) planned activities related to changes, additions, or ongoing maintenance,

f) any suspension of access to the Protocol.

9.3 We are not liable for damages resulting from the loss, damage, or leakage of data in connection with your use of the Dniester connection and/or the Protocol or by any persons acting on your behalf.

10 Disputes

10.1 We will resolve disputes related to transactions based on all available evidence, including any evidence provided by the parties involved in the dispute. When resolving the dispute, we will strive to ensure that the transaction is conducted fairly and in accordance with its original terms.

10.2 We may request that one party provide documentation confirming their compliance with the terms of the disputed transaction within a reasonable timeframe. If a party fails to provide this documentation, it may be used as grounds to support the claims made by the other party.

10.3 Our decisions regarding the resolution of the dispute are final and cannot be appealed. Both Makers and Takers agree that we will not be held liable for any damages or costs incurred as a result of the dispute resolution unless the damage is a result of wilful misconduct.

10.4 By providing any information (including personal data) to us, you authorize us to use it for all purposes relating to process of the dispute resolution. We will treat all information related to the transaction and/or the dispute as confidential. We will not disclose this information to any third party and will take steps to protect it from unauthorized disclosure. We will also permanently delete all such information within 48h following the final resolution of the dispute.

10.5 Please note that we do not have access to any information regarding the transactions.

11 Refunds and withdrawals

As a Maker, you are solely responsible for informing the merchant that any refunds to which you may be entitled—including, without limitation, in the event of withdrawal from the agreement with the merchant and/or any discounts applied to the transaction after its execution—must be made to your own bank account and not to the Taker’s account. By using the Dniester connection and/or the Protocol, you agree not to pursue any claims against the Taker or us in the event that the merchant issues a refund to the Taker, and you hereby waive any such claims against the Taker and/or us to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

12 Change of these ToU

12.1 We may change these ToU and the functionalities of the Dniester connection at any time, at our sole discretion. If we do, we will make commercially reasonable efforts to inform you of the changes by posting the updated ToU on our Nostr profile.

12.2 It is important for you to review the ToU on our website for any updates whenever you are notified of a change. The updated ToU will take effect on the date indicated in the communication about the change.

13 Final Provisions

13.1 These ToU are binding between you and us from the moment you start using the Dniester connection.

13.2 These ToU are also available on our Nostr profile. You confirm that you have familiarized yourself with them before using the Dniester connection and/or the Protocol. Additionally, you can view, download, save, and print these ToU at any time.

13.3 If you have questions about the rules outlined in these ToU or your rights and obligations, you can contact us via Nostr (our profile is accessible from the client details for a given offer). We will do our best to respond to your inquiries as quickly as possible.