Terms of service

what orangecheck does

OrangeCheck is a family of non-custodial protocols and reference tools that let you create cryptographic proof-of-stake artifacts using Bitcoin message signatures (BIP-322), bind self-asserted handles to them, optionally publish them to decentralized Nostr relays, and discover and verify artifacts created by others.

what orangecheck does not

• >>Take custody of your Bitcoin, private keys, or wallet credentials
• >>Broadcast Bitcoin transactions on your behalf
• >>Provide financial, investment, or legal advice
• >>Guarantee the accuracy of blockchain data from third-party sources

non-custodial nature

You are solely responsible for your wallet, keys, device security, and what you sign. We cannot recover lost keys, reverse signatures, or access your funds.

specific risks you accept

• deanonymizationan envelope binds your address to your handles; chain analysis can then link your other addresses, counterparties, and spending patterns. you cannot un-bind once published.
• wealth advertisementpublic sat values combined with real-name handles may make you a target for phishing, theft, or coercion. we recommend pseudonymous handles and modest bonds. your personal safety is your responsibility.
• irrevocabilityenvelopes published to Nostr relays are replicated across independent operators. OrangeCheck cannot delete, edit, or revoke Nostr events.
• handle spoofingidentity bindings are self-asserted; any user can claim any string. relying parties must verify ownership out-of-band.

• >>You must be at least 13 (or the age of digital consent in your jurisdiction)
• >>You must have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract
• >>You must not be prohibited from using the Service under applicable law
• >>You must comply with all applicable laws and regulations

Most of the Service works without registration. An optional Sign in with Bitcoin flow opens a session keyed to a Bitcoin address you prove control of via BIP-322 — no password, no email. A session is a server-side row plus an httpOnly + Secure + SameSite=Lax cookie, revoked when you sign out or the cookie expires.

If you use sign-in, you are responsible for the security of the device and wallet you sign with. Anyone with your keys can open a session in your name.

prohibited — illegal

• >>Any unlawful purpose
• >>Violating any applicable laws or regulations
• >>Fraud, money laundering, or financial crimes
• >>Infringing intellectual property rights

prohibited — harmful

• >>Harass, threaten, or harm others
• >>Impersonate any person or entity
• >>Misrepresent your identity or affiliation
• >>Assert control of a Bitcoin address, identity, or handle you do not control

prohibited — technical abuse

• >>Interfere with or disrupt the Service or its servers
• >>Attempt unauthorized access to any account, system, or data
• >>Automated scraping or harvesting without permission
• >>Introduce viruses, malware, or malicious code
• >>Circumvent security features or rate limits

We reserve the right to investigate and act against anyone who violates these prohibitions — including terminating access and reporting to law enforcement.

OrangeCheck's rights

The Service and its content (excluding user-generated content) are protected by copyright, trademark, patent, and other IP laws — including the OrangeCheck name, logos, branding, site design, software, code, algorithms, and documentation.

your license

You receive a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Service subject to these Terms. You may not sell, sublicense, or use the Service to build a competing product.

your content

You retain ownership of content you submit (feedback, support requests, integration material). You grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to operate and improve the Service using that content. You are responsible for your content.

open source

OrangeCheck protocol specifications and the @orangecheck/* packages are released under open-source licenses (MIT unless stated otherwise). Those portions are governed by their own license terms; these Terms govern the hosted service.

• blockchain dataverification relies on third-party APIs (mempool.space, Esplora, or your own node). we do not guarantee accuracy or availability.
• nostr networkdecentralized relays operated by third parties. published data is replicated outside our control and may persist indefinitely.
• wallet softwarebrowser, mobile, desktop, and hardware wallets are third-party software we do not audit or endorse. a malicious wallet could sign something other than what is displayed.
• relying partiesplatforms, relays, and integrators independently decide whether to trust any OrangeCheck artifact. OrangeCheck is not a party to, and accepts no liability for, those decisions.
• api / sdk consumerscalling a hosted endpoint or using an @orangecheck/* package is use of the Service and subject to these Terms; the packages are separately MIT-licensed.

The protocol sites and documentation are free to use. You are responsible for Bitcoin network fees on any transactions you initiate and for your own ISP and wallet-provider costs. Paid functionality, if introduced, will be announced with advance notice; the commercial products me.ochk.io, vault.ochk.io, and fleet.ochk.io carry their own pricing and Terms.

not financial, legal, or compliance advice

Nothing OrangeCheck provides — artifacts, metrics, scores, identity bindings, or other output — is financial, investment, legal, tax, KYC, AML, sanctions, or regulatory-compliance advice. Obtain independent professional advice before relying on the Service for any decision.

regulatory status · not a money services business

The protocol sites do not transmit, transfer, exchange, convert, issue, redeem, or custody any virtual currency, fiat currency, security, or other asset. They sign and verify cryptographic messages; they do not move value. Accordingly, with respect to the protocol sites, OrangeCheck does not hold itself out as a Money Services Business or money transmitter under the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, a Virtual Asset Service Provider under the FATF Recommendations, a Crypto-Asset Service Provider under the EU MiCA Regulation, a broker-dealer, a payment or e-money institution, a bank, or a regulated identity provider.

use at your own risk

YOU ASSUME ALL RISK from your use of the Service. Verify anything load-bearing independently. Features labelled "beta", "experimental", or "preview" carry even fewer guarantees and may change or be removed at any time.

excluded damages

This exclusion covers, without limitation: direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, punitive, reliance, and cover damages; and loss of Bitcoin, sats, cryptocurrency, tokens, assets, funds, private keys, seed phrases, passwords, data, profits, revenue, goodwill, reputation, business opportunity, anticipated savings, or use.

hard cap

If, notwithstanding the above, a court of competent jurisdiction finds OrangeCheck liable to you, our aggregate liability for all claims arising out of or related to the Service or these Terms is capped at the greater of (a) US$100 or (b) the total amount you actually paid OrangeCheck in the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

essential purpose · jurisdictional floor

These limitations form an essential basis of the bargain and apply even if a limited remedy fails of its essential purpose. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain exclusions; there, the limitations apply to the maximum extent permitted by law and the remainder of these Terms stays in full force.

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless OrangeCheck and its affiliates from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

• >>Your use or misuse of the Service
• >>Your violation of these Terms
• >>Your violation of any law or regulation
• >>Your violation of any third-party rights
• >>Content you submit or share
• >>Your negligence or willful misconduct

Your right: stop using the Service at any time. Our right: suspend or terminate access with or without cause or notice. On termination, your right to use the Service ceases; artifacts you created may remain publicly accessible and data published to Nostr cannot be deleted by OrangeCheck. The intellectual-property, disclaimer, liability, indemnification, governing-law, and dispute provisions survive.

to the service

We may modify, suspend, or discontinue the Service at any time, with or without notice. We are not liable for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation.

to these terms

• >>We will update the "last updated" date
• >>For material changes, we will provide notice on the website (and by email where we hold one)
• >>Changes become effective when posted
• >>Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance

informal resolution

Before filing a claim, contact us at hello@ochk.io to attempt to resolve the dispute informally.

arbitration · class-action waiver · jury waiver

• >>Administered by the American Arbitration Association under its then-current Commercial or Consumer Arbitration Rules (whichever applies)
• >>Seat of arbitration: Wilmington, Delaware, United States — or, at either party’s election, conducted remotely by video
• >>Single neutral arbitrator; decision final and binding, enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction
• >>The arbitrator — not any court — decides threshold questions of arbitrability, including the validity and scope of this clause

exceptions to arbitration

• >>Small-claims court actions (if eligible and filed individually)
• >>Injunctive or equitable relief to protect intellectual property or confidential information
• >>Any claim that cannot lawfully be arbitrated under applicable law

one-year limit to bring claims

To the fullest extent permitted by law, any claim arising out of or relating to the Service or these Terms must be commenced within one (1) year after it accrues, or it is permanently barred.

opt-out of arbitration

You may opt out by sending written notice to hello@ochk.io within 30 days of first using the Service, including your name, the date you first used the Service, and a clear statement that you wish to opt out. Opting out does not affect the class-action or jury-trial waivers.

governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, United States, without regard to conflict-of-law principles, and, where applicable, the U.S. Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. §§ 1–16). For users in the EEA, UK, or Switzerland, mandatory consumer-protection laws of your country of residence may apply and nothing here overrides those rights.

entity of record

• entire agreementthese terms + the privacy policy are the entire agreement and supersede any prior agreement on the same subject
• severabilityif a provision is invalid or unenforceable it is severed and the remainder stays in full force
• waiverfailure to enforce a provision is not a waiver of the right to enforce it later
• assignmentyou may not assign these terms without our consent; we may assign freely in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets
• no agencynothing here creates a partnership, joint venture, employment, agency, or fiduciary relationship
• force majeurewe are not liable for delays or failures caused by events beyond our reasonable control — including network failures, Nostr relay outages, Bitcoin network conditions, government action, or natural disaster
• noticesto you via email, the Service, or the website; to us at hello@ochk.io
• electronic acceptanceyour use of the Service is electronic acceptance of these terms under applicable e-signature laws

sanctions, export controls, and prohibited jurisdictions

You represent and warrant that you are not, and are not acting on behalf of, any person or entity that is:

• >>Located in, organized under the laws of, or ordinarily resident in any country or territory subject to comprehensive U.S., U.N., E.U., or U.K. sanctions
• >>Identified on the U.S. Treasury OFAC Specially Designated Nationals list, Consolidated Sanctions List, or any other U.S. government restricted-party list
• >>Identified on any U.K. HMT, E.U., U.N., or other applicable consolidated sanctions list
• >>Otherwise subject to a sanctions, export-control, or anti-terrorism restriction that would prohibit your use of the Service

You agree to comply with all applicable export-control laws, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations. A breach of this section is a material breach of these Terms.