Terms of Service

1. Introduction and Acceptance

Welcome to Moneta ("we," "our," or "us"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of Moneta's open-source payment infrastructure, including our website, APIs, SDKs, documentation, and related services (collectively, the "Service").

By accessing or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you are using the Service on behalf of an organization, you represent and warrant that you have the authority to bind that organization to these Terms.

IMPORTANT: Moneta is a non-custodial payment gateway. We do not hold, control, or have access to your funds at any time. You maintain complete ownership and control of your digital assets.

2. Description of Service

2.1 What Moneta Provides

Moneta provides open-source software infrastructure that enables merchants, businesses, freelancers, and individuals to accept and send stablecoin payments. Our Service includes:

• Payment gateway software for accepting stablecoin payments
• Invoice creation and management tools
• Payment link generation
• Multi-currency treasury management interfaces
• APIs and SDKs for integration
• Documentation and developer resources

2.2 What Moneta Does NOT Provide

Moneta is NOT a money transmitter, bank, financial institution, or custodian. We do NOT:

• Hold, custody, or control your funds or digital assets
• Execute or process transactions on your behalf
• Provide exchange or conversion services (these are handled by Sera Protocol)
• Offer financial, investment, tax, or legal advice
• Guarantee the value or stability of any stablecoin
• Provide insurance or protection for your funds

2.3 Zero Processing Fees

Moneta charges zero (0%) processing fees for using our software. There are no transaction fees, monthly fees, setup fees, or hidden charges. Blockchain network fees (gas fees) are separate infrastructure costs paid to network validators, not to Moneta.

3. Non-Custodial Architecture

3.1 Self-Custody Model

Moneta operates on a fully non-custodial, self-custody model. This means:

• All payments flow directly between payer and recipient wallets
• Moneta never holds, touches, or has access to your funds
• You maintain exclusive control of your private keys and wallet
• Transactions are executed on public blockchain networks, not through Moneta
• Your funds cannot be frozen, seized, or withheld by Moneta

3.2 Your Responsibilities

Because Moneta is non-custodial, you are solely responsible for:

• Securing your wallet and private keys
• Backing up your recovery phrases
• Verifying recipient addresses before sending payments
• Understanding blockchain transaction finality
• Complying with applicable laws in your jurisdiction

3.3 No Recovery of Lost Funds

WARNING: If you lose access to your wallet, private keys, or recovery phrase, Moneta cannot recover your funds. Blockchain transactions are irreversible. Payments sent to incorrect addresses cannot be reversed or recovered by Moneta.

4. Stablecoin Payments

4.1 Nature of Stablecoins

Stablecoins are digital assets designed to maintain a stable value relative to a reference currency (e.g., USD, EUR). You acknowledge and understand that:

• Stablecoins are not legal tender or government-issued currency
• Stablecoin values may fluctuate from their intended peg
• Stablecoin issuers may face regulatory, technical, or financial issues
• Different stablecoins have different backing mechanisms and risk profiles
• Moneta does not guarantee the stability or value of any stablecoin

4.2 Transaction Finality

Blockchain transactions are final and irreversible once confirmed. Unlike traditional payment methods, there are no chargebacks, reversals, or dispute mechanisms at the protocol level. You acknowledge that:

• Confirmed transactions cannot be reversed by Moneta or any third party
• You must verify all transaction details before confirming
• Refunds require a new transaction initiated by the recipient
• Transaction speed depends on blockchain network conditions

4.3 Sera Protocol Integration

Currency conversions between stablecoins are facilitated by Sera Protocol, a separate third-party service. Moneta is not responsible for Sera Protocol's operations, fees, availability, or any issues arising from currency conversions.

5. User Obligations and Prohibited Uses

5.1 Eligibility

To use the Service, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old or the age of majority in your jurisdiction
• Have the legal capacity to enter into binding agreements
• Not be prohibited from using the Service under applicable laws
• Not be located in a jurisdiction where the Service is prohibited

5.2 Prohibited Activities

You agree NOT to use the Service for:

• Money laundering, terrorist financing, or other financial crimes
• Fraud, scams, or deceptive practices
• Sanctions evasion or transactions with sanctioned parties
• Illegal gambling or unlicensed money transmission
• Purchase or sale of illegal goods or services
• Tax evasion or other illegal financial activities
• Circumventing security measures or exploiting vulnerabilities
• Any activity that violates applicable laws or regulations

5.3 Compliance with Laws

You are solely responsible for ensuring your use of the Service complies with all applicable laws, regulations, and rules in your jurisdiction, including but not limited to anti-money laundering (AML) laws, know-your-customer (KYC) requirements, tax laws, and financial regulations.

6. Regulatory and Jurisdictional Matters

6.1 Jurisdictional Limitations

The Service may not be available or appropriate for use in all jurisdictions. You are responsible for determining whether your use of the Service is lawful in your jurisdiction. The Service is NOT offered to persons or entities in jurisdictions where such offering would be contrary to local law or regulation.

6.2 No Regulatory Licenses

Moneta is open-source software and does not hold money transmitter licenses, payment institution licenses, or similar regulatory authorizations. As a non-custodial service that does not hold user funds, such licenses are generally not required. However, regulatory requirements vary by jurisdiction.

6.3 Tax Obligations

You are solely responsible for determining and fulfilling your tax obligations arising from your use of the Service. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Income tax on payments received
• Capital gains tax on stablecoin conversions
• Sales tax or VAT on goods and services
• Reporting requirements for digital asset transactions

Moneta does not provide tax advice and does not report transactions to tax authorities on your behalf.

7. Intellectual Property and Open Source

7.1 Open Source License

Moneta software is released under the Sera Protocol License, which permits use, modification, and distribution subject to certain conditions. The full license terms are available in the LICENSE file in our source code repository.

7.2 Trademarks

"Moneta" and associated logos are trademarks. While the software is open source, the trademarks may only be used in accordance with our trademark guidelines.

7.3 User Content

You retain ownership of any content you create using the Service (invoices, payment descriptions, etc.). By using the Service, you grant Moneta a limited license to display and transmit such content as necessary to provide the Service.

8. Disclaimers and Limitations

8.1 "As Is" Provision

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

8.2 No Guarantee of Availability

We do not guarantee that the Service will be available at all times or that it will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free. The Service may be subject to limitations, delays, and other problems inherent in the use of the internet and electronic communications.

8.3 Third-Party Services

The Service may integrate with or rely on third-party services, including but not limited to blockchain networks, wallet providers, Sera Protocol, and stablecoin issuers. We are not responsible for the availability, accuracy, or reliability of any third-party services.

8.4 No Financial Advice

Nothing in the Service constitutes financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. You should consult qualified professionals before making financial decisions.

9. Limitation of Liability

9.1 Exclusion of Damages

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, MONETA AND ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Loss of profits, revenue, or business opportunities
• Loss of data or digital assets
• Loss arising from unauthorized access to your wallet
• Loss arising from transactions sent to incorrect addresses
• Loss arising from stablecoin value fluctuations
• Loss arising from blockchain network issues or delays
• Loss arising from third-party service failures

9.2 Maximum Liability

IN NO EVENT SHALL MONETA'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THE SERVICE EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO MONETA IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED US DOLLARS ($100).

9.3 Basis of the Bargain

THE LIMITATIONS IN THIS SECTION REFLECT THE ALLOCATION OF RISK BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND ARE AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF THE BASIS OF THE BARGAIN BETWEEN US. THE SERVICE WOULD NOT BE PROVIDED WITHOUT THESE LIMITATIONS.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Moneta and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from or related to:

• Your use of the Service
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any applicable law or regulation
• Your violation of any third-party rights
• Any dispute between you and a third party regarding payments

11. Dispute Resolution

11.1 Informal Resolution

Before initiating any formal dispute resolution, you agree to first contact us through our contact form to attempt to resolve any dispute informally. We will attempt to resolve disputes within thirty (30) days.

11.2 Arbitration

Any dispute not resolved informally shall be resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC). The arbitration shall be conducted in English in Singapore.

11.3 Class Action Waiver

YOU AGREE THAT ANY DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEEDINGS WILL BE CONDUCTED ONLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT IN A CLASS, CONSOLIDATED, OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION.

11.4 Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Singapore, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

12. Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will provide notice of material changes by posting the updated Terms on our website and updating the "Last updated" date. Your continued use of the Service after such changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

For significant changes, we may also notify you via email if you have provided one. If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you must stop using the Service.

13. Termination

You may stop using the Service at any time. Because Moneta is non-custodial, there is no account closure process required—your funds remain in your wallet regardless of whether you use the Service.

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service if we reasonably believe you have violated these Terms or applicable law. Termination does not affect any rights or obligations that accrued prior to termination.

14. General Provisions

14.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any other agreements expressly incorporated by reference, constitute the entire agreement between you and Moneta regarding the Service.

14.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

14.3 No Waiver

Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that provision or any other provision.

14.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign these Terms without restriction.

14.5 Force Majeure

Neither party shall be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, war, terrorism, riots, embargoes, acts of civil or military authorities, fire, floods, accidents, strikes, or shortages of transportation, facilities, fuel, energy, labor, or materials.

15. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us through our contact form: