Terms of Service

1. Introduction

Welcome to Sippy. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Sippy service ("Service"), a WhatsApp-based payment application that enables users to send and receive digital dollars using phone numbers.

By using our Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our Service.

2. Service Provider

The Service is provided by:

3. Eligibility

To use our Service, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Have a valid WhatsApp account with an active phone number.
• Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement.
• Not be prohibited from using the Service under applicable laws.

4. Description of Service

Sippy provides a WhatsApp-based interface for:

• Creating a payment account linked to your phone number.
• Sending and receiving digital dollars to other phone numbers.
• Checking your balance.
• Viewing your transaction history.

Our Service uses Coinbase CDP (Coinbase Developer Platform) for secure account management and the Arbitrum network (a public blockchain) for payment processing. Transaction data on Arbitrum is publicly visible and permanently recorded.

5. Account Creation and Security

When you create an account by sending "start" to our WhatsApp bot:

• A payment account is automatically created and linked to your phone number.
• Your account security keys are securely stored by Coinbase in their Trusted Execution Environment (TEE).
• You are responsible for maintaining the security of your WhatsApp account.
• You must notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorized access to your account.

6. Transaction Limits and Fees

The following limits apply to your use of the Service:

• Daily Limit: $500 USD equivalent per day.
• Per Transaction Limit: $100 USD equivalent per transaction.
• Transaction Fees: Sippy covers transaction fees during the beta period.

These limits may be modified at our discretion. We will notify users of any changes.

7. Acceptable Use

You agree NOT to use the Service for:

• Any illegal activities or purposes.
• Money laundering or terrorist financing.
• Fraud or deceptive practices.
• Circumventing transaction limits or security measures.
• Spamming or sending unsolicited messages.
• Attempting to gain unauthorized access to our systems or other users' accounts.
• Any activity that violates applicable laws or regulations.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms.

8. Transaction Risks

By using our Service, you acknowledge and accept the following risks:

• Irreversible Transactions: Transactions are irreversible. Once a transaction is confirmed, it cannot be undone.
• Technology Risks: Digital payment systems are subject to technical issues, bugs, and security vulnerabilities.
• Regulatory Changes: Digital payment regulations may change, potentially affecting the Service.
• Network Delays: Transactions may be delayed during periods of high network activity.

9. No Financial Advice

Sippy is a payment service and does not provide financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. The Service is not intended to be used for investment purposes. You should consult with qualified professionals before making any financial decisions.

10. Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering

Sippy is committed to complying with applicable anti-money laundering (AML) laws and regulations. By using our Service, you agree to:

• Use the Service only for lawful purposes and in compliance with all applicable laws.
• Provide accurate information when requested for verification purposes.
• Not use the Service to launder money, finance terrorism, or engage in other illegal financial activities.
• Acknowledge that we may be required to report suspicious activities to relevant authorities.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account immediately, without prior notice, if we suspect any illegal activity or violation of these compliance requirements. We may also be required to freeze funds or disclose information to law enforcement agencies as required by law.

11. Third-Party Services

Our Service relies on third-party providers including:

• Meta (WhatsApp): For messaging services. Your use is also subject to WhatsApp's Terms of Service.
• Coinbase CDP: For account infrastructure and security management.
• Arbitrum Network: A public blockchain for transaction processing. On-chain data is publicly visible and immutable.

We are not responsible for the availability, performance, or conduct of third-party services.

12. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

• The Service is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without warranties of any kind.
• We are not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Service.
• We are not responsible for losses due to user error, including sending funds to incorrect phone numbers.
• We are not liable for service interruptions caused by third-party providers or network issues.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Sippy, its operators, and affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses arising from your use of the Service, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any rights of a third party.

14. Termination and Suspension

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service at any time, without prior notice, for conduct that we believe:

• Violates these Terms or applicable laws.
• Is harmful to other users, us, or third parties.
• Is fraudulent or illegal.
• Involves suspicious activity that may indicate money laundering or other financial crimes.
• Exceeds transaction limits or triggers security alerts.

Suspension: During a suspension, your account will be temporarily disabled while we investigate. You will not be able to send or receive funds through Sippy during this period.

Termination: You may stop using the Service at any time. Upon termination, your funds remain on the Arbitrum network. To withdraw any remaining balance, please contact us at hello@sippy.lat with a withdrawal request including your phone number and a destination wallet address. We will process withdrawal requests within 15 business days.

15. Disputes, Complaints, and Refunds

If you have a complaint or dispute regarding our Service, please follow these steps:

• Contact Support: Email us at hello@sippy.lat with subject line "Complaint" or "Dispute" and include your phone number, transaction details, and a description of the issue.
• Response Time: We will acknowledge your complaint within 3 business days and aim to resolve it within 15 business days.
• Investigation: For transaction disputes, we will review transaction records and our system logs to investigate the issue.

Refunds and Transaction Errors

• Transactions are irreversible. Once confirmed, transactions cannot be reversed or refunded by Sippy.
• User error: Sippy is not responsible for funds sent to incorrect phone numbers. Please verify recipient details before confirming transactions.
• System errors: If a technical error on our part results in an incorrect transaction, we will work with you to resolve the issue to the extent possible.

If you are unsatisfied with our resolution, you may file a complaint with the Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC) in Colombia.

16. Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of material changes by posting the updated Terms on our website. Your continued use of the Service after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

17. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Colombia. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Colombia.

18. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

19. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us: