Privacy Policy

Effective Date: August 1, 2025

Provider: RippleBids ("RippleBids", "we", "us", "our")

Contact: Support@RippleBids.com

Privacy Policy Summary

At RippleBids, we are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect your personal data when you use RippleBids.com (the "Platform"). We collect only the personal data necessary to operate our cryptocurrency-based marketplace, process transactions, manage accounts, and comply with legal obligations, such as anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) requirements. We do not collect or store private keys for your cryptocurrency wallets.

By using the Platform, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us at Support@RippleBids.com.

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of personal data to provide and improve our services:

1.1 Account Data

  • Email address, display name, and profile information (e.g., username, optional profile picture).
  • Public wallet addresses and public keys associated with supported wallet systems (e.g., Xaman, MetaMask, Slush Wallet, Phantom Wallet).

1.2 Transaction Data

  • Transaction hashes, payment amounts, timestamps, and details of listings purchased or sold.
  • Escrow-related data, such as conditions for fund release.

1.3 Listing Content

  • Images, descriptions, and other files uploaded by users for product or service listings.

1.4 Shipping Data

  • Recipient name, shipping address, and tracking information when sellers purchase shipping labels via our integration with ShipEngine.

1.5 Usage and Analytics Data

  • IP addresses, device identifiers, browser type, operating system, and page views.
  • Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see our Cookie Policy for details).

1.6 KYC/AML Data (if required)

  • Government-issued identification, Social Security Number (SSN) or Tax ID (or regional equivalent), and proof of address for accounts subject to KYC verification.
  • Additional documentation as required by applicable AML or counter-financing of terrorism (CFT) regulations.

1.7 Communication Data

  • Information you provide when contacting us (e.g., support inquiries, feedback).
  • Marketing preferences and opt-in/opt-out choices for promotional communications.

2. How We Use Your Data

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

2.1 To Operate the Platform

  • Facilitate account creation, authentication, and management.
  • Process transactions, manage escrow, and verify blockchain-based payments.
  • Enable listing creation, display, and management.
  • Provide shipping label services via ShipEngine integration.

2.2 To Provide Customer Support

  • Respond to inquiries, resolve issues, and assist with disputes.

2.3 To Ensure Security and Prevent Fraud

  • Detect and prevent fraudulent activities, unauthorized access, or misuse of the Platform.
  • Conduct KYC/AML verification where required by law.

2.4 To Comply with Legal Obligations

  • Fulfill regulatory requirements, including AML/CFT laws under Ohio and federal regulations (e.g., 31 U.S.C. § 5311 et seq.).
  • Respond to lawful requests from law enforcement or regulators.

2.5 To Improve Our Services

  • Analyze usage patterns and trends to enhance Platform functionality and user experience.
  • Conduct analytics using aggregated or anonymized data.

2.6 To Communicate with You

  • Send transactional notifications (e.g., account updates, transaction confirmations).
  • Provide promotional communications or newsletters if you have opted in (you may opt out at any time).

3. Sharing and Disclosure of Data

We may share your personal data with third parties only as necessary to operate the Platform or comply with legal obligations:

3.1 Service Providers

  • ShipEngine: To process shipping labels and tracking information for sellers.
  • Wallet Providers: To facilitate blockchain transactions (e.g., Xaman/XUMM, MetaMask, Slush Wallet, Phantom Wallet).
  • Blockchain Infrastructure Providers: To verify and record transactions on supported networks (e.g., Ethereum, XRPL, Solana).
  • Cloud Hosting and Analytics Providers: To store data securely and analyze Platform performance.
  • Payment Processors and KYC/AML Vendors: To process payments and conduct identity verification where required.

3.2 Legal and Regulatory Compliance

  • We may disclose data to law enforcement, regulators, or other authorities when required by Ohio law, federal law (e.g., Bank Secrecy Act), or other applicable regulations.
  • We may share data to protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our users or others.

3.3 Business Transfers

  • In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred to a successor entity, subject to notice and applicable legal requirements.

3.4 No Sale of Personal Data

RippleBids does not sell your personal data to third parties for marketing purposes under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) definition of "sale."

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

4.1 Use of Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies (e.g., web beacons, pixel tags) to enhance your experience, analyze usage, and deliver personalized content. For details, see our Cookie Policy.

4.2 Managing Preferences

You can manage cookie preferences through our cookie consent tool or your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect Platform functionality.

5. Data Retention

We retain personal data only as long as necessary to:

  • Provide the Platform's services.
  • Comply with legal obligations (e.g., tax or AML/CFT recordkeeping).
  • Resolve disputes or enforce agreements.
  • Prevent fraud or ensure Platform security.

Specific retention periods vary by data type. For example:

  • Account and transaction data may be retained for up to seven (7) years to comply with tax and AML regulations.
  • KYC data may be retained as required by law or until no longer needed for compliance.
  • Usage data may be anonymized and retained indefinitely for analytics.

When data is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it in accordance with applicable laws.

6. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

6.1 General Rights

  • Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
  • Deletion: Request deletion of your data, subject to legal retention obligations.
  • Restriction: Request restriction of data processing in certain circumstances.
  • Portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
  • Objection: Object to certain data processing activities (e.g., marketing).

6.2 CCPA Rights (California Residents)

  • Right to Know: Request details about the categories and specific pieces of personal data we collect, use, or share.
  • Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal data, subject to exceptions.
  • Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of any "sale" of personal data (not applicable, as RippleBids does not sell data).
  • Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights.

6.3 GDPR Rights (EEA/UK Residents)

If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA) or UK, you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.

6.4 Exercising Your Rights

  • Submit requests to Support@RippleBids.com.
  • We will respond within the timeframes required by law (e.g., 30 days for GDPR, 45 days for CCPA).
  • We may require identity verification to process requests.

7. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data, including encryption, access controls, and secure cloud storage. However, no system is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security, particularly for blockchain-based transactions, which rely on external networks.

Note: You are solely responsible for securing your cryptocurrency wallet private keys, as RippleBids does not collect or store them.

8. International Data Transfers

Your personal data may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including the United States, where our servers and service providers are located. These countries may have different data protection laws. Where required (e.g., under GDPR), we use safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses to ensure adequate protection for transferred data.

9. Children's Privacy

The Platform is not intended for children under 18 years of age (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction, if higher). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 18. If we learn that such data has been collected, we will promptly delete it. Contact us at Support@RippleBids.com if you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a child.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. Material changes will be communicated via the Platform, email, or other reasonable means, with at least thirty (30) days' notice before taking effect. Your continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

11. Contact Information

For questions, concerns, or to exercise your privacy rights, contact us at:

Email: Support@RippleBids.com

Address: State of Ohio (All requests must be sent to our Support Email)

For privacy-specific requests, please include "Privacy Request" in the subject line.

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Your Privacy Matters: We are committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy rights. This policy explains our practices in clear, understandable terms.