Terms of Service
Last Updated: November 19, 2025
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing and using Afribit Africa's website and services, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, please do not use our services.
2. About Afribit Africa
Afribit Africa is a community-driven initiative operating in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya, focused on:
- Promoting Bitcoin circular economy in underserved communities
- Onboarding local merchants to accept Bitcoin payments
- Environmental programs (waste management, upcycling)
- Education and capacity building
- Contributing merchant location data to OpenStreetMap
3. Merchant Registration
3.1 Eligibility
To register as a merchant, you must:
- Operate a legitimate business in Kibera or surrounding areas
- Be at least 18 years old
- Accept or be willing to accept Bitcoin payments
- Provide accurate business information
3.2 Verification Process
All merchant submissions undergo verification:
- Ground Verification: Authorized verifiers may visit your business to confirm location, operations, and Bitcoin acceptance
- Photo Evidence: Verifiers may take photos of your business, signage, and payment methods
- Admin Review: Final approval by Afribit Africa administrators
- Rejection: We reserve the right to reject submissions that do not meet criteria
3.3 Merchant Responsibilities
- Maintain accurate business information
- Accept Bitcoin payments as advertised
- Update information promptly if business details change
- Notify us if you cease operations or no longer accept Bitcoin
- Comply with all applicable laws and regulations
4. OpenStreetMap Contribution
4.1 Data Licensing
By registering as a merchant, you agree that:
- Your business information will be contributed to OpenStreetMap (OSM)
- OSM data is licensed under the Open Database License (ODbL)
- Your data becomes part of the public OSM database
- OSM data can be freely used, shared, and modified by anyone under ODbL terms
4.2 Data Published to OSM
The following information is published:
- Business name and category
- Physical address and GPS coordinates
- Payment methods accepted (Bitcoin Lightning, on-chain, NFC)
- Contact information (if provided)
4.3 OSM Attribution
Contributions are made under Afribit Africa's OSM account with proper attribution. Learn more at OpenStreetMap Copyright.
5. Donations
5.1 Bitcoin Donations
All donations are processed via Bitcoin Lightning Network:
- Donations are non-refundable
- Donations support Afribit Africa programs and operations
- Tax receipts are not provided (we are not a registered tax-exempt entity)
- Anonymous donations are accepted
- Named donors may be publicly recognized on our website
5.2 Use of Funds
Donations are used for program operations, merchant onboarding, community education, environmental initiatives, and administrative costs.
6. Intellectual Property
Unless otherwise stated:
- Website content, design, and code are © 2025 Afribit Africa
- Logos and branding are trademarks of Afribit Africa
- Merchant-submitted data is licensed under ODbL via OSM
- User-generated content (reviews, photos) remains property of users but grants us usage rights
7. Prohibited Activities
You agree not to:
- Submit false or misleading information
- Impersonate others or misrepresent affiliation
- Use our services for illegal activities
- Attempt to hack, disrupt, or interfere with services
- Spam, scrape, or abuse our systems
- Violate intellectual property rights
- Harass or abuse other users, merchants, or staff
8. Disclaimers and Limitations
8.1 No Warranties
Services are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We do not guarantee accuracy, completeness, or reliability of merchant information.
8.2 Limitation of Liability
Afribit Africa is not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from use of our services, including but not limited to loss of funds, business interruption, or data loss.
8.3 Bitcoin Transactions
Bitcoin transactions are irreversible. We are not responsible for transaction errors, lost funds, or merchant disputes.
9. Termination
We reserve the right to:
- Suspend or terminate accounts for violations
- Remove merchant listings at our discretion
- Discontinue services at any time
- Modify features or terms with notice
10. Governing Law
These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Kenya. Disputes shall be resolved in Kenyan courts.
11. Changes to Terms
We may update these terms periodically. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance. Material changes will be communicated via email or website notice.