This Privacy Policy explains how Ascend (“Ascend”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) collects, uses, discloses, and protects information when you access or use the website at ascend-protocol.com and any related subdomains (collectively, the “Site”). The Site is an informational website about the Ascend protocol. It does not provide custody of assets, manage funds, or transmit transactions on behalf of users; interactions with the protocol itself occur directly onchain through your wallet.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information in the following ways:
Information you provide directly
- Contact details — name, email address, organization, and any message you submit through forms (for example, the sign-up form on our homepage);
- Correspondence — emails or other messages you send to us;
- Press, partnership, and developer inquiries — details you provide when contacting us about media, integrations, or ecosystem matters.
Onchain activity is public. The Site does not require you to connect a wallet, but if you do interact with the Ascend protocol or any related smart contract, the resulting transactions, addresses, and balances are recorded on a public blockchain and are visible to anyone. Ascend does not control, and cannot delete or modify, public blockchain data.
Information collected automatically
- Device and connection data — IP address, approximate region, browser type, operating system, and device identifiers;
- Usage data — pages visited, referring URL, time on page, links clicked, and similar diagnostics;
- Cookies and similar technologies — see Section 3.
2. How We Use Information
We use the information described above to:
- Operate, maintain, and improve the Site;
- Respond to inquiries, deliver requested information, and provide updates you have signed up for;
- Understand how visitors use the Site through privacy-preserving analytics;
- Detect, prevent, and respond to fraud, abuse, and security incidents;
- Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and lawful requests.
3. Cookies and Similar Technologies
We use a small set of cookies and similar technologies to keep the Site functional, remember preferences, and measure aggregate usage. Strictly necessary cookies are used to provide core Site functionality. Analytics cookies, where used, are configured to minimize the collection of personally identifiable information.
You can control cookies through your browser settings, including blocking or deleting them. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect Site functionality.
4. How We Share Information
We do not sell personal information. We share information only as described below:
- Service providers — vendors that host the Site, send email, or provide analytics on our behalf, bound by appropriate confidentiality and data processing terms;
- Legal requirements — where required by law, regulation, court order, or other legal process, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Ascend, our users, or others;
- Corporate transactions — in connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets, subject to standard confidentiality safeguards;
- With your consent — for any other purpose disclosed at the time of collection or with your subsequent consent.
5. Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Policy, including to comply with our legal, accounting, or reporting obligations, and to resolve disputes. Retention periods vary based on the type of information and the context in which it was collected.
6. Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights with respect to your personal information, including:
- Access to the personal information we hold about you;
- Correction of inaccurate or incomplete information;
- Deletion of personal information in certain circumstances;
- Restriction or objection to certain processing;
- Portability of information you have provided to us in a structured, machine-readable format;
- Withdrawal of consent where processing is based on consent.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We may need to verify your identity before responding. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
7. Security
We maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. No method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is fully secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
8. International Transfers
Information you submit may be transferred to, stored, and processed in jurisdictions other than your own, including countries that may not provide the same level of data protection as your home jurisdiction. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards, such as standard contractual clauses, to protect transferred information.
9. Third-Party Links
The Site may contain links to third-party sites and services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party site you visit.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically. Continued use of the Site after a change constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.
11. Contact
Questions or requests regarding this Privacy Policy can be sent to [email protected].
For informational purposes only. This page is a general statement of website privacy practices and is not a substitute for legal advice. If you require advice on the application of this Policy to your circumstances, please consult qualified counsel.