Terms of Service

These terms govern your use of the Bend app. By creating an account you agree to them. The short version: your money is yours, self-custodied; Bend provides software, not a bank account.

1. What Bend is (and isn't)

• Bend is software for holding and moving USDC, a fully collateralized dollar stablecoin, using self-custodial wallets that only you control.
• Bend is a financial technology company, not a bank. Balances are not bank deposits and are not FDIC-insured. Your balance is USDC held at blockchain addresses controlled by your keys.
• Bend never takes custody of your funds and cannot move, freeze, or recover them. Spending always requires authorization from your device.

2. Your account

• You sign in with your email. Keep access to that inbox — it's how your account is secured.
• You must be at least 18 (or the age of majority where you live) and use Bend only for yourself, not on behalf of others.
• One account per person. Usernames are first-come, first-served and may be reclaimed if impersonating someone.

3. Self-custody & your recovery key

• Your wallet's private key is generated and secured so that only you can use it. You can export your recovery key at any time in the app under Security → Wallet.
• If you share your recovery key, anyone holding it can spend your money. Bend will never ask for it.
• If you lose access to your email and haven't exported your key, your funds may be unrecoverable. That is the nature of self-custody.

4. Payments are irreversible

• Blockchain payments settle in seconds and cannot be reversed by Bend. Double-check usernames, addresses, and networks before sending.
• Money sent to the wrong address, an unsupported token, or the wrong network may be permanently lost.

5. Fees

• Sending to other Bend users is free. Network/delivery fees for cross-chain transfers are shown in the app before you confirm — what you see is what you pay.
• Fees may change; the app always displays the current fee before you commit.

6. Acceptable use & sanctions

Don't use Bend for anything unlawful — including sanctions evasion, money laundering, fraud, or purchasing illegal goods. Don't attempt to disrupt the service, probe its infrastructure, or access other users' accounts.

To comply with U.S. law, wallet addresses are screened against U.S. sanctions lists (including the Treasury Department's SDN list) when accounts are created and on an ongoing basis. We may restrict app access for accounts linked to sanctioned addresses, or for repeated attempts to transact with them. Restriction affects the app only — your keys, and your ability to export them, remain yours; we cannot touch your funds.

7. Earn (preview)

The app previews Earn, an optional way to earn yield on your USDC. When Earn launches, its terms and risk disclosures will be shown in the app before you opt in. Yield rates are variable, Earn is not a savings account or an insured deposit, and availability is limited in some regions.

8. Testing period

Bend is currently in early testing. Features may change, break, or be reset. Test builds may use test networks with no monetary value; the app indicates when real money is involved.

9. Third-party services

Sign-in and wallet infrastructure are provided by Privy (a Stripe company); cross-chain transfers by Circle's CCTP; blockchain access by public networks and RPC providers. Their availability affects the app, and their own terms govern their services.

10. Disclaimers & liability

Bend is provided "as is" without warranties. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Bend's liability is limited to the amount of fees you paid us in the twelve months before a claim. We are not liable for losses caused by blockchain networks, third-party services, lost keys, or irreversible transactions you authorized.

11. Changes & contact

We may update these terms; material changes will be announced in the app. Questions: support@bend.cash.