Terms of Services

Last updated: 13 September 2026

1. Applicability

These Terms describe Blockshard’s infrastructure role and relevant risks. Contractual obligations in these Terms apply only where they have been validly incorporated into an agreement with Blockshard. Merely visiting this website, delegating to a validator, depositing into a permissionless StakeWise vault or staking through Lido does not, by itself, establish acceptance of these Terms or a direct contract with Blockshard. Blockshard’s operation of an SSV Operator does not establish such acceptance either. Protocol participation and collaboration between infrastructure operators do not automatically create a customer, agency or bilateral service relationship. Any separately agreed direct services must be assessed under their own agreement and applicable law. Statutory duties and rights apply independently of whether these Terms have been accepted.

1.1. Definitions

• "Blockshard", "we", "us" and "our" refer to Blockshard GmbH, Bahnhofstrasse 7, 6300 Zug, Switzerland, CHE-140.033.377, the infrastructure provider and, where an agreement exists, the contracting party. Contact: hello@blockshard.io.
• "Website" refers to www.blockshard.io and all its subdomains.
• "Service" or "Services" refers to all services provided by Blockshard, including staking services, validator operations, technical support, and infrastructure monitoring.
• "Website User" means a person visiting this website. A person contacting Blockshard is not a Direct Customer solely because they send an enquiry. "Protocol Participant" means a user of a public blockchain or staking protocol, including an unknown person staking through Lido. "Vault Participant" means a Protocol Participant interacting with a StakeWise vault through their own wallet and the protocol’s smart contracts. "Direct Customer" means a person or entity with an individually agreed service relationship with Blockshard. No such relationship is inferred from permissionless participation. "Infrastructure Operator" means a technical participant in validator or SSV cluster operation; that role alone does not establish a customer or agency relationship. "You" and "your" refer to the relevant person in context. References to customers mean Direct Customers, not every staker. Contractual responsibilities apply only within the scope described in Section 1.
• "Staking" refers to participation in proof-of-stake consensus by committing assets under the applicable network or third-party protocol rules. It does not mean depositing assets with Blockshard.
• "Stake" or "Delegation" refers to assets committed or voting power assigned under the applicable network or protocol rules, without transferring custody to Blockshard.
• "Validator" refers to the node(s) operated by Blockshard that help maintain consensus in blockchain networks.
• "Slashing" refers to a protocol-defined penalty that reduces staked assets for specified validator violations. Downtime and other failures may also lead to missed rewards or other protocol penalties.
• "Unbonding" refers to the protocol-defined process of releasing staked assets, which may involve lockups, exit queues or waiting periods.

You must meet the legal age and other requirements applicable to your use of the services. Our Privacy Policy explains personal data processing; visiting the website or accepting these Terms is not blanket consent to data processing. Mandatory statutory rights remain unaffected.

2. Services Provided

Blockshard provides non-custodial validator infrastructure for Ethereum, including Ethereum DVT using SSV Network, and validator services for Avail and Tezos. Services include technical operation, monitoring and maintenance of the relevant infrastructure.

2.1 Staking Services

• Protocol Participants use their own wallets or third-party protocols. Blockshard operates validator infrastructure; participation and withdrawal conditions follow the relevant protocol. Blockshard generally does not know these participants’ identities or jurisdictions and does not operate registration, accounts or KYC for them.
• Staking rewards are determined by the applicable blockchain network or third-party protocol and are not guaranteed by Blockshard. Protocol fees and allocations follow the applicable configuration; individually agreed service fees, if any, follow the relevant direct agreement. These are distinct arrangements. In Blockshard’s Lido SDVT participation, its operator reward share derives from Ethereum protocol rewards and automated reward allocation through Splits, not a bilateral service fee paid by Lido. The allocation includes operator shares, the Lido allocation and SSV infrastructure fees. Blockshard can claim only its allocated operator share through its registered rewards address, not other operators’ shares or the staked ETH.

2.1.1 Unbonding Time

• Access to staked assets depends on the configuration and applicable protocol rules, including exit queues, available liquidity and outstanding protocol obligations. Blockshard can initiate validator exits where its role permits, but cannot guarantee a withdrawal date. A liquid token is not equivalent to immediate redemption of the underlying assets; market liquidity and prices may differ. Liability is governed by Section 6.2.

2.1.2 Slashing Risk

• Downtime or missed duties may reduce rewards or lead to protocol penalties. Slashing applies to specific protocol violations, such as conflicting Ethereum validator signatures; ordinary downtime is not, by itself, an Ethereum slashing offence. Slashing can irreversibly reduce staked assets. Safeguards cannot eliminate these risks. Liability is governed by Section 6.2.

2.1.3 Governance Participation

• Governance rights depend on the specific network and protocol configuration. Protocol participation alone does not appoint Blockshard as a participant’s representative or create a discretionary asset-management mandate.
• Any separately agreed representation or instructions must be assessed under the actual agreement and applicable protocol rules. A right to override an operator’s vote must not be assumed for every network. Liability is governed by Section 6.2.

2.2 Non-custodial model and key control

Blockshard provides technical blockchain and validator infrastructure. Blockshard does not take custody of participants’ crypto-assets or hold their wallet keys. Asset access and withdrawal conditions depend on the applicable network or third-party protocol, as distinguished below.

Direct validator configurations: Where an individual direct-validator arrangement is agreed, the Direct Customer controls the withdrawal address and withdrawal credentials. Blockshard uses validator signing credentials for consensus duties, not withdrawal control. This describes a possible service configuration and does not assert an existing direct customer relationship with every Protocol Participant.

StakeWise vault configurations: The vault smart contract is the Ethereum validators’ withdrawal address. Vault Participants control their own wallets and vault positions and initiate deposits and withdrawals through StakeWise smart contracts under the protocol rules; they do not individually control the validators’ withdrawal credentials. Blockshard does not hold participants’ wallet keys and cannot, as Vault Admin, redirect their balances or withdrawal claims to an arbitrary address at its discretion. A vault deposit alone does not establish a direct contract with Blockshard.

Blockshard acts as Vault Admin for its StakeWise vaults. Its administrative and operational permissions cover validator infrastructure, deposit data, permitted technical parameters and vault fees. This includes assigning the Validators Manager and Deposit Data Manager, changing the administrator and fee recipient, and initiating protocol-approved vault upgrades. The applicable Validators Manager permissions include validator registration, funding, exits or partial withdrawals, and consolidation, subject to the smart-contract checks and protocol rules. These permissions can affect vault operation, fees and withdrawal timing; they are not custody of participants’ wallet keys.

SSV / DVT configurations: Blockshard holds operator key shares for distributed Ethereum validator signing duties within multi-operator clusters. An operator key share is not a withdrawal key and a single share is insufficient to produce validator signatures independently. Withdrawal control follows the underlying direct-validator or vault configuration; it does not arise from the operator key share.

Lido SDVT context: Blockshard participates as an SSV Infrastructure Operator in a multi-operator validator cluster. Lido is a protocol and project context, not a bilateral customer, commissioning party or contractual payer of Blockshard. Staking through Lido does not itself create a direct relationship with Blockshard. Blockshard does not hold stakers’ wallet or withdrawal keys and cannot withdraw or redirect their stake. Collaboration with other operators does not automatically create bilateral customer or agency relationships.

Delegation and nomination configurations: Protocol Participants initiate delegation or nomination from wallets they control. Blockshard operates validator or consensus infrastructure but does not receive participants’ asset-transfer credentials through delegation or nomination.

Non-custodial operation does not eliminate risk. Network and third-party protocol rules, smart-contract faults, administrative actions, withdrawal queues, software faults, downtime and slashing may affect assets, rewards or access. Any individually agreed signing or administrative arrangement must be considered separately from permissionless participation; it does not transfer custody of participants’ assets to Blockshard.

3. User Responsibilities

The following contractual responsibilities apply only where these Terms have been validly incorporated as described in Section 1. Applicable statutory obligations remain independent of contractual acceptance.

• You are legally allowed to use our services under your local laws and regulations.
• You are responsible for complying with applicable tax laws regarding your cryptocurrency holdings, staking rewards, and any other income from blockchain networks.
• You agree not to use our services for any illegal or malicious activities.

3.1 Staking Decisions

• You decide whether, how much and where to stake, and should review the applicable protocol, fees and risks before authorising transactions. This responsibility does not exclude Blockshard's liability for its own obligations under Section 6.2.

3.2 Prohibited Actions

• You agree not to disrupt, interfere with, or damage any part of our services or infrastructure. Any unauthorized attempts to compromise our hardware or software, including but not limited to DDos attacks or malicious code, are strictly prohibited.

4. Intellectual Property

4.1 Blockshard Content

• All content provided by Blockshard, including text, images, logos, software, and code, is protected by copyright and/or trademark laws. You may not copy, reproduce, or distribute our content without explicit permission.

4.2 User Content

• Any content submitted by users to Blockshard, including feedback or ideas, becomes our exclusive property. By submitting content, you guarantee that you have the right to provide it and that it does not infringe on any third-party rights.

4.3 Software & Code

• Use of code and software is subject to the applicable licence. Rights granted by an open-source licence or mandatory copyright law are not restricted by these Terms. Other copying, distribution or modification requires the relevant rights holder's permission.

5. Global Compliance and User Responsibility

5.1 Jurisdiction and Governing Law

• These Terms are governed by Swiss substantive law, subject to any mandatory law that cannot be excluded by agreement. For business customers, the ordinary courts at Blockshard's registered seat in Zug, Switzerland, have exclusive jurisdiction. Mandatory consumer rights and statutory consumer jurisdictions remain reserved. These Terms do not require arbitration.

5.2 International Use

• Worldwide access to this website does not mean that Blockshard offers its services in every jurisdiction. The provision and use of services are subject to applicable legal requirements and the relevant service agreement. Each party remains responsible for the legal obligations applicable to its own activities. Nothing in these Terms excludes mandatory customer protections or transfers Blockshard's own legal obligations to customers.

5.3 Data Protection and Privacy Compliance

• The Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection applies to Blockshard's processing within its scope. Other privacy laws, including the GDPR, apply where their territorial and substantive requirements are met, not merely because this website can be accessed from a particular country. Our Privacy Policy describes data processing and how to contact us about your rights. Acceptance of these Terms is not blanket consent to that processing.

5.4 Export Control and Sanctions

• You agree not to use Blockshard’s services if you are located in a country or jurisdiction subject to sanctions or trade restrictions imposed by Switzerland, the United Nations, or other international organizations. It is your responsibility to ensure that using our services does not violate applicable export control laws.

6. Limitation of Liability

6.1 General Risks

• Blockchain services involve risks including downtime, slashing, software and smart-contract faults, oracle failures, administrative or upgrade changes, variable fees, market fluctuations and insufficient liquidity. Protocol exits may be delayed. Insolvency or service failure of Blockshard or another provider may disrupt operations or enforcement of claims; non-custodial operation does not guarantee uninterrupted access or a particular insolvency outcome. No deposit-insurance coverage is promised for staked crypto-assets. These disclosures do not exclude liability under Section 6.2.

6.2 Limitation of Liability

• Blockshard does not guarantee protocol rewards, market values or uninterrupted network operation. Liability for a loss depends on the applicable law, the agreed obligations, responsibility for the breach and causation. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for unlawful intent or gross negligence, or any other liability or consumer right that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited. This reservation applies to every disclaimer and allocation of responsibility in these Terms, including third-party services, governance, taxes and protocol risks.

6.3 International Disputes

• You may contact hello@blockshard.io to seek an amicable resolution. This does not prevent either party from seeking court relief or complying with a legal deadline. Disputes are subject to Section 5.1, including its reservation of mandatory consumer rights and jurisdictions. There is no general obligation to submit domestic or international disputes to arbitration.

7. Changes to Terms

We may update the information on this page and publish revised Terms. Publication or continued protocol participation alone does not constitute acceptance of contractual changes. Changes to a direct agreement are subject to that agreement’s valid amendment procedure and applicable law, including any required notice or consent.

8. Taxes and Duties

Users are solely responsible for any taxes, duties, or other fees related to their use of Blockshard’s services or earnings from cryptocurrency staking. Blockshard will not be liable for any tax-related issues.

9. Contact Information

For any questions regarding these Terms, please contact us at hello@blockshard.io.