Privacy Policy

1. Overview

HODLTalk ("we", "us", "our") operates hodltalk.org. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you use our Service. By using HODLTalk, you consent to the practices described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

Information you provide

• Account data: username, email address, display name, and password (hashed) when you register directly
• OAuth data: when you sign in with Google or X/Twitter, we receive your name, email, and profile identifier from those providers
• User content: forum posts, thread replies, chat messages, and any other content you submit

Information collected automatically

• Log data: IP address, browser type, referring page, pages visited, and access timestamps
• Cookies: session cookies for authentication and preferences

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Create and manage your account
• Authenticate your identity via credentials or OAuth providers
• Display your content (posts, replies) on the platform
• Track and distribute community reward tokens
• Improve the Service, fix bugs, and monitor for abuse
• Communicate service updates when necessary

4. Third-Party Authentication

When you sign in using Google or X/Twitter, we access only the basic profile information needed to create your account (name, email, profile ID). We do not:

• Read your tweets, posts, or social media content
• Post on your behalf
• Access your followers, contacts, or private messages
• Store your OAuth access tokens beyond what is needed for authentication

Your use of third-party authentication is also governed by Google's Privacy Policy and X's Privacy Policy respectively.

5. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We may share data only in these circumstances:

• Public content: your forum posts, username, and display name are publicly visible
• Service providers: we use hosting and infrastructure providers who process data on our behalf
• Legal requirements: when required by law, court order, or governmental request

6. Data Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your data, including password hashing (bcrypt), encrypted connections (HTTPS), and secure session management (JWT). However, no method of electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. Forum posts and public contributions may be retained even after account deletion to preserve community discussion integrity. You may request deletion of your personal data by contacting us.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data
• Object to processing of your data
• Export your data in a portable format

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@hodltalk.org.

9. Cookies

HODLTalk uses essential cookies for authentication and session management. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies. By using the Service, you consent to the use of essential cookies.

10. Children

HODLTalk is not intended for users under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, contact us and we will delete it.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify users of significant changes by posting a notice on the platform. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact

For privacy-related questions or requests, contact us at privacy@hodltalk.org or visit our community forum.