Terms of Service

Last updated: 16 April 2026

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the QuestHive platform, including our website, trading application, and trading terminal (collectively, the "Services"), operated by QuestHive Ltd ("QuestHive", "we", "us", or "our"). By accessing or using our Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account, accessing, or using our Services, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, together with our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use our Services.

You must be at least 18 years of age to use our Services. By using our Services, you represent and warrant that you are 18 years of age or older and have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms.

2. Service Description

QuestHive operates an Electronic Communication Network (ECN) / Multilateral Trading Facility (MTF) for the trading of work vouchers — digital instruments representing quantised, verified units of labour.

Our platform facilitates:

• The minting of work vouchers by verified freelancers
• The trading of work vouchers between participants on a regulated exchange
• The redemption of work vouchers for services
• On-chain settlement of transactions via the Solana blockchain
• Decentralised governance of platform parameters

QuestHive does not provide investment advice. The value of work vouchers is determined by market forces and may fluctuate. You should carefully consider whether trading work vouchers is appropriate for your circumstances.

3. Account Registration

To use our Services, you must register an account and complete identity verification (Know Your Customer, or KYC). You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and throughout the life of your account
• Update your information promptly if it changes
• Complete the KYC verification process as required, including providing government-issued identification and proof of address
• Maintain the security and confidentiality of your account credentials
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorised access to or use of your account

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that fail to meet KYC requirements or that provide false or misleading information.

You may only hold one account. We reserve the right to close duplicate accounts without prior notice.

4. Work Vouchers

4.1 Nature of Work Vouchers

Work vouchers are digital instruments minted on the Solana blockchain that represent a quantised, verified unit of labour performed by a freelancer. Each voucher is backed by a zero-knowledge (ZK) proof attesting to the completion and verification of the underlying work.

4.2 Risks

You acknowledge and accept the following risks associated with work vouchers:

• Market risk: The market value of work vouchers may fluctuate based on supply, demand, and other market conditions. There is no guarantee of liquidity or that you will be able to sell a voucher at or above the price you paid.
• Technology risk: Blockchain technology is nascent and subject to risks including network congestion, smart contract vulnerabilities, and consensus mechanism failures.
• Regulatory risk: The regulatory landscape for digital assets and decentralised finance is evolving. Changes in law or regulation may affect the availability, value, or tradability of work vouchers.
• Verification risk: While we employ rigorous verification mechanisms, no verification system is infallible. A work voucher represents a verified claim about labour performed, but QuestHive does not guarantee the quality of the underlying work beyond the scope of the verification process.

5. Trading

Trading on the QuestHive platform is subject to the following rules:

• All orders are matched in accordance with our matching engine rules, prioritising price and time of submission.
• We operate a continuous order book with real-time best bid and best offer (BBO) display.
• There is no guarantee of liquidity. Orders may not be filled in whole or in part.
• Market conditions may result in slippage between the expected and actual execution price.
• QuestHive operates as a neutral venue and does not take positions in any work voucher or act as a counterparty to trades.

All trades are subject to best execution obligations in accordance with MIFID II requirements.

6. Escrow

When a consumer purchases a work voucher for the purpose of redeeming it for services, the following escrow process applies:

1. Deposit: The purchase funds are held in an escrow smart contract upon trade execution.
2. Redemption: The consumer redeems the voucher with the freelancer for the agreed-upon service.
3. Confirmation: Upon successful completion of the service, both parties confirm the redemption. Funds are released to the freelancer.
4. Dispute: If either party disputes the redemption, the funds remain in escrow and the matter is referred to our dispute resolution process.

QuestHive may act as an impartial mediator in disputes. Our decision in any dispute is final and binding, subject to your right to pursue further remedies as described in Section 13.

7. Governance

QuestHive incorporates decentralised governance mechanisms that allow token holders and platform participants to influence platform parameters. Governance may include:

• Proposing and voting on changes to platform parameters (e.g., trading fees, minting thresholds)
• Proposing and voting on new voucher categories or verification standards
• Protocol upgrades and feature additions

Governance votes are conducted on-chain and are binding once executed. QuestHive reserves the right to implement emergency measures in the event of a security vulnerability or other critical risk to the platform, pending subsequent governance approval.

Voting power and eligibility are determined by the governance protocol and may be subject to change through governance proposals.

8. Fees

QuestHive charges fees for certain Services. The current fee structure is as follows:

• Transaction fees: A fee is charged on each executed trade. The specific fee schedule will be published on the platform and may be updated from time to time.
• Withdrawal fees: A fee may be charged for fiat withdrawals. The fee amount depends on the withdrawal method and destination.
• Network fees: On-chain transactions on the Solana blockchain are subject to network (gas) fees, which are paid directly to validators and are not retained by QuestHive.

We will provide at least 30 days' notice before any fee increase. Current fee schedules are available within the platform.

9. Prohibited Activities

You must not engage in any of the following activities when using our Services:

• Market manipulation, including but not limited to spoofing, layering, wash trading, and pump-and-dump schemes
• Money laundering, terrorist financing, or any other financial crime
• Using the Services to facilitate or engage in any illegal activity
• Submitting false or fraudulent work proofs or verification data
• Creating multiple accounts or impersonating another person
• Attempting to compromise the security of the platform, other users, or any related systems
• Reverse engineering, decompiling, or disassembling any part of the platform
• Using automated bots or scripts to interact with the platform in violation of our API terms
• Circumventing any restrictions, limits, or controls imposed by QuestHive
• Transmitting any malware, viruses, or other harmful code

Violation of these prohibitions may result in immediate account suspension or termination, forfeiture of assets, and referral to law enforcement authorities.

10. Intellectual Property

All content, design, software, and other materials on the QuestHive platform, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, icons, code, and user interface elements, are the intellectual property of QuestHive Ltd or its licensors and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works from, publicly display, or exploit any content from the platform without our prior written consent, except as expressly permitted by these Terms or as required to use the Services as intended.

"QuestHive" and the QuestHive logo are registered trademarks of QuestHive Ltd. You may not use these marks without our prior written permission.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law:

• QuestHive provides the Services "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express, implied, or statutory, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.
• QuestHive does not warrant that the Services will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or free from viruses or other harmful components.
• In no event shall QuestHive, its directors, employees, partners, agents, suppliers, or affiliates be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, arising out of or in connection with your use of or inability to use the Services.
• QuestHive's total aggregate liability for any claims arising under or in connection with these Terms shall not exceed the greater of (a) the fees you paid to QuestHive in the 12 months preceding the claim, or (b) £10,000.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited by applicable law.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless QuestHive and its officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, and suppliers from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, or debt arising from:

• Your use of or access to the Services
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any applicable law or regulation
• Your violation of any rights of a third party, including intellectual property rights
• Any content you submit, post, or transmit through the Services

13. Dispute Resolution

13.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

13.2 Arbitration

Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to these Terms, or the breach, termination, or validity thereof, shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered under the rules of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). The arbitration shall be conducted in English, and the seat of arbitration shall be London, United Kingdom.

13.3 Exceptions

Notwithstanding the above, either party may seek injunctive or equitable relief in the courts of England and Wales in any case where such relief is necessary to prevent irreparable harm.

14. Regulatory

QuestHive operates as a regulated entity under the oversight of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). We are committed to compliance with all applicable financial services regulations, including but not limited to:

• MIFID II: Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II, including best execution, transaction reporting, and record-keeping requirements.
• MLR 2017: Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017, including KYC and AML obligations.
• UK GDPR: UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.
• FCA Handbook: All applicable FCA rules, principles, and guidance.

We may be required to report certain transactions, freeze assets, or take other actions in response to regulatory directives or legal requirements. We will comply with such requirements and may not always be able to notify you in advance.

15. Termination

15.1 By You

You may close your account at any time by contacting us or using the account closure function within the platform. Upon closure, any remaining balances will be returned to you in accordance with our withdrawal procedures, subject to any applicable fees and regulatory holds.

15.2 By QuestHive

We may suspend or terminate your account and access to the Services at any time, with or without cause, including but not limited to:

• Violation of these Terms
• Suspicious or fraudulent activity
• Failure to complete or pass KYC/AML verification
• Legal or regulatory requirement
• Discontinuation of all or part of the Services

Where possible, we will provide advance notice of termination for reasons other than suspected fraud or legal requirement. Upon termination, you remain liable for any obligations incurred prior to termination.

16. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will provide at least 30 days' notice of material changes by posting the updated Terms on this page and, where appropriate, by email or in-app notification.

Your continued use of the Services after the effective date of any changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the changes, you must cease using the Services and close your account.

17. General Provisions

• Entire agreement: These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and QuestHive regarding the Services.
• Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that the remaining provisions remain in full force and effect.
• Waiver: The failure of QuestHive to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.
• Assignment: You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your rights under these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations under these Terms without restriction.
• No agency: These Terms do not create an agency, partnership, or joint venture between you and QuestHive.