Buidl Web3 with Coinbase Cloud

ELIGIBILITY:  Head over to the Rules Section of the Guidelines tab to learn more.

The Buidl Web3 with Coinbase Cloud Challenge is asking aspiring developers to create a prototype for the next great dapp (decentralized app). As the Challenge Sponsor, Coinbase knows that the field of dapp development is growing fast so we want your help with ensuring that this field serves the users of the future.

Fortunately, Coinbase Cloud is growing and building new tools for the developer community to leverage. Now we need innovative and socially conscious people to take these tools and use them for the greater good of web3. Competitors that present a promising prototype for a dapp, using Coinbase Node and Coinbase Wallet for the build, will be rewarded with part of a $15,000 prize purse, a pitch meeting with influential Coinbase members, official challenge NFTs, and access to exclusive training sessions.

For dapp ideas, while you can build anything you want, we love dapps that help the next generation of users come into web3. We also love dapps that serve a greater good. Most of all, we love creativity and want the builders to approach this opportunity with more of a relaxed pace. So if you’re still learning the ropes and trying to flex your design muscles, then this is the perfect place to try something new! 

Head over to the Guidelines Tab to read more about the challenge requirements.

Welcome to Coinbase Cloud

What are the web3 developers of the world looking for? They want to connect to blockchains to securely store and transfer crypto. They want to stake, mint NFTs, index all the metadata, and perform blockchain analytics for compliance. Why not have some support?

Coinbase Cloud is building the one-stop-shop for all of the above: including web3 APIs, tools, and infrastructure. Building the infrastructure and APIs to help drive web3 growth is at the core of our mission to increase economic freedom around the world. We believe that the web3 developer community is aligned with that mission and we’re excited to partner in making that happen.

Using Coinbase Node to Build in Web3

Coinbase Cloud is committed to helping web3 developers do what they do best… BUIDL. That’s why we’re taking our 10+ years experience developing Web3 products for DeFi, staking and blockchain infrastructure, and making this technology accessible to developers around the world, starting with the launch of Coinbase Node.

In simple terms, a node is a piece of software running on a single computer that is able to connect with the rest of the blockchain network. The node stores and validates transactions on the network and earns cryptocurrency rewards.

A blockchain network consists of many nodes that coordinate to achieve consensus on the state of the network, for example the most up to date account of all token transfers and wallet address balances on the ledger.

The blockchain network is decentralized by nature, because there isn't a master server or single authority to run it. This is one of the main reasons that the technology is so appealing to developers. The component nodes in the network are all over the world, and are controlled by countless individuals and organizations.

It's crucial to remember that a node is required in order to view the data on a blockchain. This is why it is so important for any developer to understand how to interact with nodes when they are creating their own dapps. Thankfully, Coinbase has all the support you need to understand this new technology through Coinbase Cloud.

The New Coinbase Wallet for Developers

In addition to the access and api’s available through Coinbase Node, we are also excited to have developers work with Coinbase Wallet. Coinbase Wallet has recently added powerful tools for Developers, including multi-account wallet support, testnet faucets for Ethereum Görli and Ethereum Rinkeby - where you can get free testnet ETH - all packaged in an amazing user experience that is really easy to use.

Additionally, we’ve launched a new open source Coinbase Wallet Mobile SDK, designed from scratch for web3 developers building native mobile applications. If you’re a mobile developer, this new SDK is the easiest and fastest way to integrate your mobile web3 dapps and ensure they reach millions of Coinbase users. For your reference, the mobile SDK is offered in addition to our existing Web SDK, and is already live with multiple mobile dapps including dYdX, DeBank, Showtime, and Tribes.

Our goal is to help our developer partners build into web3 with the most useful, safe, and reliable tools. With the evolution that Coinbase Wallet has seen in the past few months, we are thrilled to have our Build with Coinbase Cloud participants take our new features out for a spin and show us what they're really capable of doing.

 -A simple guide to the Web3 stack, Coinbase.com

The Challenge

The Buidl Web3 with Coinbase Cloud Challenge wants you to construct dapps that embody the user-focused spirit of Web3. Be creative! Be daring! Be bold!

We want to see a prototype that has been built using Coinbase Node and Coinbase Wallet (see the helpful links through Coinbase Cloud below). Show us how the dapp would work and the way you would design it. Additionally, in your submission to this challenge, tell us about your vision for the future of the dapp and its evolution over time. What makes your dapp unique? What would make people want to use it? 

We also want to know how you felt about using Coinbase Cloud tools! We are trying to get better and your experience and feedback will help us evolve along with you.

We are eager to award those who create something robust, creative, and impactful. Many types of dapps have already been pioneered and popularized online (gaming, financial services, etc.). Are there any new services or types of dapps that you would like to bring to the Web3 ecosystem? Or, do you want to improve on an existing dapp structure, making it more accessible and relevant to your chosen community?  Or if you need more inspiration, check out the results from the Gaps in Dapps mini-challenge. These will be available after December 22, 2022 and may give you a leg up on the competition, if you choose to work with one of these winning ideas!

In summary, those who successfully leverage Coinbase tools, who hope to make a big impact, who think creatively, and who prioritize the values of Web3–fair and equal access and self-governance–will score highest among the competitors. Use this insight and the judging criteria listed below to guide your submission. This opportunity is designed for all participating programmers and designers to work on at their own pace. You have a few months to put something together so you don't have to cram all your work in at once. 
 

How do I participate?

There are two rounds in this challenge: a submission round and a pitching round.

All eligible competitors are welcome to participate in the submission round. In this round, you must envision and create a prototype for your dapp and then record a video introducing your concept. You will submit a link to your prototype and provide your supporting information through the submission form button at the top of this page. 

From a high-level perspective, you will need to submit:

• Responses to the submission form questions.
• A functioning dapp prototype:
  • Successfully build your dapp using Coinbase Wallet and Coinbase Node
    • Coinbase Wallet documentation can be found here: https://docs.cloud.coinbase.com/wallet-sdk/docs/welcome
    • Coinbase Node documentation can be found here: https://docs.cloud.coinbase.com/node/reference/welcome-to-node
  • Takes advantage of Coinbase's advanced APIs and NFT API
  • If you aren’t sure where to get started, you can begin with a sample application like these: https://docs.cloud.coinbase.com/wallet-sdk/docs/sample-applications
• A brief video summary of your proposal where you discuss:
  • How your dapp works and what potential it has for growth and impact.
  • Optionally, a walkthrough of your functional dapp, showing how a user would interact with it.
• Feedback of your experience building with Coinbase Wallet and Coinbase Node
  • What worked? What didn’t?
  • What would you like to see added or removed from these tools?

Coinbase wants to gain insight into how they can improve these tools. The content of your feedback does not affect how your submission will be evaluated, but providing some feedback is required with participation.

Access to the pitching round is by invitation only. A team of Coinbase challenge judges will score the submission round entries using the Judging Criteria shown below and determine their top five entries. The teams submitting those top rated entries will be recognized as finalists and invited to the pitching round. 

The Finalists selected for this round will then present their solution submitted during the Contest Period via a live presentation with an opportunity to answer questions from a panel of judges. After the pitch sessions, the judges will then determine the final challenge rankings and announce the winners.

Competitors are limited to one submission in this challenge and may submit as either an individual or as a team. The maximum team size is five members. All team members must be eligible to compete in the challenge.

To ask questions about the challenge criteria, to locate team members for collaboration, or simply to chat with your fellow competitors, head over to the Forum Tab where you can join the discussion or check out the HeroX support page.

Prizes

Additional non-monetary incentives for the 5 finalists:

• You will be offered the chance to present your dapp to the Coinbase judging committee which includes representatives from the following teams:
  • Coinbase Ventures Team
  • Coinbase Talent Team
  • Coinbase Business Development
  • Coinbase Engineering
• Coinbase will also offer the finalists an hour-long training session from a relevant Coinbase representative (Talent, Ventures, Engineering, etc.)
• These interactions with any of these teams could lead to further discussions and will put you on their talent radar.
   

For all eligible challenge participants:

• Your idea may be boosted with a post on one of Coinbase’s popular community channels or with additional resources outside of the prize pool.
• Plus, an official Coinbase NFT will be awarded to all eligible submitting teams, at the determination of the Challenge Sponsor.

Timeline

Judging Criteria

Submission Round

Pitching Round

The Pitching Round will be evaluated by Coinbase representatives who are looking for dapps that stand out from the crowd. 
 

Dapps are likely to be chosen as winners if they:

• Have a strong technical foundation
• Have potential for growth and significant impact upon the community
• Are creative, original, and innovative
• Embody the Web3 values of fair and equal access and self-governance

Submission Form

(the submission form questions are provided here for your reference, but you will still need to submit your responses through the official form located at the top of the page)

Rules

NO PURCHASE, PAYMENT, OR TRADE OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   

ELIGIBILITY: Buidl Web3 with Coinbase Cloud  (the “Challenge”) is open to (i) individuals who are legal residents of countries where both Coinbase app and Coinbase Wallet app are available, excluding Hawaii (United States), Quebec (Canada), and excluding any countries where prohibited by law or any countries embargoed/sanctioned by the United States; (ii) individuals who are the age of majority or older in his or her state or country of residence at the time of entry; and (iii) who are not employed by a competitor of Coinbase, which such determination is in Coinbase’s sole discretion. Employees, temporary workers, interns, officers, and directors of Coinbase, Inc. (“Sponsor” or “Coinbase”), HeroX (“Administrator”), their affiliated companies, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, any and all other entities, directly associated with this Challenge (“Released Parties”), and the immediate family members and members of the same residing in the household of any of the above are not eligible to enter or win. Employees or officials of any government entity are not eligible to enter or win a prize. Failure to meet the eligibility requirements will result in an entry being invalid and forfeiture of any prize.

AGREEMENT TO OFFICIAL RULES: By participating, individual entrants or a team of no more than five (5) eligible individuals (collectively “Entrants”) agree to abide by and be bound by these official rules (the “Official Rules”). Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.  

ENTRY PERIOD: The Challenge begins at 12:00 AM ET on October 14th, 2022 and ends at 5:00 PM EST on March 2nd, 2023 (“Entry Period”). 

HOW TO ENTER: Eligible Entrants may enter the Challenge by (i) signing-up and registering for a HeroX account, and (ii) submit your solution on the URL: https://www.herox.com/BuidlwithCoinbaseCloud (“Website”) within the Entry Period. 

All required information must be provided to enter and to be eligible to win. Incomplete entries will be disqualified and void. 

JUDGING: All eligible submissions will be evaluated by a panel of judges according to the judging criteria for both Rounds One and Two as listed on the Website.

Round One: Up to five (5) eligible Entrants with the highest scores will be selected as a finalist (each individual or team a “Finalist”). The judging and final determination of the Finalists will be in the sole discretion of the judges. Finalists may be required to provide additional information at any time to remain eligible, as requested by The Released Parties.

Round Two: The Finalists selected in Round One will then present their solution submitted during the Contest Period via a live presentation and an opportunity to answer questions from a panel of judges. The judging and final determination of the winner(s) will be in the sole discretion of the judges. The Released Parties also reserve the right to award other prizes, including related to stated categories, at their discretion.

In the event of a tie in either Round One or Round Two, the judges will determine the winner based on the higher score in the Impact category of the judging criteria as listed on the Website. 

Limit one (1) entry per person or if a team entry, limit one (1) entry per team; a team may consist of up to five (5) people, all of whom must be eligible Entrants. In no event shall more than one person, whether on a team or as an individual, submit more than one (1) entry. Any person or email address, or person who is on more than one team, that submits more than one entry will be disqualified. The Released Parties are not responsible for: lost, late, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, illegible, misdirected entries.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: All intellectual property (“IP”) in Entrants’ submission remains the property of Entrants. Entrants may choose to enter into a separate IP License agreement at the point of winner selection. 

Entrants agree that: (1) their submission contains content created by Entrants and does not incorporate any unlicensed third party IP; (2) Released Parties may use or redistribute the submissions for any purpose and in any way on an unrestricted basis in connection with the Challenge; (3) there is no obligation to keep any submission confidential.  

Entrants understand that nothing in this Agreement will impair the Released Parties’ rights to develop, acquire, license, market, promote, sell, or distribute products, technologies, or services that compete with your submission and/or perform the same or similar functions as your submission.

WINNER SELECTION NOTIFICATION: All potential prize winners with the highest score will be selected in accordance with the judging criteria among all eligible entries received by Sponsor, whose decisions are final and binding. The Finalist selection will be on or about February 3rd, 2023. The potential prize winners selection will be on or about February 24, 2023. Prize winners need not be present to win. All prize winners may be required to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility, Release of Liability, and Publicity Release form, unless prohibited by law, prior to accepting a prize. Failure to comply with any of the requirements set forth in these Official Rules may result in disqualification or forfeiture of the prize.

PRIZE & PRIZE CONDITIONS: All prizes and each prize’s approximate retail value (“ARV”) are displayed on the Website. Total ARV of prizes awarded in this Challenge is $15,000 USD. Odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible entrants who enter the Challenge and challenge performance. Winners are subject to all applicable terms and conditions associated with the prize. The Released Parties are not responsible for lost or stolen prize elements. Winners will receive their prizes within 90 days of the winner selection. 

The winner(s) will be required to create a Coinbase account if they do not already hold a Coinbase account; if the winner is a team, the winning team’s captain shall create the Coinbase account and is responsible for distributing the prize to its respective winning teammates. In no event shall the Released Parties be liable to any winning team member for all or a portion of a prize if the Released Parties was received by the winning team’s captain. A potential winner that does not create a new Coinbase account, or provide details of their existing Coinbase account, within the time specified in their prize notification, will forfeit the prize. A potential winner that does not create a Coinbase account and/or if their Coinbase account is not validated and in good-standing as determined by Coinbase, in its sole discretion, will be disqualified. 

AN ENTRANT IS NOT A WINNER OF ANY PRIZE UNLESS AND UNTIL THAT ENTRANT’S ELIGIBILITY AND COMPLIANCE WITH ALL REQUIREMENTS TO CLAIM A PRIZE HAVE BEEN VERIFIED AND FULFILLED, AND THE ENTRANT HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT VERIFICATION IS COMPLETE.

The prize(s) will be fulfilled via an upload of either USD Coin (“USDC”)  to the confirmed winner’s Coinbase account or fulfilled by another means as agreed upon between the winner and the Sponsor. Restrictions may apply. Fees apply when you buy and sell digital currency on the Coinbase site. Value of the prize(s) is determined by Coinbase’s set rate on a date and time selected by Coinbase at its discretion prior to upload of prize to a winner’s Coinbase account. If there is any restriction to receiving the prize offered in the country of the winner, an alternate prize may be provided. 

ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL TAXES ARE SOLELY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNERS. Winners may be required to complete required tax forms or other documents requested within the time period stipulated by the Released Parties. Any difference between the stated estimated value of the prize and its actual value will not be awarded. Winner agrees to accept the prize “as is.”   

No substitution or transfer of prize will be permitted. The Released Parties reserve the right at their sole discretion to substitute the prize with another prize of equal or greater value. If there are less eligible submissions than the number of prizes, the Released Parties may modify the distribution of prizes at its sole discretion. 

If a prize or prize notification is returned as unclaimed or undeliverable to the prize winner(s), if the prize winner(s) cannot be reached by the Released Parties within fourteen (14) calendar days from the first notification attempt, if the prize Winner(s) does not comply with the prize acceptance instructions within seven (7) calendar days from the first notification attempt, or the prize winner(s) is not in compliance with these Official Rules, then such person shall be disqualified and, at the Released Parties’ sole discretion, alternate prize winners may be selected for the prize at issue. 

RELEASE: By participating in the Challenge and/or accepting a prize, Entrants agree to release and hold harmless the Released Parties from and against any claim, action, injury, loss, damage or cause of action arising out of or relating to participation in the Challenge, acceptance or receipt of any prize, use or misuse of any prize, or participation in any prize-related activity. Released Parties assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries. Acceptance of a prize constitutes permission for the Released Parties to use the winners’ name, likeness, photograph and/or hometown and state for advertising without further compensation, in any media, worldwide, unless prohibited by law. 

GENERAL CONDITIONS: If for any reason the operation or administration of this Contest is impaired or incapable of running as planned for any reason, including but not limited to (a) infection by computer virus, bugs, (b) tampering, unauthorized intervention, (c) fraud, (d) technical failures, or (e) any other causes beyond the control of the Sponsor which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Contest, the Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest in whole or in part, at any time, without notice and award the prizes using all non-suspect eligible entries received as of, or after (if applicable) this cancellation, termination, modification or suspension date, or in any manner that is fair and equitable and best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules. Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual deemed to be (a) tampering or attempting to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Contest website; or (b) acting in violation of these Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. 

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: By entering, each Entrant agrees their submission: (i) must not include any unnecessary personal information; (ii) must be in English; (iii) must not contain material that violates or infringes another’s rights, including but not limited to privacy, publicity, copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights; (iv) must not contain material that is inappropriate, indecent, obscene hateful, defamatory, slanderous, or libelous; (v) must not contain anything that promotes bigotry, racism, hatred, or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, or age; and (vi) must not contain material that is unlawful, in violation of or contrary to the laws or regulations in any jurisdiction where the entry is created.

PUBLICITY: By accepting a prize, where permitted by law, the prize winners grant to the Released Parties and those acting pursuant to the authority of the Released Parties, the right to print, publish, broadcast and use worldwide in all media without limitation at any time a prize winner’s name, image, photograph, portrait, voice, and likeness for advertising, trade and promotional purposes without further payment or additional consideration, and without review, approval or notification.  

USE OF DATA: All information submitted by Entrants will be treated according to HeroXs Privacy Statement, available at https://www.herox.com/privacy-policy. 

DISPUTES: Subject to the terms of this Arbitration Agreement (this section and Appendix 1, below), Entrant and Sponsor agree that any dispute, claim, or disagreement arising out of or relating in any way to this Challenge, including any dispute, claim, or cause of action relating to any prizes awarded in this Challenge, and including any dispute, claim, or cause of action arising out of or related to the interpretation or application of this arbitration provision, including the enforceability, revocability, scope, or validity of this arbitration provision (each, a “Dispute”) will be resolved by binding arbitration, rather than in court, except that: (i) Entrant or Sponsor may assert claims or seek relief in small claims court if such claims qualify and remain in small claims court; and (ii) Entrant or Sponsor may seek equitable relief in court for infringement or other misuse of intellectual property rights (such as trademarks, trade dress, domain names, trade secrets, copyrights, and patents). For purposes of this Arbitration Agreement, “Dispute” includes disputes that arose or involve facts that occurred before or after this Challenge. The full terms of this Arbitration Agreement are set forth in Appendix 1. Those terms include, among other things, a class action and jury trial waiver. Please read those terms carefully.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE RELEASED PARTIES BE LIABLE FOR ANY AMOUNT GREATER THAN (I) THE HIGHEST VALUE OF ANY PRIZE OFFERED IN THIS CHALLENGE; OR (II) ANY LOST PROFITS, OR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, INTANGIBLE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE CHALLENGE, EVEN IF AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF SPONSOR OR ADMINISTRATOR KNEW OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, AND NOTWITHSTANDING THE FAILURE OF ANY AGREED OR OTHER REMEDY OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT A FINAL JUDICIAL DETERMINATION IS MADE THAT SUCH DAMAGES WERE THE RESULT OF SPONSOR OR ADMINISTRATOR’S GROSS NEGLIGENCE, FRAUD, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, OR INTENTIONAL VIOLATION OF LAW. 

RELEASE OF CLAIMS (CALIFORNIA): Entrant acknowledges that there is a possibility that, subsequent to their involvement with this Challenge and adherence to these Official Rules they may discover facts or incur or suffer claims which were unknown or unsuspected at the time agreeing to these Official Rules, and which if known by them at that time may have materially affected their decision to enter this Challenge. Entrants acknowledge and agree that by reason of these Official Rules, and the release contained in the preceding subsections, they are assuming any risk of such unknown facts and such unknown and unsuspected claims.  Entrants acknowledge that they have read these Official Rules and, as such, hereby have been advised of the existence of Section 1542 of the California Civil Code, which provides: “A general release does not extend to claims that the creditor or releasing party does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release and that, if known by him or her, would have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor or released party.” Entrants expressly waive any and all rights under California Civil Code Section 1542 and under any other federal or state statute or law of similar effect.

APPENDIX 1 (DISPUTE AND ARBITRATION TERMS)

1.1. This Appendix 1 contains the full terms of the Arbitration Agreement. This Arbitration Agreement applies to Disputes defined in the section above.

1.2. Waiver of Jury Trial. YOU AND COINBASE HEREBY WAIVE ANY CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY RIGHTS TO SUE IN COURT AND HAVE A TRIAL IN FRONT OF A JUDGE OR A JURY. You and Coinbase are instead electing that all Disputes shall be resolved by arbitration under this Arbitration Agreement, except as specified in the DISPUTES section, above. There is no judge or jury in arbitration, and court review of an arbitration award is subject to very limited review.

1.3. Waiver of Class and Other Non-Individualized Relief. YOU AND COINBASE AGREE THAT, EXCEPT AS SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION 1.8 BELOW, EACH OF US MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT ON A CLASS, REPRESENTATIVE, OR COLLECTIVE BASIS, AND THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE ALL RIGHTS TO HAVE ANY DISPUTE BE BROUGHT, HEARD, ADMINISTERED, RESOLVED, OR ARBITRATED ON A CLASS, COLLECTIVE, REPRESENTATIVE, OR MASS ACTION BASIS. ONLY INDIVIDUAL RELIEF IS AVAILABLE, AND DISPUTES OF MORE THAN ONE CUSTOMER OR USER CANNOT BE ARBITRATED OR CONSOLIDATED WITH THOSE OF ANY OTHER CUSTOMER OR USER. Subject to this Arbitration Agreement, the arbitrator may award declaratory or injunctive relief only in favor of the individual party seeking relief and only to the extent necessary to provide relief warranted by the party's individual claim. Nothing in this paragraph is intended to, nor shall it, affect the terms and conditions under the subsection 1.8 entitled “Batch Arbitration.” Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Appendix 1, if a court decides by means of a final decision, not subject to any further appeal or recourse, that the limitations of this subsection, “Waiver of Class and Other Non-Individualized Relief,” are invalid or unenforceable as to a particular claim or request for relief (such as a request for public injunctive relief), you and Coinbase agree that that particular claim or request for relief (and only that particular claim or request for relief) shall be severed from the arbitration and may be litigated in the state or federal courts located in the State of California. All other Disputes shall be arbitrated or litigated in small claims court. This subsection does not prevent you or Coinbase from participating in a class-wide settlement of claims.

1.4. Rules and Forum. The Challenge evidences a transaction involving interstate commerce; and notwithstanding any other provision herein with respect to the applicable substantive law, the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq., will govern the interpretation and enforcement of this Arbitration Agreement and any arbitration proceedings.

If you have a complaint with Coinbase, you agree to first contact Coinbase through our support team to attempt to resolve any such dispute amicably. If we cannot resolve the dispute through Coinbase Support, you agree to use the Formal Complaint Process set forth below before filing any arbitration claim or small claims action. You must complete the Formal Complaint Process before filing any arbitration or small claims action. If you do not complete it, then you agree that your claim or action must be dismissed from arbitration or small claims court.

In the event that the dispute is not resolved through your contact with Coinbase Support, you agree to use our Formal Complaint Process complaint form to describe your dispute, how you would like us to resolve the complaint, and any other relevant information. The complaint form can be found here for Coinbase and here for Coinbase Pro, or can be requested from Coinbase Customer Support. If you prefer to send a written complaint via mail, please include as much information as possible in describing your complaint and how you would like us to resolve the complaint, including your support case number and any other relevant information to Coinbase Inc., 82 Nassau St #61234, New York, NY 10038. We will acknowledge receipt of your complaint form after you submit it. A Coinbase customer relations agent will review and evaluate your complaint based on the information you have provided and information in the possession of Coinbase. The Formal Complaint Process is completed when Coinbase responds to your complaint or forty-five (45) business days after the date we receive your complaint, whichever occurs first.

If the Formal Complaint Process described above does not resolve satisfactorily within forty-five (45) business days after receipt of your complaint form, you and Coinbase agree that either party shall have the right to finally resolve the Dispute through binding arbitration or in small claims court. The arbitration will be administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”), in accordance with the Consumer Arbitration Rules (the "AAA Rules") then in effect, except as modified by this section of this Arbitration Agreement. The AAA Rules are currently available at Consumer Arbitration Rules.

A party who wishes to initiate arbitration must provide the other party with a request for arbitration (the “Request”). If you initiate the arbitration, you must provide Coinbase a copy of your Request by email at arbitration@coinbase.com or through Coinbase’s registered agent for service of process. The Request must include: (i) the name, telephone number, mailing address, email address of the party seeking arbitration, and the email addresses associated with the applicable Coinbase Account(s); (ii) a statement of the legal claims being asserted and the factual bases of those claims; (iii) a description of the remedy sought, including an accurate, good faith calculation of the amount in controversy in United States Dollars; (iv) a statement certifying completion of the Formal Complaint Process described above (if you are the party making the Request); and (v) evidence that the requesting party has paid any necessary filing fees in connection with such arbitration. 

If the party requesting arbitration is represented by counsel, the Request shall also include counsel’s name, telephone number, mailing address, and email address. Such counsel must also sign the Request. By signing the Request, counsel certifies to the best of counsel’s knowledge, information, and belief, formed after an inquiry reasonable under the circumstances, that: (i) the Request is not being presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass, cause unnecessary delay, or needlessly increase the cost of dispute resolution; (ii) the claims, defenses and other legal contentions are warranted by existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument for extending, modifying, or reversing existing law or for establishing new law; and (iii) the factual and damages contentions have evidentiary support or, if specifically so identified, will likely have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery.

Unless you and Coinbase otherwise agree, or the Batch Arbitration process discussed in subsection 1.8 is triggered, the arbitration will be conducted in the county where you reside. Subject to the AAA Rules, the arbitrator may direct a limited and reasonable exchange of information between the parties, consistent with the expedited nature of the arbitration. In any case, you and Coinbase agree that we will not request more than three depositions per side in each arbitration or Batch Arbitration proceeding. If the AAA is not available to arbitrate, the parties will select an alternative arbitral forum. Your responsibility to pay any AAA fees and costs will be solely as set forth in the applicable AAA Rules. 

You and Coinbase agree that all materials and documents exchanged during the arbitration proceedings shall be kept confidential and shall not be shared with anyone except the parties’ attorneys, accountants, or business advisors, and then subject to the condition that they agree to keep all materials and documents exchanged during the arbitration proceedings confidential.

1.5. Arbitrator. The arbitrator will be either a retired judge or an attorney licensed to practice law in the state of California and will be selected by the parties from the AAA's roster of consumer dispute arbitrators. If the parties are unable to agree upon an arbitrator within thirty-five (35) business days of delivery of the Request, then the AAA will appoint the arbitrator in accordance with the AAA Rules, provided that if the Batch Arbitration process under subsection 1.8 is triggered, the AAA will appoint the arbitrator for each batch.

1.6. Authority of Arbitrator. The arbitrator shall have exclusive authority to resolve any Dispute, including, without limitation, disputes arising out of or related to the interpretation or application of the Arbitration Agreement, including the enforceability, revocability, scope, or validity of the Arbitration Agreement or any portion of the Arbitration Agreement, except for the following: (i) all Disputes arising out of or relating to the subsection entitled “Waiver of Class and Other Non-Individualized Relief,” including any claim that all or part of the subsection entitled “Waiver of Class and Other Non-Individualized Relief” is unenforceable, illegal, void or voidable, or that such subsection entitled “Waiver of Class and Other Non-Individualized Relief” has been breached, shall be decided by a court of competent jurisdiction and not by an arbitrator; (ii) except as expressly contemplated in the subsection entitled “Batch Arbitration,” all Disputes about the payment of arbitration fees shall be decided only by a court of competent jurisdiction and not by an arbitrator; (iii) all Disputes about whether either party has satisfied any condition precedent to arbitration shall be decided only by a court of competent jurisdiction and not by an arbitrator; and (iv) all Disputes about which version of the Arbitration Agreement applies shall be decided only by a court of competent jurisdiction and not by an arbitrator. The arbitration proceeding will not be consolidated with any other matters or joined with any other cases or parties, except as expressly provided in the subsection entitled “Batch Arbitration.” The arbitrator shall have the authority to grant motions dispositive of all or part of any Dispute. The arbitrator shall issue a written award and statement of decision describing the essential findings and conclusions on which the award is based, including the calculation of any damages awarded. The award of the arbitrator is final and binding upon you and us. Judgment on the arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. In any award of damages, the arbitrator shall abide by the LIMITATION OF LIABILITY section of these Official Rules above.

1.7. Attorneys’ Fees and Costs. The parties shall bear their own attorneys’ fees and costs in arbitration unless the arbitrator finds that either the substance of the Dispute or the relief sought in the Request was frivolous or was brought for an improper purpose (as measured by the standards set forth in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(b)). If you or Coinbase need to invoke the authority of a court of competent jurisdiction to compel arbitration, then the party that obtains an order compelling arbitration in such action shall have the right to collect from the other party its reasonable costs, necessary disbursements, and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred in securing an order compelling arbitration. The prevailing party in any court action relating to whether either party has satisfied any condition precedent to arbitration, including the Formal Complaint Process, is entitled to recover their reasonable costs, necessary disbursements, and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.

1.8. Batch Arbitration. To increase the efficiency of administration and resolution of arbitrations, you and Coinbase agree that in the event that there are one hundred (100) or more individual Requests of a substantially similar nature filed against Coinbase by or with the assistance of the same law firm, group of law firms, or organizations, within a thirty (30) day period (or as soon as possible thereafter), the AAA shall: (i) administer the arbitration demands in batches of one hundred (100) Requests per batch (plus, to the extent there are less than one hundred (100) Requests left over after the batching described above, a final batch consisting of the remaining Requests); (ii) appoint one (1) arbitrator for each batch; and (iii) provide for the resolution of each batch as a single consolidated arbitration with one (1) set of filing and administrative fees due per side per batch, one (1) procedural calendar, one (1) hearing (if any) in a place to be determined by the arbitrator, and one (1) final award (“Batch Arbitration”).

All parties agree that Requests are of a “substantially similar nature” if they arise out of or relate to the same event or factual scenario and raise the same or similar legal issues and seek the same or similar relief. To the extent the parties disagree on the application of the Batch Arbitration process, the disagreeing party shall advise the AAA, and the AAA shall appoint a sole standing arbitrator to determine the applicability of the Batch Arbitration process (“Administrative Arbitrator”). In an effort to expedite resolution of any such dispute by the Administrative Arbitrator, the parties agree the Administrative Arbitrator may set forth such procedures as are necessary to resolve any disputes promptly. The Administrative Arbitrator’s fees shall be paid by Coinbase.

You and Coinbase agree to cooperate in good faith with the AAA to implement the Batch Arbitration process including the payment of single filing and administrative fees for batches of Requests, as well as any steps to minimize the time and costs of arbitration, which may include: (i) the appointment of a discovery special master to assist the arbitrator in the resolution of discovery disputes; and (ii) the adoption of an expedited calendar of the arbitration proceedings.

This Batch Arbitration provision shall in no way be interpreted as authorizing a class, collective and/or mass arbitration or action of any kind, or arbitration involving joint or consolidated claims under any circumstances, except as expressly set forth in this provision.

Additional Information

• By participating in the challenge, each competitor agrees to adhere to the HeroX Intellectual Integrity Policy and promises to submit only their original idea. Any indication of "copying" amongst competitors is grounds for disqualification.
• All applications will go through a process of due diligence; any application found to be misrepresentative, plagiarized, or sharing an idea that is not their own will be automatically disqualified.
• All ineligible applicants will be automatically removed from the challenge.
• No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win the challenge. .
• Void wherever restricted or prohibited by law.