Terms of Service

GeoStash (“GeoStash,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a real-world digital treasure hunt. Money is hidden at GPS locations shown on a map, and users physically travel to those locations to find and claim it. GeoStash is a game and a promotional platform — it is not a bank, a lottery, a game of chance you pay to enter, an investment product, or a financial service.

Claiming is always free. You never pay GeoStash, or anyone else, to find or claim a drop. Any amount you claim is a prize awarded to the first person to physically reach the drop location, verified by GPS.

• You must be at least 18 years old to cash out winnings, and you must have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms.
• You must provide accurate account information and verify your phone number when asked.
• One account per person. Creating multiple accounts to gain an advantage is prohibited.
• You are responsible for keeping your login credentials secure and for all activity on your account.

• Drops appear on the map. To claim one, you must physically be within the claim radius (approximately 50 feet), confirmed by your device’s GPS.
• Only the first person to reach and claim a drop receives it. GPS accuracy, device issues, connectivity, and timing are outside our control and are not grounds for a guaranteed award.
• Attempting to spoof, fake, or manipulate your GPS location, or otherwise cheat, will result in forfeiture of winnings and account termination.
• Drops may be scheduled, time-limited, or expire. We may add, modify, cancel, or remove drops at any time.

You use GeoStash at your own risk. Finding drops happens in the physical world, and you are solely responsible for your own safety and conduct. You acknowledge and accept the risks of participating, which include but are not limited to:

• Traveling to and from locations by foot, vehicle, or other means, and any accidents, injuries, or property damage that may result;
• Terrain, weather, traffic, wildlife, water, and other environmental hazards;
• Encounters or disputes with other people, including other GeoStash users racing to the same drop;
• Entering unfamiliar, remote, or potentially unsafe areas.

You agree to exercise good judgment, obey all laws, respect other people, and stop or turn back if a location or situation seems unsafe. No drop is worth your safety.

You agree that you will not, in connection with GeoStash:

• Use the app while driving or otherwise operating a vehicle. Do not look at your phone while driving.
• Trespass on private property or enter any area you are not legally permitted to access. We do not authorize you to enter private property to find a drop.
• Violate any traffic, trespass, parking, park, or other local, state, or federal law.
• Ignore posted signs, fences, barriers, or the instructions of property owners or authorities.
• Endanger, harass, threaten, or interfere with other people, including other users.
• Damage, tamper with, or move property that is not yours.

If a drop appears to be in a location you cannot access safely or lawfully, do not attempt it. When we place or approve drops, we intend for them to be in publicly accessible spots, but you are responsible for confirming you can reach any location legally and safely.

• Your balance represents cashable winnings from drops you have claimed. It is not a bank deposit, does not earn interest, and is not insured.
• Cashouts are processed by our third-party payment partner, Stripe, and require identity verification and a valid debit card. You must complete Stripe’s onboarding before you can receive a payout.
• A minimum balance may be required to cash out. Payout timing depends on Stripe and your bank and is not guaranteed.
• We may hold, review, or reverse a payout, or freeze a balance, if we reasonably suspect fraud, cheating, error, or a violation of these Terms.
• We are not responsible for losses caused by Stripe, your bank, or errors in the payout details you provide.

You are solely responsible for any taxes owed on winnings you receive through GeoStash. Depending on the amount, we or our payment partner may be required to collect tax information from you and issue tax forms (such as an IRS Form 1099). Providing accurate tax information when requested may be a condition of receiving a payout.

You agree not to:

• Cheat, exploit bugs, spoof location, or use bots, scripts, or automation to gain an advantage;
• Interfere with the app’s operation, security, or other users’ use of it;
• Impersonate others, create fake accounts, or misrepresent your identity;
• Use GeoStash for any unlawful, fraudulent, or abusive purpose.

We may suspend or terminate any account, and withhold winnings, for violations of these Terms.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you release, waive, and discharge GeoStash and its owners, operators, employees, and affiliates from any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses — including personal injury, death, or property damage — arising out of or related to your participation in GeoStash, your travel to or from any location, your interactions with other people, or your use of the app, whether caused by negligence or otherwise, to the maximum extent the law allows.

GeoStash is provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We do not warrant that the app will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure, that GPS or location data will be accurate, or that any drop will be available, claimable, or in a safe or lawful location. Map and location features rely on third parties and may be inaccurate.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, GeoStash will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, data, or goodwill, arising out of or related to your use of GeoStash. Our total liability for any claim relating to GeoStash will not exceed the greater of (a) the total amount you cashed out through GeoStash in the 90 days before the claim, or (b) US $100.

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless GeoStash and its owners, operators, employees, and affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of your use of GeoStash, your conduct at any location, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any law or the rights of any third party.

GeoStash relies on third-party services including Stripe (payments and payouts), Twilio (phone verification), Mapbox (maps), and Supabase (accounts and data). Your use of those services may be subject to their own terms, and we are not responsible for their acts, omissions, outages, or errors.

Please read this section carefully — it affects your legal rights. Any dispute arising out of or relating to GeoStash or these Terms will be resolved by binding individual arbitration, rather than in court, except that either party may bring an individual claim in small-claims court. You and GeoStash waive the right to a jury trial and the right to participate in a class action. Disputes will be resolved on an individual basis only. These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New Hampshire, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules.

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will update the “Last updated” date above, and continued use of GeoStash means you accept the changes. We may suspend, limit, or terminate your access to GeoStash at any time, with or without notice, for any reason, including violation of these Terms.

Questions about these Terms? Reach us through the Help Center or by email at support@geostash.app.