Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 23, 2025

1. Introduction

Pearl Protocol is built on privacy-first principles. This policy explains how we handle data in our decentralized federated learning platform. Our core commitment: your raw data never leaves your control.

2. Data We Collect

Wallet Information

We collect your public wallet address for authentication and transaction tracking. Private keys remain under your control.

Training Metadata

We record participation in training rounds, model accuracy contributions, and EPS token usage for fair compensation.

Technical Information

Basic technical metrics like training round completion times and system performance data.

3. Data We Do NOT Collect

We never collect:

  • Your raw training data
  • Personal identifiable information beyond wallet addresses
  • Private keys or seed phrases
  • Content of your local model weights
  • Individual data points or features

4. Federated Learning Privacy

Pearl Protocol uses federated learning with differential privacy guarantees. Only aggregated model updates are shared, never raw data. Differential privacy adds mathematical noise to protect individual contributions while maintaining model utility.

5. Blockchain Transparency

Training participation, model ownership, and rewards distribution are recorded on Solana blockchain for transparency. This includes wallet addresses, transaction amounts, and participation timestamps - all pseudonymous.

6. IPFS Storage

Final model weights are stored on IPFS with content addressing. These are aggregated models that don't contain individual user data. Storage is decentralized across the IPFS network.

7. Data Retention

Blockchain records are permanent by design. Web application logs are retained for 90 days. You can stop participating at any time, and no new data will be collected.

8. Third-Party Services

Pearl Protocol integrates with:

  • Solana RPC providers: For blockchain transactions
  • IPFS gateways: For model storage access
  • Phantom Wallet: For authentication (data stays in your wallet)

9. Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Access your participation history via blockchain explorers
  • Stop participating in training at any time
  • Request deletion of off-chain data (blockchain records are immutable)
  • Export your participation data

10. Security Measures

Pearl Protocol uses industry-standard security practices including HTTPS, secure smart contracts audited by third parties, and minimal data collection principles. Your wallet security is your responsibility.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy as our platform evolves. Material changes will be announced via our official channels with 30 days notice.

12. Contact Us

Questions about privacy? Contact us at privacy@pearl.ai or through our official Discord community.