1. Introduction and Binding Effect
1.1 These Terms & Conditions (the “Terms”) govern the submission of applications and participation in the The BeInCrypto 100 Awards (the “Awards”), organized by BeInNews Academy Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Hong Kong with its registered office at Unit D3, 11/F, Luk Hop Industrial Building, No.8 Luk Hop Street, San Po Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong  (the “Organizer”).
1.2 By clicking “I Accept”, submitting an application, or paying the application fee, the applicant (the “Applicant”) irrevocably agrees to be bound by these Terms, which constitute a legally binding agreement between the Applicant and the Organizer.

2. Eligibility and Right of Admission
Participation in the Awards is open to entities and individuals that meet the eligibility criteria set out in the applicable guidelines. The Organizer reserves the absolute and unfettered right, at its sole discretion and without obligation to provide reasons, to determine eligibility and to accept, reject, or remove any application at any stage of the process.

3. Application Representations and Warranties

3.1 By submitting an application, the Applicant represents, warrants, and undertakes that all information provided is true, accurate, complete, and not misleading, and that the submission does not infringe any third-party rights, including intellectual property, confidentiality, or data protection rights.
3.2 The Applicant further warrants that it has obtained all necessary consents, licenses, and permissions required to submit the materials and to grant the rights set out in these Terms. The Organizer shall not be responsible for verifying ownership or authenticity of submitted materials.

4. Application Fee and Payment Terms
4.1 A non-refundable application fee in the amount of USD 3,000 (five thousand United States Dollars) (the “Fee”) shall be payable for each submission. The Fee may be paid either:
(a) via bank transfer in USD; or
(b) in an equivalent value in cryptocurrency, as determined at the sole discretion of the Organizer at the time of payment.
4.2 For cryptocurrency payments, the Organizer shall provide the Applicant with the designated wallet address (the “Official Wallet”). The Applicant is solely responsible for ensuring that payment is made to the correct wallet address and using a supported cryptocurrency and network.
4.3 Any payment sent to an incorrect wallet address, unsupported network, or incompatible cryptocurrency shall be deemed invalid and non-recoverable. The Organizer shall have no responsibility or liability for any such errors or resulting losses.
4.4 The value of any cryptocurrency payment shall be calculated based on the exchange rate determined by the Organizer (or a reference exchange selected by the Organizer) at the time the payment is received in the Official Wallet. The Applicant acknowledges that cryptocurrency values are subject to volatility and agrees that any fluctuation in value before, during, or after the transaction shall not affect the validity or sufficiency of the payment.
4.5 All transactions are final, irreversible, and non-refundable. The Applicant expressly waives any right to dispute, reverse, or reclaim such payments.
4.6 The Applicant represents and warrants that all funds used for payment, including cryptocurrency, are derived from lawful sources and do not originate from any illegal activity, including money laundering, fraud, or sanctions violations.
4.7 The Fee constitutes consideration solely for participation in the Awards process and related administrative and evaluative activities. Payment of the Fee does not create any entitlement to nomination, shortlisting, selection, recognition, publication, or any specific outcome.
4.8 The Applicant shall bear all costs associated with payment, including bank charges, blockchain transaction fees (gas fees), foreign exchange costs, and any applicable taxes.

5. Nature of the Awards and No Reliance
5.1 The Applicant acknowledges that the Awards constitute an editorial and evaluative initiative based on subjective and objective criteria determined by the Organizer.
5.2 The Applicant agrees that it does not rely on any representation, statement, or expectation not expressly set out in these Terms, including any expectation of commercial benefit, publicity, or reputational gain.

6. Evaluation Process and Finality of Decisions
6.1 All applications shall be evaluated in accordance with methodologies and criteria determined exclusively by the Organizer, which may be amended at any time.
6.2 The evaluation process may involve internal reviewers and/or external jurors. The Organizer does not guarantee consistency, continuity, or uniformity in evaluation standards.
6.3 All decisions made by the Organizer and/or jury are final, binding, and not subject to challenge, appeal, or review under any circumstances.

7. Independence, Integrity, and Non-Influence
7.1 The Applicant expressly acknowledges that the integrity of the Awards depends on an independent evaluation process. Payment of the Fee or participation in the Awards shall not, under any circumstances, influence the outcome.
7.2 The Applicant agrees not to make any claim or representation suggesting that payment confers an advantage, preferential treatment, or guaranteed recognition, and acknowledges that any such interpretation would be inaccurate and misleading.

8. Intellectual Property and License Grant
8.1 The Applicant retains ownership of its submitted materials but hereby grants to the Organizer a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, adapt, publish, translate, distribute, and display such materials, in whole or in part, in any media now known or hereafter developed.
8.2 Such license includes, without limitation, use for evaluation, publication of results, editorial content, reports, marketing, promotional activities, and any other purpose related to the Awards.
8.3 The Applicant waives any moral rights (to the extent permitted by law) in connection with such use.

9. Publicity Rights
The Organizer shall have the unrestricted right to use the Applicant’s name, trademarks, logos, and general information for publicity, promotional, and reporting purposes in connection with the Awards, without further consent or compensation.

10. Data Protection and Privacy
10.1 The Organizer shall process personal data in accordance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486 of the Laws of Hong Kong).
10.2 By participating in the Awards, the Applicant consents to the collection, use, storage, processing, and international transfer of personal data for purposes including administration, evaluation, communication, publication, and internal business operations.
10.3 The Applicant acknowledges that personal data may be transferred to third parties, including affiliates, jury members, contractors, and service providers, whether located within or outside Hong Kong.
10.4 While the Organizer will take reasonable steps to ensure data security, it does not warrant that data transmissions or storage systems will be completely secure, and disclaims liability for unauthorized access except to the extent required by law.

11. Disclaimer of Warranties
The Awards and all associated services are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Organizer disclaims all warranties, whether express, implied, statutory, or otherwise, including any warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

12. Limitation of Liability
12.1 To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the Organizer, its affiliates, officers, employees, agents, and contractors shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising out of or in connection with the Awards.
12.2 In any event, the total aggregate liability of the Organizer shall not exceed the amount of the Fee paid by the Applicant.
12.3 Nothing in these Terms shall exclude liability that cannot be excluded under Hong Kong law.

13. Indemnity
The Applicant agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Organizer and its affiliates from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including legal fees) arising out of or in connection with:
(a) any breach of these Terms;
(b) any infringement of third-party rights;
(c) any misuse of the Awards or related materials by the Applicant.

14. Force Majeure
The Organizer shall not be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under these Terms if such failure or delay results from events beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, pandemics, war, terrorism, civil unrest, labor disputes, interruptions to utilities or telecommunications, cyberattacks, or governmental actions (“Force Majeure Event”). In such circumstances, the Organizer shall be entitled to suspend, modify, or cancel the Awards without liability.

15. Non-Disparagement
The Applicant agrees that it shall not, at any time, make or publish any statement, whether oral or written, that may reasonably be expected to harm, defame, or disparage the Organizer, the Awards, or any related parties, including judges, partners, or participants. This obligation shall survive participation in the Awards and applies regardless of the outcome of the evaluation process.

16. Anti-Bribery, Sanctions, and Compliance
16.1 The Applicant represents and warrants that it has complied and will comply with all applicable anti-bribery, anti-corruption, and economic sanctions laws and regulations, including those of Hong Kong and any other relevant jurisdiction.
16.2 The Applicant confirms that it is not, and is not acting on behalf of, any individual or entity subject to sanctions, embargoes, or restricted party lists.
16.3 The Applicant further agrees that no payment made in connection with the Awards originates from unlawful activities, and that participation does not violate any applicable laws or regulations.
16.4 The Organizer reserves the right to refuse or terminate participation, without liability, if it reasonably suspects any breach of this clause.

17. Suspension, Cancellation, and Modifications
The Organizer reserves the absolute right to modify, suspend, or terminate the Awards, or to amend these Terms, at any time without prior notice .The Organizer shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from such actions.

18. Compliance and Ethical Conduct
The Applicant shall comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and ethical standards. The Organizer reserves the right to disqualify any Applicant whose conduct, in its sole opinion, may harm the integrity, fairness, or reputation of the Awards.

19. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Hong Kong. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Hong Kong.

20. Entire Agreement and Severability
These Terms constitute the entire agreement between the parties and supersede all prior communications. If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

21. Acceptance
By clicking “I Accept”, submitting an application, or paying the Fee, the Applicant confirms that it has read, understood, and agreed to these Terms in full.

22. Contact
For any inquiries, please contact: awards@beincrypto.com