Caldera — Terms of Service
Version 2026-07-21
1. What Caldera is
Caldera is a donation-first compute commons that introduces renters to independent node operators ("sellers") who share spare GPU/compute. Caldera is a directory, reputation, and settlement service — it does not own or operate the compute nodes, and reservations and workloads run between the renter and the seller. Pricing is cost-recovery (electricity + optional platform fee, default 0%), not profit.
2. Acceptable use
You agree not to use rented compute to: (a) attack, scan, or disrupt any network or host, including the seller's; (b) attempt to escape the provided sandbox, escalate privilege, or reach the seller's other systems or other renters' data; (c) mine cryptocurrency without the seller's explicit permission; (d) train or run models for unlawful, harmful, or abusive purposes; (e) store or transmit unlawful content. Sellers may set additional restrictions on their listing.
3. Exclusive shell access
Some tiers grant a shell on the seller's machine for a time window. That access is monitored, network-fenced, and time-bounded; you must not attempt to persist beyond the window, tamper with the fence or monitoring, or access anything outside your allocated workspace. Abuse ends the window and may forfeit reputation and access.
4. Payment
Charges accrue per the seller's published rates and settle through the platform's payment processor (Stripe). Donated ($0) rentals incur no charge. You are responsible for charges incurred under your account and agent tokens.
5. No warranty; limitation
Compute is provided "as is" by independent operators. Caldera and sellers make no warranty of availability, fitness, or data durability. To the extent permitted by law, neither Caldera nor a seller is liable for indirect or consequential loss. Keep your own backups of anything you value.
6. Termination & data
You may delete your account at any time from your account page; deletion removes your login identity, agent tokens, and payment-processor customer record, and unlinks you from sellers' billing records (financial records are retained as required). See the Privacy & Data statement. Caldera may suspend accounts that violate these terms.
7. Changes
These terms may change; the version above is bumped on any change and you will be asked to re-accept at your next account action.