❓ Frequently Asked Questions

americansignlanguage.eth is the first Deaf-owned, Deaf-led, Deaf-founded Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) platform powered by blockchain technology. We connect Deaf/HoH individuals with certified ASL interpreters through live, encrypted video and use $ASL tokens for transparent, fair compensation — 45% to interpreters (industry-leading) and 10% back to users as rewards.

• Deaf/HoH individuals needing ASL interpreting for appointments, meetings, or daily communication
• Hearing individuals & businesses (doctors, employers, customer service) communicating with Deaf/HoH people
• Certified ASL interpreters seeking fair compensation and flexible VRI work

No! If you can use Zoom or FaceTime, you can use our platform. MetaMask setup takes 5-10 minutes (one-time), and requesting an interpreter is one button click. Our Help Center has step-by-step guides for everything.

Account creation is free. You only pay for VRI sessions (20 $ASL/minute) and you earn 10% back as rewards. MetaMask is free. Gas fees for minting tokens are under $0.01 on Base network.

We are launching April 15, 2026 — National ASL Day. Sign up on our homepage to be notified and be among the first users.

$ASL tokens live on the blockchain. MetaMask is your digital wallet that stores, sends, and receives tokens. You need it to mint tokens after sessions, receive rewards, pay for sessions, and receive interpreter compensation.

Desktop (Chrome, Firefox, Edge):

1. Go to metamask.io
2. Click "Download" → "Install MetaMask for Chrome"
3. Click "Add to Chrome" → "Add extension"
4. Click "Create a new wallet" → agree to terms
5. Create a strong password
6. WRITE DOWN your 12-word Secret Recovery Phrase on PAPER
7. Confirm the words in order
8. Done! Fox icon 🦊 appears in your toolbar

Mobile (iPhone/Android):

1. App Store or Google Play → search "MetaMask" → install (by ConsenSys)
2. Tap "Create a new wallet" → set password/biometric
3. WRITE DOWN your 12-word phrase on paper
4. Use MetaMask's built-in browser to visit americansignlanguage.xyz

$ASL runs on Base (fast, cheap Ethereum L2 by Coinbase):

1. Open MetaMask → click network dropdown (says "Ethereum Mainnet")
2. Click "Add network" → "Add a network manually"
3. Enter these details exactly:

4. Click "Save" → MetaMask switches to Base network

1. Make sure MetaMask is installed and set to Base network
2. Visit americansignlanguage.xyz
3. Click "Connect MetaMask"
4. MetaMask popup → click "Connect"
5. Your wallet address appears — you're connected!

Gas fees are tiny transaction processing fees paid to the blockchain network (not to us). Like digital postage stamps.

• On Base: $0.001 — $0.01 per transaction
• Paid in: ETH (not $ASL)
• How much ETH: $2-5 of ETH on Base covers hundreds of transactions
• Get ETH on Base: Buy on Coinbase → withdraw to Base, or bridge via bridge.base.org

Your wallet and all tokens are permanently lost. No recovery possible — not from MetaMask, not from us, not from anyone.

Protect your phrase:

• Write on paper (not digitally)
• Store in a safe, secure location
• Consider a backup copy in a second safe location
• Never share with anyone

MetaMask is currently our primary supported wallet. Future support planned for Coinbase Wallet, Rainbow Wallet, and WalletConnect-compatible wallets.

$ASL is a utility token powering the platform economy on the Base blockchain. Rate: 20 $ASL per minute. Split: 45% interpreter, 45% platform, 10% user reward.

1. Complete a VRI session
2. Session summary shows your token amount
3. Click "Mint Tokens"
4. MetaMask pops up → review gas fee (under $0.01) → click "Confirm"
5. $ASL tokens appear in your wallet within seconds

1. Open MetaMask → make sure you're on Base network
2. Scroll down → click "Import tokens"
3. Paste the $ASL contract address (from Settings → Token Info on our platform)
4. Symbol and decimals auto-fill → click "Add Custom Token" → "Import"

$ASL is primarily a utility token for platform use. Tokens can be transferred between wallets like any ERC-20 token, but we don't endorse trading or make value guarantees outside the platform.

Target: under 2 minutes. Depends on interpreter availability and time of day. Peak hours (M-F 9am-5pm EST) have the most interpreters online.

Yes. Every interpreter must hold valid RID/NIC/BEI or state certification, maintain licensure, pass a background check, complete orientation, and adhere to the RID Code of Professional Conduct.

• End-to-end encryption on all video/audio (WebRTC SRTP)
• No recording by default — only with both parties' written consent
• No third-party access — nobody outside the session can view the feed
• Chat messages deleted after session unless both parties consent to save
• Interpreter confidentiality — bound by RID Code of Professional Conduct

Yes! Both users and interpreters can end a session at any time by clicking the "End Session" button. The session timer stops, tokens are calculated, and both parties see a summary.

The session pauses automatically. You have 2 minutes to reconnect. If you reconnect, the session resumes with the same interpreter. If not, the session ends and you're only charged for connected time.

• Lighting: Face a light source, avoid backlighting
• Camera angle: Show waist-up, including face and signing space
• Background: Plain, solid color
• Internet: Wired connection preferred, 5+ Mbps
• Browser: Chrome recommended
• Keep camera ON so the interpreter can see your signing

Sessions are billed at 20 $ASL per minute. Tokens are minted after each session. Split: 45% interpreter, 45% platform, 10% user reward. Minimum billing: 1 minute.

• $ASL Tokens: Primary method
• Credit/Debit (Stripe): For business accounts (coming soon)
• Invoicing: Available for enterprise/institutional clients

• Sessions under 1 min (technical issues): Full refund
• Interpreter no-show: Full refund + bonus tokens
• Quality complaints: Reviewed case-by-case within 7 days
• Gas fees: Non-refundable (paid to blockchain network)

Interpreters earn 45% of session tokens (9 $ASL/min) — the highest interpreter share in the VRI industry. Additional USD payouts available via Stripe for business client sessions. Earnings dashboard tracks all sessions, tokens, and payout history.

Red flags:

• Anyone asking for your seed phrase or private keys
• DMs on social media asking you to connect your wallet to an unknown link
• Emails from domains other than @americansignlanguage.xyz
• "Giveaway" offers asking you to send crypto first
• Fake customer support asking for your password

Our rules: We will NEVER ask for your seed phrase, private keys, or wallet password. We will NEVER DM you asking to connect your wallet. We will NEVER ask you to send crypto to receive tokens.

Report scams to [email protected]

• TLS 1.3 encryption for all data in transit
• AES-256 encryption for all data at rest
• No session recordings by default
• No third-party ad trackers
• We never sell your data
• Role-based access with MFA for admin systems

Read our full Privacy Policy for complete details.

Never. We never share your hearing status or disability information with third parties without your explicit consent. All notifications are visual (never audio-only). See our Accessibility & Privacy section.

Upon account deletion: your profile data is removed, session history is deleted within 90 days, and $ASL tokens in your wallet remain yours (they exist on the blockchain independently). Blockchain transaction records cannot be deleted as they are permanently recorded on-chain.