UX Design for Cryptocurrency Platforms

During my 7 years at Gemini, our data consistently showed two patterns: 1. Users who experienced security incidents never returned 2. Users who faced usability hurdles rarely completed their first transaction. The Bybit $1.5B hack proved that even experts fall prey to deceptive UX. Security vs usability is a false choice. 5 wallet UX improvements we've focused on at Dfns that solve both problems: 1. Fee abstraction → Users shouldn't need ETH to send USDC. Our Fee Sponsor feature lets applications cover gas fees, removing this friction point entirely 2. Multichain wallets → Same address works across chains. Eliminates the costly mistake of sending assets to the right address on the wrong network 3. Standardized flows → Moving USDC from Solana to Arbitrum used to require 12+ steps across 3 apps. We've normalized this into faster flows across chains 4. MPC-based recovery → Seed phrases create single points of failure. Our threshold signature system distributes risk while maintaining security fundamentals and separating key material from user credentials 5. WebAuthn authentication → FIDO2 biometrics replace passwords with fingerprints and face scans. Stronger security, familiar UX These features are live now!

Global crypto adoption is still just under 7%. If we want this to push this number up, we need to prioritize five key areas around UX: - Abstraction: Moving technical complexities out of view of the average user is the industry’s biggest task. 46% of non-users cite not understanding web3 tech as a barrier to adoption. Ethereum account abstraction is already ushering in a new wave of solutions that simplify crypto. IMO it’s initiatives like these that will do the most to boost user engagement. - Self-custody: When it comes to owning crypto, new users feel caught between a rock and a hard place. Trust in CEXs remains shaken post-FTX yet 75% of users still find wallet setup too complicated. New wallet tech like zkLogin, MPC wallets, and smart contract wallets are already giving crypto a more familiar feel by doing away with complex private key management. The more this space develops, the more self-custody will become an attractive option for the average user. - Regulatory clarity: Having clear rules is a UX issue too. People need to feel secure to engage confidently with any product or service. We’ve seen this play out with data privacy: nearly 90% of consumers say they won’t engage with companies they don’t trust with their data. If nothing else, regulatory clarity will remove a lot of ambiguity and FUD that currently keeps people wary and unengaged. It will also bring some of the crypto curious in from the sidelines. - Gas fees: They’re essential as a network incentive, but they’re also one of the biggest barriers to adoption. While we can point to how scaling solutions are helping to mitigate gas, L2s still have a long way to go and most new users see them as an extra step. We need more ambitious solutions for gas, which is arguably crypto’s thorniest problem. - Backwards compatibility: Skype integrated with legacy telecoms to reach 300 million monthly users. 90% of the Fortune 500 uses IBM mainframes because they work with decades-old software. Backwards compatibility = meeting users where they are. We need to build, but we also need to scaffold. Simplify, secure, integrate–that should be our motto going forward. #CryptoAdoption #CryptoInnovation #blockchainux

How did Coinbase use design and data visualization to grow from 0 to a market capitalization of around $10 billion? This may sound silly but a few things that come to mind when we analyze their journey are: 1. Design simplicity: their initial design focused on simplicity and ease of use, which helped attract non-technical users and was crucial in making cryptocurrency accessible to a broader audience. 2. Market data: Coinbase provided users with comprehensive charts and graphs displaying real-time data on cryptocurrency prices, trading volumes, and market trends. This enabled users to make informed decisions. 3. Mobile optimization: the team invested in responsive design to ensure a seamless experience across different devices. This mobile-first approach allowed users to trade and manage their assets on the go, contributing to the platform’s accessibility and user base growth. 4. User analytics: by analyzing user behavior data, Coinbase could identify pain points and opportunities for improvement. Data-driven decisions led to iterative design enhancements, improving user experience and engagement. 5. Professional branding: the use of consistent and professional design elements helped establish Coinbase as a trustworthy and reputable platform. The visual branding contributed to user confidence and brand loyalty. Data 🤝 Growth

📚 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙧𝙮𝙥𝙩𝙤 𝙐𝙓 Navigating blockchain and wallet management can feel daunting for new users. That’s why the 𝗰𝗿𝘆𝗽𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗜 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 to make platforms more accessible and welcoming. Empowering users with knowledge creates a smoother experience and builds confidence in a rapidly evolving space. 🛠️ 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗜 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝗸𝘀 From 𝗶𝗻-𝗮𝗽𝗽 𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 that guide users step-by-step to 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 that explain unfamiliar terms right when users need them, embedding education into the UI is transforming how people engage with crypto platforms. These features reduce frustration and improve onboarding for both beginners and experienced users. 💡 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘆 Some crypto apps now include 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘀 for wallet setup, 𝗙𝗔𝗤𝘀 directly integrated into dashboards and even 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 that reward users for completing educational tasks. These innovations make crypto less intimidating and more engaging for everyone. 🔑 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 The more approachable a platform feels, the lower the barriers to entry for new users. 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁, ensures users feel supported, and ultimately drives higher retention rates. 🌟 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: For designers, integrating 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗜 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 isn’t just a feature—it’s a necessity. Let’s design crypto experiences that teach and empower, making this technology accessible to all. #CryptoUX #EducationalDesign #BlockchainUI #CryptoOnboarding #FintechDesign