Crypto Integration in Apple Pay
Familiar Transactions
with crypto
Users face complexities in accessing and using crypto, while merchants encounter hurdles in accepting it as a form of payment. This project aims to bridge this gap by:
Mainstream adoption for everyday transactions remains limited.
Integrating cryptocurrency access into Apple Wallet, making it easy for users to manage and spend crypto like any other payment method.
Designing an intuitive point-of-sale (POS) interface for merchants, enabling them to accept crypto payments seamlessly alongside traditional payment methods.
Product design
Interactive prototyping
User research & testing
Skills
My Role
Timeline
Product designer
Q2 2024
Product Glimpse
Here are several previews of the final product.
Process Overview
Through the span of about 2 months, I delivered the project by following the double diamond design process.
Crypto transactions are often perceived as complex and time-consuming, creating uncertainty and hesitation among users unfamiliar with this new, decentralized paradigm for money.
I’ve extracted the 3 main problems:
The problems for both users and merchants
01
Lack of Familiarity
02
03
Many people are still confused on how crypto is used as a payment method.
Inefficient Workflows
Volatility Concerns
Switching between apps or wallets for crypto payments adds unnecessary complexity, deterring users from making payments.
Fear of fluctuating cryptocurrency values discourages users from relying on crypto for everyday payments.
The goal is to create cryptocurrency transactions more accessible, intuitive, and secure as traditional payment methods for both users and merchants by integrating crypto wallets into Apple Pay.
The Goal
Our hypothesis was that adults aged 20–45 are the primary audience for this solution, as this demographic is most likely to adopt crypto for payments if the process is streamlined and integrated into systems they already use, like Apple Pay. This group values convenience, speed, and familiarity in their payment methods.
To confirm this hypothesis, we analyzed industry trends and conducted surveys.
Knowing the Audience
52% of Americans now use contactless payment methods.
52%
40% of American adults now own cryptocurrency.
40%
21% of non-owners said they are likely to invest in cryptocurrency.
21%
To uncover the needs and pain points of the target audience, interviews and surveys were conducted with 15 individuals aged 20–45, including tech-savvy professionals, retail merchants, and crypto enthusiasts.
Through these interactions, several common themes were identified regarding the desired features of a seamless crypto payment experience:
Initial user research
Ease of Setup
Importance of a straightforward process to link crypto wallets to Apple Pay without requiring extensive technical expertise.
Seamless POS Integration
POS systems that could easily process stablecoin transactions alongside traditional payment methods, requiring minimal additional infrastructure.
Stablecoin Payments
Eliminate the volatility associated with other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum.
Familiar Experience
Eliminate the volatility associated with other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum.
Transparency in Fees
Clear, upfront information about transaction fees (e.g., gas fees), ensuring no surprises during or after the payment process.
Security and Reliability
Secure features such as biometric authentication and instant payment confirmation to ensure safe and trustworthy transactions.
Market analysis
How is the market currently addressing these user needs?
A feature comparison was conducted to evaluate the capabilities of popular crypto payment solutions and mobile wallet systems. This analysis highlights how well current options meet user and merchant expectations for stablecoin payments in retail environments:
With the problems, solutions, and user needs clearly outlined, the next step involved brainstorming through an affinity mapping process.
This helped identify common themes and organize insights to ensure the solution addresses the most pressing pain points and opportunities.
Affintity Mapping
After generating and categorizing a diverse set of ideas for each feature, the next step was refining and finalizing the core implementations.
Here are the decided features for the project:
Converging on the Ideas
Wallet Linking
Stablecoin Payments
POS Compatibility
The IOS system allows users to securely link their crypto wallets to Apple Pay, streamlining the onboarding process with step-by-step instructions.
Users can make seamless tap-to-pay transactions using stablecoins like USDC, providing a familiar payment experience without concerns about price volatility.
Merchants can easily integrate crypto payments into their existing POS systems with minimal hardware or software updates, enabling them to accept both fiat and crypto.
Transparent Fee Display
Secure Transactions
Merchant Reporting Tools
The system ensures transparency by displaying all transaction fees (e.g., gas fees) upfront, enabling users to make informed decisions before confirming their payments.
All payments leverage Apple Pay’s biometric authentication, such as Face ID or Touch ID, to provide a seamless and secure transaction process for both users and merchants.
Merchants receive detailed reports of stablecoin transactions, helping them reconcile payments easily and manage their crypto revenues efficiently.
To help visualize the user needs, problems to be solved, and potential solutions, a mind map was created:
The Strategy
Based on the personas, a detailed user journey was crafted in order to understand the process better.
User Journey
To help visualize the user needs, problems to be solved, and potential solutions, user personas were created:
User Research
After completing user story mapping, we created low-fidelity user flows to turn concepts into actionable designs. These visual blueprints outlined user interactions, focusing on critical touchpoints in the journey. Specifically, we concentrated on onboarding processes, wallet linking, and the in-person crypto payment experience to identify potential usability issues early.
Starting the Designs
Based on our initial structure, we developed low-fidelity mockups to visualize the flow of integrating crypto payments into Apple Pay and POS systems. These mockups acted as the skeleton for the final designs, helping us refine the user experience and ensure both users and merchants could navigate the system effortlessly.
Low Fidelity
Testing Methodology
Participants were divided into two groups:
Crypto Users:
Familiar with wallets like MetaMask, Coinbase, or Trust Wallet.
Merchants:
Retail staff with minimal exposure to crypto payments.
Tasks:
Crypto users linked their wallets to Apple Pay via seed phrase and wallet address.
Merchants processed stablecoin payments on a POS system, toggling between fiat and crypto payment modes.
Metrics Measured:
Time to complete wallet linking and payment tasks.
Confidence levels during interactions.
Error rates and confusion points during POS transactions.
Results
Wallet Linking:
The linking process was completed in under 50 seconds for most users, indicating that simplicity is key.
Users preferred a flow that highlighted wallet options on their devices without unnecessary steps.
POS Usability:
Merchants appreciated a simplified interface with clear prompts for accepting stablecoin payments.
Visual indicators for payment confirmation (e.g., "Payment Successful") reduced confusion.
Metrics Highlights:
Wallet Linking:
Average completion time: 45 seconds.
POS Transactions:
95% of merchants completed payments without errors after a single walkthrough.
85% requested more detailed transaction summaries to reassure customers.
To streamline the integration of crypto wallets with Apple Pay and enhance usability for merchants at the POS, we conducted targeted research. The research prioritized understanding how users link existing crypto wallets and navigate the payment process in retail environments.
Design Research
A research was focused on two main things:
Wallet Linking and POS Workflow
Research Focus
During usability testing, an issue was identified with the payment confirmation flow.
Issues Arise
Lack of Context
Users were unsure if they were sending payments to the correct merchant wallet.
Missed Details
The confirmation screen failed to provide a breakdown of transaction details, including gas fees and stablecoin type.
The wallet linking process was kept minimal, relying on seed phrases for maximum security.
The POS interface was enhanced with clear labels and confirmation screens to ensure merchants could confidently accept stablecoin payments.
The Decision
The wallet can be seamlessly linked by selecting the preferred wallet provider and entering the corresponding seed phrase.
Merchants can effortlessly add their preferred wallets and select the desired network and cryptocurrency for receiving payments.
To bridge the gap between traditional payments and crypto transactions, this solution integrates crypto wallets into Apple Pay while ensuring merchants can seamlessly accept stablecoin payments through POS systems. The design prioritizes ease of use, security, and minimal friction for both users and businesses.
Final Solution
To create a seamless experience, the wallet-linking process closely mirrors adding a regular credit card to Apple Wallet. For security, users are required to enter their 12-key seed phrase to successfully link their crypto wallet, ensuring both ease of use and protection.
Adding Crypto Wallet
To create a seamless experience, the wallet-linking process closely mirrors adding a regular credit card to Apple Wallet. For security, users are required to enter their 12-key seed phrase to successfully link their crypto wallet, ensuring both ease of use and protection.
Paying with Crypto
To design user-friendly solutions, I looked to established systems like Apple Pay and traditional POS workflows as benchmarks. By studying their simplicity and familiarity, I was able to integrate crypto payments into existing frameworks, ensuring ease of use for both users and merchants. Drawing from proven systems is not about copying—it's about leveraging what works and adapting it to new contexts.
Inspiration Drives Innovation
Advocating for user experience often requires aligning design goals with business priorities. During discussions with stakeholders, I found it essential to frame decisions in terms of value—how an intuitive interface or streamlined payment flow would reduce errors, build trust, and ultimately drive adoption. Clear communication ensured that all parties aligned on the project's vision.
Communication is Key
When working on cutting-edge technologies like crypto payments, it’s easy to get caught up in adding features. However, this project taught me the value of simplicity. Users don’t want to relearn how to pay—they want crypto payments to feel as natural as tapping a card or phone. Focusing on reducing friction made the solution more accessible to a broader audience.
Simplicity is a Strength
Working on this project offered invaluable insights into creating seamless crypto payment experiences for both users and merchants. Through this process, I gained a deeper understanding of design constraints, technical considerations, and the importance of balancing innovation with user familiarity. Three key takeaways from this project were:
Takeaways
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