Making Crypto Approachable
CPay
Skills
My Role
Timeline
Product design
Interactive prototyping
User research & testing
Product designer
Q4 2023
Our cryptocurrency wallet simplifies crypto for everyone. It offers easy onboarding, secure transactions, and fast in-person payments through usernames and QR codes. With real-time tracking and clear fees, users can manage crypto effortlessly, backed by strong security like biometric authentication.
Simplifying Cryptocurrency
for Everyday Living.
Product Glimpse
Here are several previews of the final product.
The Problem
Cryptocurrency holds immense potential, but the complexity of wallet management and lack of trust have created barriers for everyday users. By addressing wallet usability, security, and accessibility, we can make crypto a trusted and approachable tool for everyone.
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Integration Challenges
Wallets lack features for seamless daily use, such as in-app asset tracking or integration with traditional payment systems.
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Wallet Management Complexity
The complexity of wallet setup and understanding crypto features prevents many from getting started.
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Security Concerns
Concerns over security and scams make users hesitant to use wallets for storing and transacting with crypto.
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User Experience Barriers
Current wallet interfaces are not intuitive, requiring technical expertise to perform even basic functions like sending or receiving crypto.
We analyzed trends and user feedback to understand how crypto fits into the lives of potential users.
Here’s what we discovered:
Understanding the User
Users want a wallet management experience that is secure, intuitive, and tailored to their needs. Many struggle with the complexity of crypto wallets, such as managing private keys, understanding transactions, or addressing security concerns. By simplifying wallet operations and focusing on user confidence, this app aims to make cryptocurrency accessible and trustworthy for everyday use.
Recognizing the need
The ultimate goal of this project is to simplify the experience of using and managing cryptocurrency wallets. By creating intuitive designs and addressing key user concerns, such as security and ease of use, we aim to make crypto wallets a seamless part of everyday life.
The Goal
Global Ownership Growth
The global number of cryptocurrency owners reached 562 million in 2024, marking a 34% increase from the previous year, showcasing the expanding reach of digital currencies.
38% of respondents expressed concerns over the safety of their funds, citing a lack of trust in wallet security features and fear of hacking or scams.
Security Concerns
Potential for Growth
37% of non-wallet users indicated they would consider using crypto wallets if they were easier to understand and manage.
34%
38%
37%
From a total of 8 interviews, I gathered valuable insights about users' attitudes and behaviors around cryptocurrency. These responses highlighted key pain points and opportunities for improvement, guiding the design of the app.
User interview results
Before developing the app, I focused on understanding user needs and expectations. To ensure the app would effectively simplify cryptocurrency usage, I conducted user interviews as part of the design process, asking targeted questions to identify pain points and opportunities.
Initial Research
What do you find most confusing or frustrating about using cryptocurrencies?
Have you ever tried using crypto for payments? If not, what held you back?
What would make you feel more confident about using crypto in your daily life?
Do you think current crypto apps are designed for beginners or experts?
What specific features would make a crypto payment app easier for use?
What do you find most confusing or frustrating about using cryptocurrencies?
Would you use crypto more if it integrated with tools like Apple Pay?
“I’ve always wanted to try crypto, but setting up a wallet feels so intimidating.”
– John
“I never know how much fees I’m paying, and it makes me hesitant to send crypto.”
– Ayesha
“Using crypto for real-life purchases sounds cool, but where do I even start?”
– Ivy
“I don’t trust crypto apps because I hear about hacks and scams all the time.”
– Nathan
“If crypto was as easy as using Venmo, I’d probably use it every day.”
– Ryan
Through these conversations, I uncovered two additional barriers to crypto adoption that go beyond the initial scope, offering deeper insights into user concerns.
Additional issues discovered
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Lack of Transparency
Many users mentioned feeling uncertain about hidden transaction fees and exchange rates, which discouraged them from using crypto regularly.
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Limited Merchant Acceptance
Users expressed frustration with the limited number of merchants accepting crypto, making it impractical for everyday use.
By addressing the challenges of wallet management—such as understanding private keys, navigating transactions, and ensuring security—this app aims to demystify cryptocurrency for everyday users. Simplifying these processes fosters trust, encourages broader adoption, and enables users to seamlessly integrate crypto wallets into their daily financial activities.
Why focus on wallets?
To make cryptocurrency wallet management more accessible and user-centric, I focused on simplifying the complexities of wallet setup, usage, and security. The goal was to design an intuitive interface that minimizes technical barriers while providing tools that empower users to manage their crypto assets confidently.
Ideation Stage
After brainstorming and categorizing diverse ideas for features and issues, I refined my options to focus on the critical needs of users. The goal is to effectively address challenges in crypto adoption and enhance the wallet's overall functionality.
Here are the finalized implementations for key features:
Converging on the Ideas
Simplified Wallet Setup
A streamlined process to link and manage wallets, enabling users to connect multiple wallets like MetaMask or Coinbase with ease. This minimizes the onboarding effort for new users.
Secure Transactions
Implementing biometric authentication and two-factor authentication ensures high-security standards, making transactions reliable and building trust among users.
Personalized Wallet Address
Offering users the ability to set a preferred name for the wallet address in order to make other users easily send crypto without having to copy and paste a long address or scan a QR code.
Merchant Integration
Providing seamless QR-code payments and digital receipt options for merchants bridges the gap between crypto and real-world usability.
Comprehensive Transaction History
An intuitive dashboard that categorizes and tracks transactions, allowing users to filter by date, recipient, or type for better transparency and control.
User-Centric Fee Transparency
Clear and upfront gas fee breakdowns help users understand costs before confirming transactions, fostering trust and eliminating hidden charges.
Below is the outline of the app structure, designed to prioritize intuitive navigation and user accessibility. This initial framework was developed before creating low-fidelity mockups and remains flexible to adapt to new insights or features.
The App Structure
At this stage, I created simple sketches and wireframes to establish the basic layout and user flow of the cryptocurrency wallet app. I focused on mapping out key screens—such as wallet linking, balance tracking, transaction management, and in-store payment processes—to ensure a seamless and user-friendly experience.
Low Fidelity Ideation
The onboarding section simplifies the process of linking crypto wallets by focusing on an intuitive, step-by-step guide. Core features like wallet balance tracking and transaction history are emphasized for quick access. Additional tabs, such as in-store payments and asset management, provide users with seamless navigation to secondary yet essential functionalities.
Initial Designs
When presenting the initial mockups for the crypto wallet to mentors and peers, several usability issues were identified. Users found the home screen cluttered, which made it difficult to prioritize key actions like checking balances or sending and receiving crypto. The tab-based navigation bar caused confusion, as users struggled to locate essential features such as transaction history and wallet settings.
To address this, I proposed two solutions:
Problems Arise
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Option A
Introduce an onboarding experience that guides users through the app’s features, helping them understand the layout and navigation. This would reduce initial confusion and help users become familiar with the app’s structure.
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Option B
Redesign the home screen with a more simple layout that allows users to easily distinguish the sections This would provide a a better user experience while reducing visual clutter.
Low Fidelity Revision
After evaluating the two options, I decided that option B would be more beneficial as it encourages ease of use and provides a more intuitive user experience. By redesigning the layout of the home screen and other parts of the app, I eliminated the need for users to remember where certain buttons or features are located. This streamlined approach ensures that key actions are easily accessible, improving navigation and reducing cognitive load.
I redesigned the homepage to create a cleaner and more user-friendly interface. The previous design included too many features on a single page, which made it difficult for users to focus and take action effectively. The updated layout prioritizes simplicity and ease of navigation.
Sending design
Progress Bar
Step-By-Step
I added a progress bar to provide users with a clear sense of how many steps remain in the process. This helps reduce the perception of complexity and makes the experience of sending crypto feel more manageable and approachable.
Rather than combining the actions of selecting the currency, price, and network on a single page, test results revealed that separating these steps made the process easier and faster for users. This approach ensures greater accuracy by allowing users to focus on one decision at a time, reducing errors and improving the overall experience.
I redesigned the homepage to create a cleaner and more intuitive layout. The previous design was cluttered with too many features on a single page, which made it difficult for users to focus and take specific actions. My goal was to simplify navigation and improve the overall user experience.
Home page design
Visual Hierarchy
I emphasized the core functionality of a wallet, similar to what most traditional financial apps prioritize. The homepage prominently displays the total balance and a chart tracking the movement of funds. As users scroll down, additional details about their balances are revealed, creating a structured and intuitive flow of information.
Floating CTA Buttons
The “Send” and “Receive” buttons are immediately visible upon launching the app, providing quick access to essential actions. However, as the user scrolls, these buttons move out of view to declutter the interface. Including them as part of a dedicated section on the homepage felt unnecessary, so their placement was optimized for accessibility and simplicity.
The final designs reflect a thoughtful balance between simplicity, functionality, and user trust. Every decision was made with the goal of addressing the core challenges identified during research and testing, such as improving wallet usability, streamlining navigation, and reducing user confusion.
Final Designs
Crypto wallets can now be created using Biometric Authentication, offering an alternative to the traditional 12-word recovery phrase. Face ID was chosen as the preferred method, as it ensures that only the wallet owner can access their funds, requiring their physical presence for authentication. This feature is designed for users who feel intimidated by managing a recovery phrase, providing a seamless and secure way to protect their assets while maintaining ease of use.
Creating Wallet with FaceID
On the dashboard, users can seamlessly send and receive crypto payments with a guided, step-by-step process. This ensures clarity at every stage, making it easy to transfer funds to another wallet while minimizing errors. The intuitive flow enhances usability, allowing both beginners and experienced users to complete transactions with confidence.
Dashboard
Security and ease of use go hand in hand. Many users hesitate to adopt crypto wallets due to complicated security steps and concerns about losing access. By incorporating biometric authentication and simplifying the wallet setup, I was able to create a more approachable and secure experience.
User Trust is the Foundation
Through usability testing, I learned that breaking down complex actions into step-by-step flows significantly reduces friction. Separating key transaction steps—such as selecting the network, currency, and amount—helped minimize errors and speed up transactions.
Clarity Improves Adoption
Users are more likely to adopt new financial tools when they feel familiar. By aligning crypto payment flows with existing digital wallets and banking apps, I made the experience more intuitive, ensuring smoother adoption for first-time users.
Familiarity Lowers Barriers
Takeaways
