FintechCrypto WalletMobile AppB2C

Bitchain: a crypto wallet for everyday people

As cryptocurrency moves beyond speculation into daily payments, the next wave of users needs wallets that feel as simple as banking apps. Bitchain is a mobile crypto wallet designed for managing, sending, and tracking digital assets without the complexity of traditional exchanges.

Role
Lead Product Designer
Platform
iOS + Android
Timeline
10 Weeks
Users Tested
12
92%
Onboarding completion
18s
Avg. first transaction
4.3/5
Trust perception
+38%
Trade completion rate
Bitchain

Framing the Problem

5W1H: Defining the design challenge

Who

Crypto-curious users aged 18-35 who hold or want to hold digital assets but find current wallets intimidating

What

A mobile wallet that makes crypto management feel as natural as checking a bank balance

When

As crypto adoption grows beyond early adopters into mainstream payments and savings

Where

Mobile-first (iOS + Android), used on the go, at point of sale, and for peer-to-peer transfers

Why

Most first-time crypto users abandon wallet setup before they finish it. Current tools assume blockchain literacy that mainstream users lack

How

Simplified onboarding, plain-language UI, real-time portfolio views, and transparent fee structures


Research

Understanding crypto-curious users

I conducted 12 in-depth interviews with people who either hold crypto casually or are interested but intimidated. I also ran a competitive audit of Coinbase Wallet, MetaMask, Trust Wallet, and Phantom to identify UX gaps.

Interview findings

Users wanted three things: see total balance in their local currency, send crypto as easily as a bank transfer, and understand fees before confirming anything.

Competitive gaps

All competitors use blockchain jargon in their UI. None show fees upfront. Onboarding flows average 8+ steps. No competitor effectively explains what users are doing at each step.


Personas

Three user types, one wallet

Maria, 26

Freelance Designer
"I get paid in ETH sometimes but I have no idea what my actual balance is in euros."
Goals
See balance in fiat, send to clients, track income
Frustrations
Confusing interfaces, hidden fees, no expense categories

Daniel, 31

Small Business Owner
"I want to accept crypto payments but the wallet apps feel like they are made for developers."
Goals
Accept payments, convert to fiat, simple bookkeeping
Frustrations
Complex setup, jargon-heavy, no receipt features

Amina, 23

Student
"My friends told me to buy Bitcoin but the apps scared me away."
Goals
Buy first crypto, understand what she owns, feel safe
Frustrations
Intimidating onboarding, fear of mistakes, no guidance

User Flow

Download to first transaction in under 60 seconds

Download
Onboarding
Create account
Set PIN
Verify
Fund wallet
First transaction

Final Designs

Dark, clean, confidence-building

The dark theme signals premium and security. Every screen prioritizes the user's balance and recent activity. Blockchain jargon is replaced with plain language. Fees are shown upfront, never hidden.

Onboarding

Onboarding carries one idea per screen, so first-time users are never asked to learn blockchain terms before they can act.

Authentication
Coin detail

PIN and biometric auth make security feel routine; the coin detail leads with local-currency value, not token amounts, so balances read like a bank app.

All screens

Usability Testing

Validated with 12 participants

Task completion

Complete onboarding92%
Check portfolio balance100%
Send crypto85%
View transaction history94%

Key metrics

SUS Score84 / 100
Time to first transaction18 seconds
Trust perception4.3 / 5
Would recommend88%
Validation

Dark theme increased trust perception

10/12 users said the dark interface felt "more secure" and "more professional" compared to light-themed competitors.

Improvement

Send flow needed address validation

3 users entered invalid wallet addresses. Added real-time validation and a QR scanner as the primary input.

Critical

"Gas fees" confused everyone

Renamed to "Network fee" with a plain-language tooltip. Showed fee amount before confirming, not after.


Reflections

What I learned

Simplicity is the hardest crypto problem

"Send crypto" should feel exactly like "Send money." The design challenge is not hiding complexity but translating it into familiar patterns.

Trust is built in the first 30 seconds

The onboarding sequence does more for trust than any security badge. A clean, guided, no-surprises first experience tells users: this app respects your time and your money.

← Back to portfolio