CryptTrade – A Secure and Efficient Crypto Trading App

Product:
CryptTrade is a mobile and web app that allows users to securely store, manage, and trade their digital assets. It’s designed for both beginner and experienced traders, offering real-time insights, secure wallet management, and intuitive trading flows. CryptTrade prioritizes security, performance, and user experience in a highly dynamic market.

Project Overview

Duration:
October 2024 – April 2025 (6 months)

My Role:
Lead UX/Product Designer

Responsibilities:

• Conducting user research with crypto investors
• Designing secure user onboarding and KYC flow
• Building wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes
• Testing usability with real users
• Collaborating with developers on wallet integration and performance

The Problem

• Many trading platforms are overwhelming to new users due to jargon and poor UX.
• Users fear losing assets to hacks or phishing due to lack of clarity in transaction processes.
• Poor navigation and slow transaction confirmations affect trust and user satisfaction.

The Goal

To design a highly secure and beginner-friendly trading app that:

• Enables fast and easy trading of crypto assets
• Protects user data and funds with enhanced security features
• Provides real-time market data in a digestible format
• Simplifies onboarding, even for users new to cryptocurrency

Understanding the User

User Research Summary

I conducted user interviews and surveys with 10 participants — 5 crypto beginners and 5 intermediate traders. The goal was to uncover common frustrations, desired features, and expectations from a trading platform.

Key Insights:

• New users wanted simpler onboarding, with clear explanations of terms like “wallet,” “slippage,” and “limit order.”
• Intermediate users wanted faster performance, real-time charts, and secure multi-wallet support.
• All users emphasized the need for 2FA, fingerprint login, and alert systems for price tracking.

User Personas

Key Takeaways

Problem Statement

New and experienced crypto users in Nigeria need a secure, intuitive, and efficient trading platform to buy, sell, and manage digital assets. The app must support real-time price tracking, seamless fiat-to-crypto transactions in Naira, and offer user protection features such as biometric security and 2FA. It should also provide educational guidance for beginners and advanced tools for traders—accessible across different devices and in multiple languages, to foster trust, accessibility, and adoption.

User Journey Highlights

Goals:

• Access real-time market data
• Trade tokens quickly and securely
• Set alerts and track portfolio value

Pain Points:

• Long and unclear onboarding steps
• Too much clutter on other trading apps
• Confusing wallet management process

Starting the Design

Paper Wireframes

I sketched multiple layouts for onboarding, the trading dashboard, and wallet management. The focus was on minimizing cognitive load and keeping actions within one to two taps.

Digital Wireframes

Wireframes were built to highlight:

• A simplified trading screen (Buy/Sell toggle, market view)
• Secure wallet overview with multi-chain support
• Custom alerts and watchlists

Low-Fidelity Prototype

The clickable prototype allowed users to complete onboarding, link a wallet, make a trade, and set a price alert.

Usability Study Findings

Participants:
4 beginner users, 3 active traders

Key Findings:

1. New users wanted clear feedback after each transaction
2. Traders preferred real-time charts with candlestick view
3. The term “gas fee” was confusing without context — tooltips were added

Mobile High-fidelity UI

Website High-fidelity UI

Accessibility & Security Considerations

• Dark mode and color-blind friendly charts for visual comfort
• Biometric login & 2FA for account security
• Encrypted wallet backup with secure passphrase recovery
• Screen reader support for essential functions

Takeaways

Impact:
CryptTrade was praised for its smooth UX and clean interface. Beta testers found the app less intimidating than existing platforms and reported faster trading turnaround and easier navigation.

What I Learned:
Designing for crypto users requires a balance between technical depth and intuitive UX. Simplifying complex workflows without sacrificing transparency is key.

Next Steps

• Integrate fiat on-ramp providers (e.g., credit card or bank transfer)
• Add social trading and real-time news feeds
• Continue testing with users from different regions
• Deploy the app to testnet, followed by a phased public release