Native staking requires a certain level of technical and crypto ecosystem knowledge. Wallets, protocols, and lock-up periods often act as barriers for those who aren’t technologically savvy or prefer lower-risk investments. Our challenge was to transform this complex process into something accessible to individuals with basic financial knowledge. By doing so, we aimed to make staking available to more people within Bitso, while simultaneously increasing the capital pool.
Staking
Staking allows users to contribute their digital assets to a blockchain network, helping to validate transactions and secure the network. In return, participants receive periodic rewards in the form of additional cryptocurrency. The term comes from the word stake, meaning to “participate” or “wager,” as users lock their crypto into the network for this process.
While staking is an efficient way to generate passive income, it often requires in-depth knowledge of the ecosystem, including wallet setup, node selection, and understanding lock-up periods.
Our Community
Most Bitso users are beginners in finance and cryptocurrencies. Previous research, usage metrics, and direct conversations revealed that although we serve over six million users, 80% engage with our products through the basic app, showing their preference for a simple and user-centered design that makes crypto technology more accessible.
UX Challenge
Our goal was to design an accessible staking feature, allowing users to benefit from the process without needing extensive technical knowledge before getting started.
Research and Insights
We conducted surveys and in-depth interviews with a diverse range of users, from crypto enthusiasts to complete beginners. Key findings included:
Many users found staking complex or overwhelming, despite strong interest in generating passive income.
Wallet setup, node selection, lock-up periods, and potential technical errors were major barriers to adoption.
Even experienced crypto users hesitated to stake due to fears of mistakes or liquidity issues.
These insights made it clear: to make staking widely available, we needed to radically simplify the process for users. Additionally, providing users with full liquidity in their funds at all times became a key differentiator that set us apart.
Product Proposal
The product experience was reduced to three essential actions: depositing funds, viewing earnings and receiving weekly rewards. All fund management and staking operations would be handled by Bitso’s finance team, leaving only the essential interactions for users.
Key Design Elements
To bridge the gap between the familiar and the new, we integrated this feature into Bitso Earnings, presenting technical details progressively. In a first level of usage, we made it a simple passive income product, based on three main pillars:
One-Step Onboarding
We condensed all necessary information into a single screen, allowing users to access the program easily. Additional details followed the progressive disclosure model, revealing only the relevant information at each step, with access to deeper, more technical insights if desired.
Simple Currency Selection
We introduced staking coins as part of the existing Bitso Earnings program, among the ones they already know, to make them feel familiar and accessible to users.
Simulation Tool: We designed a simulator to help users visualize potential earnings based on their deposit amount and duration. This provided clear projections and help our users make informed decisions.
Weekly Rewards
Users received weekly returns, proportional to their investments, regardless of the underlying coin or mechanism. This brought complex blockchain investment processes closer to less experienced users.
By integrating staking into Bitso Earnings, we not only added new assets to the product, but also designed a scalable product adaptable to any blockchain-based passive income process Bitso could offer in the future.
Key Content Elements
We prioritized clear communication at every step of the product experience, ensuring users could navigate the experience without confusion.
Technical staking concepts were translated into traditional financial language. For example, rather than focusing on protocols, we emphasized user actions like “deposit” and “earn rewards,” making functionality intuitive and action-oriented.
We also included built-in educational tools, such as pop-up coachmarks, allowing users to learn about advanced aspects of the process at their own pace. This educational approach reduced entry barriers while encouraging continuous learning for those interested in gaining deeper knowledge.
By doing so, we ensured that both crypto beginners and experienced users felt comfortable and confident using the product. The combination of simple communication and optional learning tools created an inclusive experience that encouraged adoption without frustration.
User Retention
To address users’ unfamiliarity with staking, we emphasized transparency in rewards. We developed a visually clean, intuitive interface where users could track weekly earnings in real time. This not only built trust in the process but also allowed users to maintain control over their investments without complications.
Interactive charts and historical data were integrated to enable users to monitor their progress over time and make informed decisions with all available information.
Results
The final product was frictionless, with the complexity of staking completely hidden. Users simply deposited funds and automatically began receiving weekly rewards, without worrying about technical details.
By managing all backend processes, such as node selection and fund management, Bitso ensured a seamless and effortless user experience.
Key outcomes included:
A 40% increase in adoption rates (driven by the redesigned product and expanded coin offerings).
A 63% increase in managed program coins, including users transferring funds from cold wallets.
A 26% growth in asset management and revenue compared to the previous year.
Key Learnings
Throughout the design and development process, several important lessons emerged:
Simplifying complex processes without losing value: The challenge was to transform a technical, advanced process into an intuitive and straightforward experience without losing functionality. Simplification involved reducing cognitive load by presenting information and actions clearly, connecting the unfamiliar with the familiar.
Innovation is not only in technology, but also in how is it presented: Although staking technology is inherently complex, the real breakthrough was making it accessible and understandable to all users, regardless of experience. This democratizing technology approach enabled us to launch a product that reaches a broader audience.
Designing for trust and transparency: Users deeply value transparency in financial products. By clearly displaying earnings, timelines, and fund management processes, we fostered trust, creating a cycle of confidence and repeat use that drove adoption.
