Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies are driving the evolution of the internet, transforming it into the decentralized and user-centric experience that has come to be known as Web3. The new generation of the internet is already up and running, and it is transforming the way people interact with finance and various other kinds of services.
Or, at least it is for some. Web3 at present only bestows its rewards on the bravest adventurers who dare to expose themselves to all of its fanfare and bluster. Exploring Web3 is not for the faint of heart, requiring a commitment to knuckle down and navigate all kinds of mind-boggling new concepts and terminology, and wade through various complex interfaces. There’s just no way your grandmother, or even you, for that matter, is going to head straight to some shiny new “dApp” and start “yield farming” for crypto rewards without first spending an awful lot of time trying to work out what those things even mean.
That’s one of the big reasons why mass adoption of Web3 has not yet happened, and neither will it until it changes. In fact, it’s commonly argued that the masses will only start interacting with Web3 when they don’t even realize it, and that means that the industry is going to need to have a drastic rethink over how it presents itself.
With a good UI and user experience, Web3 can transform its highly functional dApps into an experience that’s not only fun, but also extremely worthwhile for its users. Web3 needs to look and feel just like Web2, but the vast majority of dApps continue to miss the mark.
The Problem With Web3
Web3 is plagued by poor design choices and a laborious user experience that creates an almost insurmountable barrier to adoption in an age where simple, streamlined experiences are all the rage. For crypto newbies, most Web3 dApps are a maze of confusion, and there’s no easily accessible map to help them cut through all of the jargon and technicalities that are essential for people to find their way.
It’s likely that countless dApps have missed out on adding new users due to the inaccessibility of their platforms. Let’s take a look at MetaMask, which is just about the most popular Web3 wallet in the business, as an example of this. It boasts about having millions of users globally, but how many more millions could it have had if its user interface wasn’t so threateningly complex?
The complete and utter lack of any clear labels is likely going to present problems for anyone attempting to make their first transaction, even if they do understand what cryptocurrency they’re trying to send.
MetaMask is one of the most functional Web3 wallets around, offering tons of DeFi features within the app, but you wouldn’t know it simply by clicking through to its DeFi page. Anyone who’s just downloaded the app is going to struggle to find out how to interact with any DeFi protocols. The app doesn’t offer any tutorials or step-by-step instructions either, meaning newbies simply have to Google it for themselves or find out through trial and error.
It’s a similar story with other kinds of Web3 dApps. PancakeSwap is one of the top decentralized exchanges and is highly appreciated for listing hundreds of the most obscure cryptocurrency tokens that are difficult to find on other platforms. It's also said to be great for DeFi and staking, but while it may be powerful, it’s also very intimidating for anyone who’s new to digital assets:
Everything from its poorly thought-out interface, the confusing terminology to its clunky onboarding process and its lack of tutorials seems designed to make it as difficult as possible for newcomers to work out what they’re supposed to be doing. It’s almost as if it doesn’t want to cater to non-crypto natives.
And how about CryptoKitties, the first ever “play-to-earn” game that took the Ethereum world by storm when it launched several years ago, famously crippling the network and sending gas fees sky-high? We’re lucky the problems it caused weren’t far worse, due to its lack of a decent tutorial and instructions on how to actually play the game.
Basic gameplay mechanics, such as how to get started (by connecting a wallet), how to get your first crypto kitty and how to breed and trade them are all missing and certainly not intuitive. It’s confusing UI almost certainly sent more than a few people who were checking it out scurrying for the hills.
There’s also the technobabble associated with dApps. What a mess! Let’s face it, the crypto industry’s love of jargon and acronyms looks to normal, non-crypto natives like it’s a completely different language. Terms like “dApps”, “staking”, “DAO”, “gas fees”, “liquidity pools”, “yield farming”, “BIP32/44/39” and “ERC-20”, plus some of the ridiculous token names like “BONK” and “OMG” are going to leave newcomers scratching their heads.
Look at the below screenshot for DeFi Swap, a decentralized exchange platform that provides access to a library of DeFi services. If you’re new to crypto, your first thought will be “what am I supposed to do here?”
Some dApps Do It Differently
Web3 UIs need a rethink. That much is clear. If we want the entire world to fall in love with the flexibility, the freedom and the concepts of true ownership and democratic governance it provides, we need to ditch the techno-jargon and strike a better balance between functionality and user-friendliness.
What Web3 dApps need is clear language and simple, streamlined experiences, so newcomers can instantly see what they need to do and how they need to do it. They need to avoid overwhelming people, while communicating the value they offer at a glance. Doing so isn’t easy, but that’s no excuse for not even trying, like many of the dApps we’ve seen above.
Fortunately, not every dApp is quite so lame, and there are more than few that understand only too well that a simple UI is everything. Take XBO.com, which has set its sights on building a simple, intuitive and user-friendly gateway to the world of cryptocurrencies, and it has done a pretty decent job, highlighting the various opportunities that await.
It has developed a clean and clear interface that’s notably free from the confusing clutter and terminology found on platforms like PancakeSwap and DeFi Swap. Instead, it has a simple navigation menu with clear language that guides users effortlessly through the various functions and features it offers, with simple labels for buying crypto and converting one token to another.
Once you click on that buy button, it’s pretty clear what’s happening next and what you need to do. You’re going to enter the amount of money you want to spend, and it shows you how much crypto (and what coin) you’ll receive.
The home screen features a simple menu for navigating the various functions offered by XBO, and even the more complex services, such as its staking page, keep things relatively simple with a basic explanation of how much you can earn:
XBO has also built a mobile app that’s just as user-friendly, with simple, intuitive functionality that enables users to buy and swap crypto on the go, with a unified experience across any kind of device. Add to that, there’s a dedicated section on the site for tutorials for anything users do not understand.
This is just one of a growing number of examples of well thought-out Web3 platforms that are finally showing us that the industry can get the balance right. With a focus on clean and simple aesthetics and intuitive useability, it’s possible to give users a more delightful Web3 experience that welcomes them to explore and learn, and very likely have fun while they’re doing so.
Web3 Must Be Like Web2
If Web3 is going to be embraced by billions of people globally, it needs to put those people first. The truth is, the Web3 industry can do much better in terms of its user experience, and it’s about time that this became a priority. Web3, after all, is supposed to be all about empowering the masses to take control of their financial lives, and that means catering to everyone, rather than just the small minority that have enough tech literacy.
Web3 could learn a lot from Web2 and its best practices. Like it or not, Web2 offers a much better user experience because it always puts those users first, having put years of effort into making its platforms as idiot-proof as possible.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
