Reducing user risk in staking to grow Cosmos ecosystem at early stage Emeris
Reducing user risk in staking to grow Cosmos ecosystem at early stage Emeris
Reducing user risk in staking to grow Cosmos ecosystem at early stage Emeris
How I designed a staking feature from ground up reducing financial user risk
How I designed a staking feature from ground up reducing financial user risk
Overview
Overview
Emeris provide a single interface for a fragmented blockchain landscape, enabling users to earn passive income through staking
Emeris provide a single interface for a fragmented blockchain landscape, enabling users to earn passive income through staking
Emeris provide a single interface for a fragmented blockchain landscape, enabling users to earn passive income through staking
Role
Interface Designer
Domain
DeFi, B2C, B2B
Timeline
3 weeks
Platform
Web
My contribution and impact
My contribution and impact
My contribution and impact
Led complete design of staking feature in 3 week sprint, collaborating directly with PM and Engineering to launch Emeris's core feature. Starting with competitive and user research, I designed the complete experience that enabled users to earn passive income through staking while supporting PoS network security.
Led complete design of staking feature in 3 week sprint, collaborating directly with PM and Engineering to launch Emeris's core feature. Starting with competitive and user research, I designed the complete experience that enabled users to earn passive income through staking while supporting PoS network security.
The challenge
The challenge
Designing for fear, not just functionality
Designing for fear, not just functionality
Designing for fear, not just functionality
The problem isn’t only the complexity of blockchain mechanics. It is the accumulated uncertainty created by an industry where scams, unclear information, and irreversible mistakes are common.
The problem isn’t only the complexity of blockchain mechanics. It is the accumulated uncertainty created by an industry where scams, unclear information, and irreversible mistakes are common.
Concentration risk
Staking platforms required choosing one validator for all funds. If that validator had issues user’s entire stake was exposed.
Staking platforms required choosing one validator for all funds. If that validator had issues user’s entire stake was exposed.
Psychological barrier risk
Users were paralysed by fear, not confused by complexity. The problem wasn't technical complexity.
Users were paralysed by fear, not confused by complexity. The problem wasn't technical complexity.
Unclear validator quality
No clear way to evaluate validator reliability. Traditional finance where banks are regulated, validators in Cosmos operate independently.
No clear way to evaluate validator reliability. Traditional finance where banks are regulated, validators in Cosmos operate independently.
Objectives
Objectives
Objectives
Business
Increase staking participation to strengthen Cosmos validation and security
Launch before competitors to establish Emeris as go to platform for Cosmos staking
Drive long-term engagement through passive income (staking rewards)
Product
Become first retail platform offering multi validator distribution
Enable non technical users to stake confidently without blockchain infrastructure knowledge
Approach
Approach
Approach
Research under resstriction
Research under resstriction
Research under resstriction
User research
User research
User research
With a 3 week timeline and crypto users' privacy concerns, traditional interviews weren't feasible. Instead of waiting for perfect information, I analysed existing forum discussions to identify actionable insights.
With a 3 week timeline and crypto users' privacy concerns, traditional interviews weren't feasible. Instead of waiting for perfect information, I analysed existing forum discussions to identify actionable insights.
This research revealed several barriers
This research revealed several barriers
This research revealed several barriers
Behaviour
Fear about losing assets
No clear action steps
Invisible locking period
Platform
No hints when something is unclear
Fee structure unclear
Constant modal interruptions
Unexpected insight
Unexpected insight
I initially assumed users needed validator education. But research revealed they already understood fundamentals they just skeptical and feared making wrong choice.
I initially assumed users needed validator education. But research revealed they already understood fundamentals they just skeptical and feared making wrong choice.
I initially assumed users needed validator education. But research revealed they already understood fundamentals they just skeptical and feared making wrong choice.
Personal experience
Personal experience
Personal experience
I chose an existing platform. Selected a validator that looked reliable. Staked 100% of my intended amount and hit “Confirm”
I chose an existing platform. Selected a validator that looked reliable. Staked 100% of my intended amount and hit “Confirm”
Then I realised
Then I realised
Then I realised
I had just locked my funds for 21 days
This information was somewhere in the interface, but I missed it. The irreversible nature of the decision hit me only after committing
This information was somewhere in the interface, but I missed it. The irreversible nature of the decision hit me only after committing
My entire stake was concentrated with one validator
If that validator went offline, got slashed, or underperformed my entire position was exposed. I had no way to distribute risk
If that validator went offline, got slashed, or underperformed my entire position was exposed. I had no way to distribute risk
My insight
My insight
My insight
I wasn't a beginner. I understood staking mechanics. But the interface design made it easy to make risky choices without realizing the consequences.
I wasn't a beginner. I understood staking mechanics. But the interface design made it easy to make risky choices without realizing the consequences.
Solution strategy
Solution strategy
Solution strategy
With no users to validate solutions, I made directional decisions based on research and competitive analysis.
The core question
The core question
How to provide a safe and guided user experience reducing user skepticism and increasing confidence?
How to provide a safe and guided user experience reducing user skepticism and increasing confidence?
How to provide a safe and guided user experience reducing user skepticism and increasing confidence?
Decision 1
Decision 1
Step by step flow
Step by step flow
Step by step flow
Why?
Competitive research revealed most common pattern using modal popup. But in our case we had edge cases with Onchain transfers while staking. I considered step by step approach
Competitive research revealed most common pattern using modal popup. But in our case we had edge cases with Onchain transfers while staking. I considered step by step approach
Decision
Step by step flow with contextual information at each stage.
Step by step flow with contextual information at each stage.
Decision 2
Decision 2
Information density
Information density
Information density
Why?
With no time to validate custom approaches, I leveraged Atomscan the Cosmos explorer users already relied on reducing learning curve.
With no time to validate custom approaches, I leveraged Atomscan the Cosmos explorer users already relied on reducing learning curve.
Decision
Familiar structure, clearer presentation.
Familiar structure, clearer presentation.
Interface improvement
Inline status badges only for problems. Active validators unlabelled reduces noise, focuses attention on exceptions.
Inline status badges only for problems. Active validators unlabelled reduces noise, focuses attention on exceptions.
Decision 3
Decision 3
Multi validator distribution
Multi validator distribution
Multi validator distribution
Why?
Existing platforms provided only single validator staking. When I staked myself, I concentrated 100% without realising the risk.
Existing platforms provided only single validator staking. When I staked myself, I concentrated 100% without realising the risk.
Decision
Surface concentration risk and offer distribution as visible option
Surface concentration risk and offer distribution as visible option
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
Designing under time constraints
Developing a new product for multiple personas simultaneously makes it challenging to prioritise specific needs and requires constant balancing and trade-offs
Developing a new product for multiple personas simultaneously makes it challenging to prioritise specific needs and requires constant balancing and trade-offs
Working in uncertainty
Designing a feature without users to validate against requires making directional decisions based on competitive analysis and first principles. Not every decision gets validated with data. Some must be defended with reasoning until launch provides evidence
Designing a feature without users to validate against requires making directional decisions based on competitive analysis and first principles. Not every decision gets validated with data. Some must be defended with reasoning until launch provides evidence