PROJECT OVERVIEW
Simplifying Crypto Wallet Experience for Everyday Investors with Sentry's Context-Aware Crypto Companion
A context-aware DeFi solution designed specifically to help non-technical users build confidence in cryptocurrency transactions. Sentry provides real-time education and risk assessment tools that adapt to each user's knowledge level and investment goals. This project, showcased at Indiana's UXPA event, addresses the trust gap that prevents mainstream adoption of decentralized finance.
About
Passion Project
Role
I wore multiple hats, functioning as the primary UX researcher, UX designer, and UI designer
Timeline
Jan 2024 - March 2024
Problem
People who are new to defi cryptocurrency wallets (digital apps that store your crypto) often struggle because it feels like learning a new language - there's too much technical jargon & it's hard to tell if you're keeping your money safe. The big challenge is: How do we make these wallets as easy to use as regular banking apps and allow them to navigate confidently.
Business Opportunity
1. Market Capture
2. Unique Product Offering
3. Market Penetration
User Needs
1. Lower Learning Curve
2. Risk Management
3. Ease of Use
Target Users
1. Everyday Investors
2. Non-technical Users
3. Small-Medium Business
Success Metrics
1. Perceived Adoption rate
2. Task completion rate
SOLUTION
Contextual & Personalized Guidance: Provide Assistance with respect to users context & experience level
My solution provides a multi-layered approach to support users new to the DeFi space. The adaptive onboarding process evaluates each user's cryptocurrency knowledge, customizing the level of guidance they receive. For beginners, the system gently encourages engagement with built-in educational modules that provide a foundation for their DeFi journey. The AI assistant acts as a personal guide, offering context-specific help that explains complex terminology instantly and monitors market conditions to send timely alerts about potential risks to the user's assets.
Process
Understanding Users
User interviews & analyzing reddit threads to understand pain paints
Literature Reviews
Review current research efforts & analyze current market solutions
Define
Identify gaps in current market space & define scope of the project
Design & Prototype
Brainstorm, design wireframes & prototype
User Feedback
Think-aloud user testing & iterate on design
Major Findings:
01 UNDERSTANDING USERS
Understanding User's Pain Points
I conducted a total of 10 user interviews and analyzed Reddit channels to understand user pain points. The interviews included crypto wallet users with varying levels of experience (from beginners to those with 2-3 years of experience). I supplemented these findings with secondary research. Using affinity mapping, we then identified key themes.
Fear of Security Risks
The lack of recovery options in decentralized wallets creates anxiety, as users know a single mistake with security can lead to permanent loss of funds.
Huge Learning Curve
The current application fails to effectively educate beginners, forcing users to spend weeks self-learning DeFi concepts, terminology, and market trends before they can use the wallet confidently.
Technical Complexity
Users without technical backgrounds find the wallet's terminology overwhelming and difficult to understand.
“When I was a beginner, there was so much to learn, not much learnt in the onboarding, mostly for defi apps. I spent around 3 weeks just learning about defi, current trends and the jargon involved” - Interviewee 3
"I feel lot of times the notifications are not really very human readable. Like again, they're very technical" -Interviewee 2
02 LITERATURE REVIEWS
Why do we need Personalized Guidance?
I found that the Technology Acceptance Model, or TAM, is highly relevant in the context of crypto wallets. TAM suggests that a user's intention to adopt a new technology is primarily influenced by two factors: perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. In the case of crypto wallets, many potential users perceive the technology as complex and difficult to use, which significantly hinders adoption. Contextual security features powered by access tokens supported by educative on-boarding empowers new users to confidently store, trade & buy assets
​The current research confirms that when people understand something, they are more likely to engage with it.

03 DEFINE
How are others doing it?
Through my analysis of leading DeFi platforms, I examined how major lending, borrowing, and staking applications approach user experience and security. My research focused on AAVE, MetaMask, and Compound - three widely-used applications that represent different aspects of DeFi functionality.
Analysis
1. No step-by-step walkthrough for first-time borrowers
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2. Complex terms like "collateral factor" used without explanation
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None offer personalized onboarding based on knowledge level
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All have steep learning curves for beginners
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Limited real-time risk management tools across all platforms
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Educational content is separated from functionality rather than integrated
Key Insights
Market Expansion Opportunity
The DeFi market presents untapped potential despite advanced platforms like AAVE, Compound, and MetaMask. Current solutions target experienced crypto users while neglecting newcomers who find these platforms overwhelming. By integrating education directly with functionality and providing personalized risk assessment tools, we can capture an estimated $14B market of crypto-curious users currently sitting on the sidelines due to complexity fears.
1. Lower Learning Curve
2. Intuitive Support
3. Customized Solutions
Phase 1
Phase 2
Business Opportunity
1. Market Penetration Strategy
2. Mainstream Market Expansion
3. Competitive Edge
User Needs
Features
1. Education Module​
2. Personalized Set-up
3. Risk Assessment Tools
04 DESIGN & PROTOTYPE
Sketches to Wireframes
Onboarding
Education Module
Wireframes to Prototype
I translated wireframes into an interactive mid-fidelity prototype using Cursor to build in SwiftUI for iOS. For the first phase, I built the first-time user flow for onboarding, wallet set-up & adaptive education module. Building it in Cursor helped me add detailed interactions like dynamic education support, password validation & seed phrase verification. It was my first time using Cursor and I had so much fun building this!
See the simulation video here.
05 USER FEEDBACK
Iterating Based on User Feedback
After completing the initial prototype, I conducted usability testing with eight participants who had varying levels of crypto experience. The feedback revealed several critical insights:
1. Complex terms used in ux copy
The initial welcome screen stating "We are simplifying lending & borrowing" confused first-time users who were unfamiliar with DeFi concepts. I revised the copy to focus on user benefits rather than technical mechanisms, changing it to "We're simplifying how you earn and secure crypto value."
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"Is this for lending & borrowing? where do I lend?"- User 1
Before
After
2. Directing users to education modules basis their experience level
In the first iteration, I directed all users to the knowledge quiz, but discovered that crypto beginners consistently performed poorly on the assessment. This insight led to a significant flow redesign. I now first ask users about their crypto familiarity, then route them accordingly.
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"oh! I didn't know any of those answers"- User 1
Before
After
Introducing...Sentry
WELCOME SCREEN
HOME SCREEN
BEGINNER EDUCATION MODULE
ONBOARDING
DETAILED VIEW
IMPACT
Sentry is Building Trust Through Education and Transparency
90% of users appreciated the education modules and knowledge quiz as part of the onboarding process. They reported discovering critical information they hadn't known about crypto investing, with several participants commenting that this knowledge made them feel more confident about using wallets.
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Sentry creates a pathway for an untapped segment of the market—technically cautious users who want the benefits of DeFi without feeling overwhelmed.
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For the next phase, I'm developing the AI assistant feature that will visualize risk assessments in a user-friendly manner, further enhancing transparency and helping users make more informed decisions about their digital assets.
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REFLECTION
Embrace complexity, iterate swiftly, and stay ahead!
The devil truly was in the details with this project. My iterations revealed how seemingly minor elements—like using the term "lending & borrowing" instead of "earn and secure crypto value"—could completely change a user's understanding and comfort level. These subtle refinements to UX copy across all wireframes made a great difference in accessibility.
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Being able to generate a coded prototype with Cursor felt like a superpower! Staying in touch with new and emerging technologies truly empowered me as a designer. I could experience technical constraints and possibilities firsthand, which enhanced my understanding of what was achievable in the final product
