Ryan Martin, CMO of Wunder, is on a mission to bridge the gap between Web2 and Web3. He was the moderator of a recent panel discussion on UI and UX in the blockchain space at Web3Amsterdam. The panel was called Crypto for the People: Simplifying UX to Fuel Global Adoption (Day 2) and the panel was made up of Derek E. Silva- Reef, Michael Stroev – Venga, Serena Leung – Toobit, Pragmatic Monkey – Rujira Network and Sami Waittinen – Trust Wallet. Martin made one thing clear: user experience in Web3 is still a mess, and fixing it is essential for mass adoption.
Martin opened the conversation with a fundamental question: “Why is Web3 UX so complex and confusing in most cases? We’re all trying to fix it in different ways, but how did we get here?”
The panel, consisting of leaders from blockchain projects like Venga, Ruja, Reef, and TwoBit, all had their own takes on the issue, but a common theme emerged where fragmentation, education, and complexity are the biggest hurdles to making blockchain more accessible.
Fragmentation and Complexity: The Core Problems
Martin sees Web3’s current state as fractured, with too many different chains, wallets, and interfaces.
“If you’re using Solana, you need a Solana wallet. If you’re on Ethereum, it’s Metamask. If you want to bridge assets, that’s another layer of complexity. Traditional users are used to seamless experiences, they don’t want to navigate a minefield just to send a transaction.”
Another major issue is complexity. As Pragmatic Monkey from Ruja Network put it, DeFi has created advanced financial tools, but they remain out of reach for most users.
“We have incredible financial innovations, but unless you’re a DeFi power user, they might as well not exist,” he says. The panel agreed that without simplifying the onboarding process, these tools won’t reach the masses.
The Role of Education in UX
While some argue that better education can solve Web3’s usability issues, Martin sees a flaw in that approach.
“Even if you educate users, it doesn’t automatically solve complexity. My brother has been in crypto for years, but when I asked him to send me USDC on Solana, he hit a wall. ‘Wait, what? I have ETH. Can I send that?’ The fact that such a simple transaction causes confusion shows we have a problem.”
Martin believes the industry needs to move beyond education and focus on designing intuitive experiences. “Nobody reads a manual before using an iPhone. Why should blockchain be any different?” he says.
Building for Simplicity: UI as an Educational Tool
For Martin, good UX should serve as a form of education.
“You can give people a blog post explaining DeFi, or you can build a UI that guides them seamlessly through the process. The second option is always better,” he explained. Instead of expecting users to figure out blockchain, the industry should be building interfaces that abstract away the complexity.
Companies like PolyMarket and DYDX were highlighted as examples of projects that have made strides in improving UX.
“PolyMarket’s design is so smooth, you almost forget you’re interacting with a blockchain. That’s the gold standard we should be aiming for,” Martin says.
The Future of Web3 UX
Over the next five years, Martin believes the biggest shift in Web3 UX will come from standardization and simplification.
“If we want billions of users, we need to stop making them jump through hoops. The best UX development for Web3 isn’t just about design, it’s about removing unnecessary friction altogether.”
As Web3 evolves, the projects that focus on delivering seamless, user-friendly experiences will be the ones that define the industry’s future. For Martin and Wunder, that’s exactly the goal. “Web3 has all the right ideas. Now we just need to make it work for everyone.”
