Decentralized Crowdfunding · UX Case Study
DecentCrowd:
Trust &
Transparency.
The Project
A privacy-first dApp for anonymous crypto crowdfunding.
Research Method
Google Forms survey targeting crypto and DeFi users, followed by one round of remote usability testing via Useberry prototype.
Constraints
Solo · Remote · 6 weeks. Wallet integration prototyped, not connected to live blockchain.
Participants
DeFi investors, experienced crypto holders, and users who interact with decentralized apps — varying levels of technical confidence.
Stakeholders Designed For
Investors (contributors) and Project Owners — a dual-sided ecosystem.
The Design Problem
Where does my money
actually go?
The conversion drop-off on existing staking and crowdfunding platforms is critically tied to the infrequent, pivotal moment of on-chain transaction confirmation. Because users only stake or compound 2–6 times a year, the flow must be stress-free and secure.
Through foundational research, I confirmed this friction stemmed from the lack of transparent, real-time feedback on transaction status and persistent ambiguity surrounding wallet permissions and gas fee management — common points of failure across competitor dApps.
"I don't care about the tech, I care about my money reaching the project creator only when the work is done."
— User Insight, Foundational Research
"Traditional crowdfunding platforms are too complex for non-tech-savvy users."
— Core Insight, Usability Testing
Research Foundation
Two phases.
One clear signal.
Interviews with users aged 30–60 revealed that transparency was the deciding factor for engagement. The research drove every major design decision — from the milestone-based smart contract system to the privacy-first wallet flow.
User Personas
Who I designed for.
Marcus, 34
DeFi Investor · Advanced User
Goals
Fund projects anonymously. Verify legitimacy before committing. Track fund release tied to real milestones.
Frustrations
Unclear gas fee breakdowns, no real-time transaction feedback, platforms that expose wallet history publicly.
Behaviour
Stakes 3–5x per year. Expects seamless wallet connection. Distrusts platforms without DAO verification.
Priya, 29
Project Owner · Emerging Web3 User
Goals
Submit projects for DAO verification with minimal friction. Communicate progress clearly to investors. Unlock funds per milestone.
Frustrations
Verification processes feel opaque. No clear feedback on where her submission stands. Technical language creates barriers.
Behaviour
Confident in her project idea, less confident in crypto. Needs guided flows with clear status indicators at every step.
Competitive Analysis
What the market gets wrong.
I reviewed decentralized crowdfunding platforms, crypto wallets, DAO dashboards, and staking interfaces to identify gaps — fragmented flows, unclear charts, and inconsistent wallet experiences.
Key Pain Points
Three blockers.
One solution.
01
Confusing Charts & Breakdowns
Existing platforms used overly technical graphs that discouraged confident decision-making. Users couldn't quickly assess where funds stood or what milestones remained.
02
Unclear Fund Access
Users struggled to understand where funds go and how they are unlocked. The absence of milestone-linked transparency created a fundamental trust barrier.
03
Lack of Privacy & Anonymity
Users didn't want their financial behavior publicly linked to their identity. No existing platform offered anonymous contribution with full verifiability.
What I Designed
A single, cohesive
ecosystem for both sides.
DecentCrowd supports both crucial stakeholders — investors and project owners — within a unified dApp. Complex DAO-based verification and fund tracking feel private, clear, and trustworthy, all within familiar crypto workflows.
Interaction Workflow
Project Discovery View
Mobile Experience
Designed for the pocket first.
The mobile flow prioritizes quick action and minimal friction — crucial for maximizing conversion rates in time-sensitive crowdfunding rounds.
Key Design Decisions
Every choice had a reason.
01
Transparent DAO Verification
I designed a clear step-by-step verification submission process for Project Owners and created simple, unmissable status indicators for Investors — allowing them to instantly verify a project's legitimacy based on DAO approval. No ambiguity, no guesswork.
02
Milestone-Based Smart Contract Flow
Capital release is tied to project progress, not arbitrary timelines. This directly addressed the user insight about needing to know funds only reach creators when work is done — turning a trust concern into a product feature.
03
Streamlined Wallet Connection
The wallet connection and anonymous funding flows were stripped to their minimum viable steps on mobile. Gas fee breakdowns made explicit, permissions explained in plain language — eliminating the industry's most common friction point.
04
Simplified Data Visualisation
Overly technical graphs were replaced with clear, scannable progress indicators and fund-release timelines. Users could see where they stood in seconds, removing the cognitive load that discouraged confident decision-making on competitor platforms.
Validation · Useberry Testing
Strong alignment with user expectations on the first round.
92%
Task Success Rate
Participants completed funding tasks without critical blockers in the flow.
1.2m
Avg. Completion Time
Key funding actions completed well within acceptable time thresholds for a Web3 product.
4.8/5
Ease of Use Score
Users felt confident navigating simplified charts and the anonymous funding flow.
Impact
Usability testing.
Round one results.
Participants completed funding tasks without friction — no critical blockers in the flow
→Users felt more confident navigating the simplified charts and data visualisations
→Privacy-focused decisions increased trust across the entire funding flow
→Anonymous wallet connection completed without drop-off — a first-round achievement
→DAO verification status indicators were understood immediately — zero explanation needed
→Reflection