TradeX
Overview
TradeX is a mobile application designed to bridge the gap between peer-to-peer cryptocurrency trading and secure communication. With a bold ambition to strip down the complexities of existing trading apps, TradeX brings a chat-first trading experience that puts trust, speed, and simplicity at the center of crypto transactions. This project involved a complete product design cycle—from research to high-fidelity prototyping—with the goal of building a platform that crypto newbies and veterans alike would find not only functional but delightful.
The Challenge
The cryptocurrency market is filled with complex, intimidating, and bloated platforms. For everyday users—especially those new to crypto—the experience can feel like trying to decode The Matrix with no Morpheus in sight.
Main challenges users reported:
Overwhelming UI (yes, Binance, I’m looking at you)
Confusing navigation
Laggy transactions and delayed responses
Weak security
Poor buyer-seller communication
A lack of simple, useful features (e.g., stop-loss editing, market charts)
So I asked myself: What if trading crypto was as easy as chatting with a friend?
Objectives
Create a chat-powered P2P crypto trading app with end-to-end encryption.
Prioritize security-first UX (2FA, biometric login, wallet recovery).
Build a modern, seamless, mobile-first experience from sign-up to withdrawal.
Give users what they asked for: alerts, charts, airdrops, and fast execution.
Make the entire thing beginner-friendly but powerful enough for OG traders.
User Research
I went all in on qualitative interviews and surveys to uncover real pain points and user expectations.
Who I Talked To
Crypto hobbyists and traders using Binance, JetPay, Bybit, etc.
Ages 18–40, mostly mobile-first users
Nigeria-based, heavily reliant on USDT, BTC, ETH, and Solana
Insights
Security wins trust: 56% preferred biometric authentication; 89% favored backup phrase recovery.
P2P chat is key: 89% of users wanted to communicate directly with other traders.
Current tools are “too much”: Users want less clutter, more control.
Trust factors: App reputation, visible credentials, legit airdrops, and swift support.
Core Features
Onboarding & Auth
Smooth registration, email/OTP verification
Biometric login, 2FA, wallet phrase recovery
Secure Wallet
Multi-asset support with live value display
Swap crypto directly in-app
Chat-based Trading
Encrypted peer-to-peer conversations
Share screenshots, scan receipts, trade offers in real-time
Market & Trade
Browse verified sellers and trending assets
Buy, sell, or swap with one tap
Pop-up modals for quick actions
Home Dashboard
Wallet balance, assets, quick links to services
Daily/weekly/monthly stats
Notifications
Real-time push alerts for trades, price changes, wallet activity
Withdrawals
To bank or external wallets with PIN verification
Support & Resources
In-app chat with customer support
Help center with educational content
Design Process
Mood boarding & Style Guide
I leaned into a dark mode aesthetic for both UX clarity and user preference—contrasting tones, neon accents, and futuristic typography.
Wireframes & Flows
I mapped out key user journeys like:
New user onboarding
First-time wallet setup
P2P trade via chat
Swapping coins
Wallet recovery & withdrawal
Hi-Fi Prototypes
I brought everything to life with micro-interactions, gesture-based navigation, and modular UI components for speed and scalability.
Outcome & Learnings
TradeX isn’t just another crypto app—it’s a conversation-driven trading platform built on trust, clarity, and user empowerment.
What I Learned:
Users crave simplicity and transparency in crypto more than flash.
Security is not optional, it’s expected.
Chat + Trade = Confidence. Especially in P2P markets where trust is currency.
Designing for emerging markets means balancing tech-savviness with accessibility.
