Problem

With no community feature on Coinbase, crypto users lack a platform to connect and share insights directly within the app. How can we create a space that fosters engagement and builds trust while aligning with Coinbase’s professional tone?

Outcome

We designed a community feature that allows users to discuss, upvote, and follow specific cryptocurrency topics, creating a more interactive and supportive environment within Coinbase.

Coinbase

A community feature designed to enhance user interaction, credibility, and engagement in a crypto-focused environment.

Role

UX/UI Designer, Researcher

Team

Solo Project

Timeline

1 Month

Understanding the problem space

Coinbase, a major cryptocurrency exchange, wants to increase user engagement and retention by fostering community interaction. Currently, users have no place to discuss, ask questions, or share insights directly on the platform, potentially causing them to seek similar communities elsewhere.

Looking for opportunities

To find gaps in the market, we analyzed competitors like Binance, Kraken, and Gemini.

Research findings

Through user research and affinity mapping, we uncovered patterns about what users value most in community platforms, credible information, active engagement, and intuitive tools for navigating discussions.

Meet the user

Say hello to our user, a crypto enthusiast and part-time trader who values credible insights and meaningful discussions to improve their trading decisions. Bryan’s needs and goals guided the design process.

What I learned

Our research revealed what users appreciate about current platforms and what’s missing, highlighting opportunities to make Coinbase a go-to space for community interaction.

Turning ideas into plans

Using insights from my research, I brainstormed concepts, outlined a feature roadmap, and sketched initial designs to bring the community feature to life.

Key findings

I conducted usability testing to uncover pain points, gathered user feedback, and made key revisions to align the design with user needs.

1 - Enhanced Discussion Threads

Users missed upvote/downvote and reply features, which limited engagement.

The absence of tagging or categories made it difficult to organize and find discussions.

2 - Real-Time Trading Data Integration

Users found discussions lacked context without live trading data embedded in threads.

Switching between the community and trading sections disrupted the user flow.

Revisions

1 - Enhanced Discussion Threads

Added upvote/downvote and reply features to increase interaction.

Implemented tagging and categories to improve thread organization.

2 - Real-Time Trading Data Integration

Embedded live trading data, including price charts, into discussion threads.

Linked discussion threads directly to trading tools for seamless navigation.

Enhanced Discussion Threads

Users can start and participate in discussion threads about specific coins, upvote helpful comments, and tag relevant topics to keep discussions organized.

Integration with Real-Time Trading Data

To make conversations more relevant, we integrated live trading data within discussion threads, allowing users to stay updated on market changes as they discuss.

Final thoughts & takeaways

1 - Flexibility and Iteration

Initially, I explored broader engagement ideas, but feedback showed a need for focused, data-driven discussions. By staying flexible, we adapted to create a feature that better aligns with user needs.

2 - Balancing Community and Professionalism

Creating a community within a financial app meant keeping a balance between casual interaction and professionalism, which was a fun challenge to tackle.

3 - Prioritizing Core Interactions

I focused on essential features first, like upvoting and tagging, to keep the experience simple yet effective, which proved key in maintaining usability and engagement.