0-1 Design Sourcing app’s in-chat transactions for seamless, secure crypto exchanges
CONTEXT
What is Sourcing Mobile App?
MY ROLE
Sourcing is a social crypto wallet designed for first-time users and multilingual communities. I led the end-to-end product design across mobile app and web, from feature definition to visual identity, helping translate complex crypto concepts into familiar, intuitive experiences.
MY ROLE
Lead UX/UI Designer
MY ROLE
As a founding designer at Sourcing, I joined at the MVP stage and worked closely with the founders to shape both the product vision and execution. I owned the end-to-end design of the core crypto experience, from rethinking token transfers as in-chat interactions to defining scalable wallet, dashboard, transaction, and multi-chain UX foundations across Ethereum and BNB.
Beyond core flows, I helped establish the product’s content and education strategy by launching Sourcing Daily and producing onboarding tutorials that made complex crypto concepts accessible to new users.
In parallel, I built a cross-platform design system to support rapid iteration across iOS and Android, reduce design debt, and enable the team to scale efficiently as the product evolved.
Audience
Sourcing was designed for crypto beginners, older adults, and multilingual users - individuals often overlooked by mainstream crypto products. Many were first-time wallet users unfamiliar with Web3 concepts, terminology, or decentralized finance.
Product Goals
Sourcing App is a privacy-first communication and financial tool.
It combines secure messaging with a crypto wallet, ensuring users can interact and manage digital assets without compromising privacy.
Sourcing App helps newcomers explore and understand crypto.
It provides an intuitive platform where users can learn about digital assets, securely store them, and engage in transactions—all while staying connected with like-minded communities.
Challenges
Steep learning curve
Crypto concepts like wallet setup, gas fees, and private keys confused beginners and led to early drop-off.
Low Trust
Users were wary of scams and irreversible mistakes, making reassurance a key design priority.
Poor Usability
The MVP had fragmented flows, inconsistent UI, and lacked accessibility - especially for older and multilingual users.
Design Objectives
Simplify Complexity
Break down multi-step crypto flows into guided, digestible steps with minimal jargon or technical overhead.
Build Confidence & Trust
Use confirmations, visual feedback, and familiar interface patterns to help users feel secure during sensitive actions like sending tokens.
Encourage Engagement
Use social behaviors (like chatting with friends) to make transactions feel natural and drive adoption of in-app transfers.
Support Scalability
Create a scalable system that supports future features across multiple chains while maintaining consistency through a reusable, cross-platform design system built for iOS and Android.
Core Contribution 1: Reimagining Crypto Transactions
To make crypto transactions feel less intimidating and more intuitive, we embedded the send/receive token feature directly into the chat interface. This allowed users to transfer assets as naturally as sending a message which reduces the friction of traditional wallet workflows and reinforces a familiar, social context. By tying the act of transacting to everyday conversation, we helped users build confidence and emotional trust in using crypto.
In-Chat Transaction
Step 1: Send in Chat
Users initiate a crypto transfer directly within a conversation, mimicking familiar peer-to-peer interactions like sending a message or photo.
Step 2: Enter Amount + Note
Users enter the amount and optional note, reinforcing purpose and personalization — key for building emotional clarity and reducing transaction anxiety.
Step 3: Preview + Face ID Confirmation
Before sending, users review full transaction details and confirm securely with biometric ID, establishing trust and a sense of control.
Step 4: Transfer Confirmation in Chat
Once complete, the transaction appears inline in the chat — visually consistent with the message thread, reinforcing a seamless, social-first experience.
The In-chat Transaction Flow
Dashboard Redesign & Multi-Chain Support
As the product evolved beyond basic buy/sell functionality, we needed to transform the wallet dashboard into a central command center — supporting multiple transaction types, multi-chain activity, and social payments — all while staying beginner-friendly.
Why This Was Needed?
The original dashboard showed only basic buy/sell records with no filtering, poor hierarchy, and no user control. As we introduced features like in-chat transactions, Web3 e-commerce purchasing, and multi-chain token support, the transaction center needed to become smarter, clearer, and more extensible.
The Original Dashboard and Transaction Flow
Redesigned the entire wallet dashboard with a modular card layout, unified interaction patterns, and a strong information hierarchy
Introduced a robust transaction filter for users to view:
→ Sends
→ Receives
→ Buys & sells
→ NFT purchases
→ E-commerce order history
Empowered users to send crypto to friends outside of chat, directly from the dashboard:
→ Select from contacts
→ Scan a QR code
→ Manually enter a wallet address
Added network indicators and chain-specific filters so users could understand which transactions occurred on which blockchain
Core Contribution 2: Sourcing Daily – In-App News Module
As we expanded Sourcing’s core wallet experience, our business stakeholders and ecosystem partners identified a strategic opportunity to create a native, in-app communication channel for sharing updates, educational content, and market insights. This feature was designed to strengthen trust, drive engagement, and establish a direct connection between the product, its users, and the broader ecosystem.
Solution: Sourcing Daily
I led the design of Sourcing Daily, a dynamic, lightweight news module embedded directly into the product’s home experience — designed to be informative, non-intrusive, and scalable.
1. Top News Carousel on Home
Embedded at the top of the chat home screen to maximize visibility
Displays the latest update from each partner/content channel
Swipe-to-dismiss interaction respects user autonomy and keeps the interface clean
Dedicated News Feed View
Full-screen layout organized by content channels
Includes metrics like view counts and timestamps to build trust and legitimacy
Features like “Report concern” and “Share” enhance safety and reach
Authoring Interface for Internal & Partner Teams
Lightweight, intuitive post creation and management tools
Teams can select a channel, write/edit posts, and manage visibility (public/private)
Enables partners to publish content without requiring technical integration
Supporting Systems: Design System & Platform Scaling
As the sole designer on a fast-moving team, I developed and maintained a scalable design system to ensure consistency across iOS, Android, and future web extensions — enabling faster iteration, clearer handoff, and long-term sustainability.
Outcomes & Impact
The app has been successfully shipped and is actively used across China, the U.S., Japan, and Taipei.
1000+
Screens Delivered
Designed and delivered over 1000 unique screens across Wallet, Chat, NFT, Market, and Profile modules — all within a tight development timeline.
Simplified Crypto for New Users
Redesigned transaction flows including in-chat transfers and dashboard-based sends, made complex crypto actions feel intuitive, helping first-time users navigate with clarity and confidence.
Reframed Transactions as Conversations
By embedding token transfers directly into the chat interface, the app transformed a traditionally technical process into a familiar social interaction, lowering the barrier for crypto adoption.
Trusted by
3000+
Users
Sourcing is now trusted by 30,000+ users, establishing a strong foundation for future product and partner growth.
My Takeaway
Designing for Sourcing taught me how to translate complex, unfamiliar systems into experiences that feel human, social, and intuitive. Working as the sole designer across mobile, content, and infrastructure, I learned to balance business goals, stakeholder priorities, and user needs — often with limited time and resources.
I also deepened my ability to design for scalability and trust: building a transaction ecosystem that supported both technical growth (multi-chain, e-commerce, component reuse) and emotional clarity for crypto beginners.
This project reinforced a core belief I carry into every product: good design doesn’t just simplify — it empowers.
