Back to home page

Evolution journey: from crypto-native app to global digital bank

Product designer • Project duration 5 months

Back to home page

Disclaimer

To comply with non-disclosure agreements, the following case study focuses on design processes, methodologies, and strategic outcomes. Sensitive information, client name, and proprietary data have been generalized.

Client overview

Digit is a crypto-first platform available in 125 countries with 1M+ active users. The platform allows users to buy, sell and swap crypto & stablecoins, access and provides interest-free investments across crypto, stocks, funds, commodities.

The product vision was to expand in 2025 beyond crypto-only foundation and evolve into a digital bank by introducing fiat accounts, virtual and physical cards.

Tasks

Design a series of features for neobanking, like send / receive money, savings accounts, virtual card flow
Conduct an analysis and define the strong home screen structure that will address as crypto-savvy users as well as newcomers
Complete a UX audit of existing flows in the app, define friction and suggest improvements based on the best practices across industry.
Redesign the app’s white-label interface to establish a stronger brand identity and modern look (dark and light modes)
Prepare a robust design system to ensure smooth development and visual consistency across different modes

Design a series of features for neobanking, like send / receive money, savings accounts, virtual card flow
Conduct an analysis and define the strong home screen structure that will address as crypto-savvy users as well as newcomers
Complete a UX audit of existing flows in the app, define friction and suggest improvements based on the best practices across industry.
Redesign the app’s white-label interface to establish a stronger brand identity and modern look (dark and light modes)
Prepare a robust design system to ensure smooth development and visual consistency across different modes

My role

I was a main designer in the team responsible for end-to-end product delivery, managing the following streams:

Discovery

Conducted desk research on digital and neo-bank products and prepared a feature analysis to help the client define MVP scope.

Performed a UX audit to understand the problems within the existing crypto scenarios (e.g. buy/sell, staking, savings).

UX framework

Created wireframes for a set of defined flows, presented them to stakeholders, collected feedback, and iterated.

Visual identity

Transformed a generic white-label interface into a unique brand language (including dark&light modes, custom iconography).

Design operations

Updated the design system based on the new visual identity and communicated with the client’s dev team during hand-off.

Prepared project plans in Notion and aligned on timelines, as well as deliverables with the client.

Briefed and reviewed the work of additional designers who joined the project mid-way to meet tight deadlines.

Challenges

Product uncertainty

Define set of features of digital & neobanks for Company A based on the best practices in the industry.

Expanding the product audience

Make the platform accessible to people new to crypto finance that only have experience with digital banks

Brand identity

Conduct a redesign of white-label interface, that looked generic and didn’t reflect Company's brand identity.

High-velocity delivery

The first phase of the project, which included a complete visual redesign, UX-audit & redesign and designing over 15+ new user flows to be delivered within two months.

Solutions

Conducted desk research across 10+ fintech apps to map neobanking features (8 categories, 100+ features). This step helped to show the client market possibilities and select 36 core features.

Conducted desk research across 10+ fintech apps to map neobanking features (8 categories, 100+ features). This step helped to show the client market possibilities and select 36 core features.

Utilized the JTBD framework, based on the findings of previous analysis and UX-audit. This served as a decision-making tool, allowing us to collaboratively define screens and flows structure that balances user needs and business goals.

Designed wireframes using familiar banking mental models, recognizable patterns to lower the learning-fatigue for new users. The goal was to ensure complex financial actions feel intuitive and predictable for non-crypto users.

Conducted UX audit for part of crypto flows, based on client’s request. Eliminated “dead-end” scenarios by implementing industry best practices.

Transformed a white-label UI into a unique visual language. Prepared several design concepts based on the new client’s branding, developed iconography system inspired by the brand’s core element. The new design has been prepared for dark & light modes.

Optimized process, adding into the feature request template, maximized the use of additional resources and preparing scalable design system using the variables. These actions enabled the team to maintain high velocity while reducing the average review/iteration cycle from 3 rounds to 1.5

Impact

The combination of the solutions above and a user-centric visual overhaul contributed to the Digit's success

By reducing the review cycle from 3 rounds to 1.5, we maintained the high velocity needed to launch a full-scale ecosystem in just 2.5 months.
Implementing a variable-based design system ensured that the rapid addition of new features didn't compromise visual consistency or developer handoff efficiency.
The shift from a "white-label" look to a premium identity established the credibility necessary for a successful expansion into new markets.
The following actions – removing "dead-end" in user flow, utilizing intuitive tools, adding educational empty states led to positive user feedback, with customers praising the "simple and clean" experience that made financial growth accessible.
These structural and visual improvements supported the platform in achieving $7bn in transactional volume within 2025.

By reducing the review cycle from 3 rounds to 1.5, we maintained the high velocity needed to launch a full-scale ecosystem in just 2.5 months.
Implementing a variable-based design system ensured that the rapid addition of new features didn't compromise visual consistency or developer handoff efficiency.
The shift from a "white-label" look to a premium identity established the credibility necessary for a successful expansion into new markets.
These structural and visual improvements supported the platform in achieving $7bn in transactional volume within its first year.
The following actions – removing "dead-end" in user flow, utilizing intuitive tools, adding educational empty states led to positive user feedback, with customers praising the "simple and clean" experience that made financial growth accessible.

Um, would you design with me?

Looking for my next in-house product team – happy to walk you through my work on a call.

Copy email

Read my CV

2026

Um, would you design with me?

Looking for my next in-house product team – happy to walk you through my work on a call.

Copy email

Read my CV

2026

Um, would you design with me?

Looking for my next in-house product team – happy to walk you through my work on a call.

Copy email

Read my CV

2026

Um, would you design with me?

Looking for my next in-house product team – happy to walk you through my work on a call.

Copy email

Read my CV

2026