Coinbase: Usability, Accessibility, and Ethics
By: Irina Wolf
Tags: Usability, User Experience, Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency, UX Design

DesignLab UX Academy

In this article I want to share what I’ve learned about usability and accessibility principles and how those principles can be applied to a product I have extensive experience with. That product is a website called Coinbase.com.

Coinbase is a major bitcoin wallet and exchange service with the main office in San Francisco. It is the largest bitcoin wallet platform in the world and the first regulated bitcoin exchange in the US. Bitcoin is a form of digital currency that is created and stored electronically. With over 3 million users all over the world, Coinbase makes it possible to transact bitcoin in 190 countries. Also, the company offers an API that developers and merchants can use to build applications and accept bitcoin payments.

Although Bitcoin and the blockchain technology have been on the rise all over the world, many people are intimidated by it. There are many online trading platforms that offer buying and selling this cryptocurrency, but not many of them have the trust of the bitcoin community for at least one reason — poor user experience design practices. Coinbase, on the other hand, has been able to accomplish this goal by establishing user friendly usability practices that are listed below:

Visibility of System Status

The navigation bar categories are underlined when the user hovers over and clicks on them. Hovering over the price chart graph changes price to its value at a given time. Portfolio price value also change as you move the mouse left or right. CTA button color changes from green to dark green which helps the user understand that the button can be clicked. The system clearly communicates what will happen when user interacts with it.

Match Between System And The Real World

Coinbase avoids using complicated financial terms making it easy for the user to digest information in a simple language. Every cryptocurrency listed on Coinbase has its abbreviated name listed next to it. That way when users see it, they don’t have to wonder what it stands for.

User Control And Error Prevention

When buying a new cryptocurrency, not only does Coinbase allow to preview purchase before committing to it, but also provides back undo arrows in case the user wants to leave the unwanted state without having to go through trouble of trying to cancel transaction later.

Consistency And Standards

Coinbase uses industry standards for abbreviating cryptocurrencies in accordance with the universal platform conventions such BTC (for Bitcoin), ETH (for Ethereum).

Recognition Rather Than Recall

Coinbase minimizes the user’s memory load by making navigation items visible at all times. The user can easily switch back and forth between different sections of the navigation bar.

Flexibility And Efficiency Of Use

The system can cater to both inexperienced and experienced users. New users can comfortably make their first trading operation, since all their steps are accompanied by the convenient hints. Experienced users will also appreciate the new functionality for the digital asset trading.

Aesthetic And Minimalist Design

Coinbase navigation bar only contain information relevant to buying and selling cryptocurrency for better visibility. Another feature that makes it more visually appealing is the limited use of color and using predominantly one color across all pages. That color is blue. This color conveys depth, confidence, trust and stability.

Help And Documentation

Even though it is better if the system can be used without documentation, it may be necessary to provide help and documentation. Any such information should be easy to search, focused on the user’s task, list concrete steps to be carried out, and not be too large.

Accessibility

To start off, the users can find themselves squinting to read the text. The font is small and light grey color seems faded. This choice of typography doesn’t help improve experience for the users with visual disabilities.

On the other hand, it does use images along with the text to help users recognize the information they are looking for such as chart graphs, cryptocurrency symbols and actionable icons.

Coinbase user interface design is predictable. There is no guessing game on how elements look like on different pages. They appear in the same order and place on each page.

Coinbase informs the user of an error made states and explains what went wrong and how they can fix the error state.

Overall, I think Coinbase provides a clear and engaging introduction to buying and selling Bitcoin. With Coinbase team focusing on organized structure, clear information and modern design, it helps make the mysterious world of Bitcoin less intimidating.