Making access to Bitcoin easier than ever in Canada

Client
Mogo Financial Technology

Year
2016-2018

Toward the end of 2017, interest in cryptocurrency in Canada was rapidly growing. However, significant risks, challenges, and barriers to entry prevented many potential users from engaging with the technology.

At Mogo, a customer-focused online financial services company, we explored ways to bring value to our platform by addressing these gaps. After extensive research, we decided to introduce a cryptocurrency service—MogoCrypto—to our portfolio of products, designed to simplify access to Bitcoin.

With MogoCrypto, we aimed to simplify the buying and selling of Bitcoin for MogoMembers. We wanted to make it easier and faster for first-time users and those who simply wanted quick access to Bitcoin.

Central to the project was minimizing barriers related to account funding and cashing out, ensuring the process was friction-free.

The product was launched on web, Android, and iOS simultaneously in 2018.

Key focus areas

We prioritized usability by designing an intuitive interface that catered to beginners. A key goal was removing barriers by streamlining funding and cashing out, ensuring seamless transitions within Mogo’s financial services.

Regulatory compliance was a critical factor, so we collaborated with legal teams to meet financial regulations and made changes to the product strategy as needed.

Cross-platform consistency was a addressed by integrating MogoCrypto into the existing app, web dashboards, and design framework - so users had a unified experience across no matter where they accessed from.

In alignment with the UX lead and Art Director, I led research and iteration process by creating comprehensive prototypes that allowed us to test and refine the product continuously.

I independently conducted qualitative studies, gathering insights from users to understand their experiences, pain points, and needs. By taking user feedback and synthesizing it into actionable outputs, the product design strategy pivoted as needed.

Each prototype was rigorously tested through user panels and platforms like InVision and Proto.io, allowing us to refine the user journey step by step.

This cycle of continuous iteration—researching, testing, sharing insights, and refining—ensured that every aspect of MogoCrypto was aligned with user needs while driving toward a seamless, intuitive product experience.

Throughout the development of MogoCrypto, team cohesion and collaboration were critical to our success. While I served as the lead designer, the project was truly a team effort.

I worked closely with our UX lead, writer, and the Art Director to ensure that every aspect of the design was aligned with our broader vision. By regularly consulting with these key stakeholders, as well as the legal, development, and leadership teams, we were able to address challenges and refine the product as a unified group.

This constant collaboration ensured that we met our deadlines and achieved the quality needed for a successful launch. Ultimately, MogoCrypto’s success was driven by the collective efforts of a dedicated team, working together toward a shared goal.

Process

1 Conduct surveys, interviews, and research to understand MogoMembers' cryptocurrency knowledge gaps and preferences.

2 Develop a clear product strategy focused on ease of use, speed, and accessibility while meeting regulatory requirements.

3 Rapidly prototype the dashboard and key flows, testing with user panels and collecting feedback.

4 Engage cross-functional teams (Legal, Dev, UX) to ensure alignment on all aspects of the design and implementation.

5 Execute the launch of MogoCrypto and monitor user engagement, feedback, and KPIs, iterating as necessary.

6 Conduct ongoing A/B testing and user research to optimize the experience, monitoring metrics & success closely - bringing updates to feature enhancements.

The takeaway

Mogo played a crucial role in bringing access to new technology for Canadian users, breaking down the barriers that had kept many on the sidelines.

By designing an intuitive, accessible, and secure platform, we introduced Bitcoin to a new audience and elevated Mogo’s standing as an innovative financial services provider.

Through strategic collaboration with cross-functional teams, meticulous attention to regulatory compliance, a user-first approach, with iterative research and design, we created a seamless experience that catered to first-time users in a truly innovative way.