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Top Low Cap Altcoins of 2024 - Token Metrics Moon Awards

Discover the top low-cap altcoins for 2024 with the Token Metrics Moon Awards. Uncover the popular and top-voted hidden gems set for substantial growth.
Token Metrics Team
11 Minutes
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Welcome to the Token Metrics Moon Awards, a prestigious accolade in the cryptocurrency industry, recognizing platforms and projects that have made substantial contributions to the space. 

As a data-driven investment research platform, Token Metrics meticulously conducts these awards to acknowledge the best crypto platforms of the year, utilizing extensive survey data from its robust crypto community.

Today, we will look into a new category of Moon Awards and honor the top Low-cap Altcoins projects of 2024 that have garnered significant support from crypto enthusiasts and investors in our survey.

How We Select These Low-cap Altcoins?

At Token Metrics, we highly value our audience and consider them our most valuable asset. This community-driven approach ensures that the awards reflect real-world opinions and experiences of crypto enthusiasts. 

Through the Moon Awards, Token Metrics amplifies the voice of its community, offering a transparent and user-centric evaluation of platforms that are driving the industry forward.

In collaboration with our community members and users' votes, we have curated a comprehensive list of the top Low-cap Altcoins 2024 based on survey input and votes.

In this article, we will explore the best Low-cap Altcoins that have great potential. These projects have been carefully selected based on their technology, potential, and community votes. We'll dive deep into each project, highlighting their unique features and the reasons why they deserve your attention.

Low-cap Altcoins - An Overview

Low-cap Altcoins refers to alternative cryptocurrencies with relatively low market capitalization compared to larger, more established digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. These coins are often considered high-risk, high-reward investments due to their potential for significant price swings.

While Low-cap Altcoins can offer substantial returns, they also carry greater volatility and liquidity risks. Investors are drawn to these assets for their potential to outperform larger cryptocurrencies, albeit with higher uncertainty. 

Researching the technology, team, and use case of Low-cap Altcoins is crucial before considering the investment, as thorough due diligence is essential in this often speculative market.

List of Top Low-cap Altcoins of 2024

Top Low Cap Altcoins 2024 - Token Metrics Moon Awards
Resource - Token Metrics Moon Awards

1. Astra DAO

In the Moon Awards survey, Astra DAO secured the top position with 21.8% of the total votes.

Astra DAO is a blockchain platform that offers crypto indices and launchpads. With its exclusive partnership with Token Metrics, Astra DAO provides investors with access to AI indices and curated token sales. 

As a Token Metrics Ventures portfolio company, Astra DAO has the backing of experienced investors and a strong network. 

With a low market cap of $6 million, Astra DAO presents an opportunity for early investors looking to capitalize on the growing demand for crypto indices and curated token sales. The platform's unique features and strategic partnerships make it an attractive investment option.

2. GameSwift

In the Moon Awards survey, GameSwift secured the 2nd position with 12.7% of the total votes.

GameSwift is a Token Metrics Ventures portfolio company that has seen remarkable growth. With a 50x return in just one year, GameSwift is a prime example of the potential of Low-cap Altcoins. 

The project aims to revolutionize the gaming industry by leveraging blockchain technology. With its innovative approach, GameSwift has gained traction in the market and offers investors the opportunity to be part of the gaming revolution. 

While the gaming industry is highly competitive, GameSwift's early success and strong fundamentals make it a promising investment.

3. Connext

In the Moon Awards survey, Connext secured the 3rd position with 11.6% of the total votes.

Connext is an Altcoin that has garnered considerable attention in the cryptocurrency market. It stands out due to its unique approach to decentralized finance (DeFi) and offers users a seamless and efficient way to transact and interact with digital assets. 

By utilizing layer-two scaling solutions, Connext addresses the scalability challenges faced by blockchain networks, resulting in faster and more cost-effective transactions. 

Moreover, Connext's architecture enables cross-chain compatibility, allowing for the smooth transfer of assets between different blockchains. With a dedicated team and a forward-thinking roadmap, Connext has the potential to make a significant impact on the decentralized finance landscape.

4. SuiPad

In the Moon Awards survey, SuiPad secured the 4th position with 8% of the total votes.

SuiPad is a launchpad built on the Sui blockchain, offering exposure to the Sui ecosystem. With a market cap of just $2 million, SuiPad is a high-risk, high-reward investment opportunity. 

The project allows users to participate in token sales and get involved in the Sui ecosystem's growth. With a strong investor list, including NGC Ventures and Cogitent Ventures, SuiPad has the potential to attract quality projects and provide investors with access to promising token sales. 

While this investment carries significant risk, SuiPad offers a unique opportunity to be part of the Sui ecosystem's success.

5. SuiSwap

In the Moon Awards survey, Suiswap secured the 5th position with 5.9% of the total votes.

Suiswap is a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange operating on the SUI blockchain, focusing on providing a secure, efficient, and user-friendly platform for cryptocurrency trading.

It aims to overcome the limitations of traditional centralized exchanges by leveraging blockchain technology for peer-to-peer transactions. The platform's native token, SSWP, holds key functions within the Suiswap ecosystem:

The SSWP token holders have the ability to influence the platform's direction through governance votes on operational and developmental proposals. Additionally, users providing liquidity are rewarded with SSWP tokens, enhancing the trading experience. 

Token holders can also stake SSWP for rewards, aiming to promote platform stability. Furthermore, SSWP tokens will be utilized for transaction fees in the SUI blockchain, thereby enriching their value.

Suiswap aims to be a sustainable protocol contributing to the broader SUI blockchain ecosystem, offering a unique decentralized trading experience.

6. Eclipse Fi

In the Moon Awards survey, Eclipse Fi secured the 6th position with 4.9% of the total votes.

Eclipse Fi is a modular launch and liquidity solution designed to transform token launches and support innovation on the Cosmos platform and beyond. This innovative protocol is ushering in a new era for sustainable token launches and community-aligned token distribution.

Despite its relatively low market cap of around $6 million, Eclipse Fi has already demonstrated significant growth potential, positioning itself as a promising but risky investment opportunity within the evolving landscape of token launches and liquidity solutions.

7. Joystream

In the Moon Awards survey, Joystream secured the 7th position with 4.1% of the total votes.

Joystream is a blockchain video platform and DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) that aims to revolutionize content creation and sharing. 

With its market cap hovering around $37 million, this low-cap gem has already shown significant growth potential. Joystream allows creators to earn revenue by sharing their videos and offers video NFTs for added value. 

By competing with traditional video platforms like YouTube and Theta, Joystream aims to disrupt the industry with its innovative approach. With a technology score of 75% JoyStream presents an exciting opportunity for investors seeking exposure to the booming video and NFT markets.

8. Velas

In the Moon Awards survey, Velas secured the 8th position with 3.5% of the total votes.

Velas stands out as the leading EVM Blockchain globally, boasting an unparalleled transaction speed of up to 75,000 transactions per second, all processed instantaneously and with the highest level of security at an almost negligible cost. 

The Velas Ecosystem comprises decentralized products that leverage its blockchain to deliver a seamless user experience with decentralized, open-source offerings.

Despite its current market cap of approximately $55 million, Velas has shown remarkable growth potential, solidifying its position as a promising investment opportunity in the ever-evolving crypto space.

9. Iron Fish

In the Moon Awards survey, Iron Fish secured the 9th position with 3.1% of the total votes.

Iron Fish is a privacy coin that has gained attention due to its strong backing from top VCs like A16Z and Sequoia Capital. With a market cap of $25 million, this Low-cap Altcoin offers an opportunity for investors looking for privacy-focused projects. 

Iron Fish leverages zero-knowledge technology to ensure anonymity and security for transactions. While it may not surpass established privacy coins like Monero, Iron Fish's solid technology score of 85% makes it an intriguing investment option.

10. Script Network

In the Moon Awards survey, Script Network secured the 10th position with 2.8% of the total votes.

Script Network, a 24/7 free-to-air television platform, operates on Script blockchain, offering Script TV and Script Video NFTs. Its diverse content spans film, sports, and documentaries across 30+ channels. 

Users can earn rewards on and off-chain by watching TV and participating in the network as a node. It features dual tokens - SCPT for governance and SPAY for transactions. 

With a market capitalization of approximately $3 million, Script Network shows promising growth potential, positioning itself as an appealing investment prospect in the dynamic cryptocurrency sector.

11. Nexa

In the Moon Awards survey, Nexa secured the 11th position with 2.6% of the total votes.

Nexa is a scalable layer one blockchain that supports EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) contracts. With its market cap under $60 million, Nexa is primed for growth. 

It aims to be the next-generation Ethereum, offering a solution for decentralized applications that require scalability and efficiency. 

Competing with established projects like Ethereum Classic, Nexa has a solid technology score of 81%, making it an intriguing investment opportunity.

12. Swarm Markets

In the Moon Awards survey, Swarm Markets secured the 12th position with 2.2% of the total votes.

Swarm Markets is a regulated blockchain platform that enables tokenizing and trading real-world assets. With a market cap of $17 million, this Low-cap Altcoin has significant growth potential. 

Swarm Markets aims to disrupt traditional financial markets by providing a decentralized asset tokenization and trading solution. 

With a technology score of 81% and a strong narrative around real-world assets, Swarm Markets presents an exciting opportunity for investors looking to tap into the growing demand for tokenized assets.

13. Picasso

In the Moon Awards survey, Picasso secured the 13th position with 2% of the total votes.

Picasso and PICA play significant roles in the expanding ecosystem and future of Composable. PICA is the native token for two blockchains - Picasso on Kusama and the Composable Cosmos Chain on Cosmos.

PICA functions as the token that powers cross-ecosystem IBC. For instance, Picasso currently facilitates cross-ecosystem IBC transfer activities between the Polkadot, Kusama, and Cosmos ecosystems. Plans to connect other ecosystems, such as Ethereum and Solana, present a substantial value proposition.

With a current market capitalization of approximately $62 million, Picasso has displayed considerable potential for growth, solidifying its position as an appealing investment opportunity.

14. Across Protocol

In the Moon Awards survey, Across Protocol secured the 14th position with 1.9% of the total votes.

Across Protocol is a cross-chain bridge for L2s, and rollups are secured by UMA's optimistic oracle, ensuring transaction accuracy. It prioritizes capital efficiency with a single liquidity pool and a competitive relayer landscape. 

The protocol's interest rate fee model and one liquidity pool design lower user costs and increase liquidity provider yields. By keeping the majority of its LP assets on the secure L1 mainnet, Across operates bots to rebalance assets between destinations. 

It leverages a permissionless relayer ecosystem, enabling faster asset bridging and healthy competition. Utilizing UMA's optimistic oracle, Across ensures transaction correctness and employs smart asset management to maintain price balance without relying solely on arbitrageurs.

With a current market capitalization of around $17 million, Across has demonstrated significant potential for growth, consolidating its standing as an attractive investment prospect within the continuously evolving cryptocurrency sector.

15. Nolus

In the Moon Awards survey, Nolus secured the 15th position with 1.6% of the total votes.

Nolus is a DeFi borrowing and lending platform that stands out from the crowd. With a market cap of $7 million, this Low-cap Altcoin can potentially deliver significant returns. Nolus allows users to borrow more than 150% of their collateral, thanks to its unique closed ecosystem built on the Cosmos network. 

With Cosmos being one of the most promising ecosystems in the crypto space, Nolus offers exposure to the growing DeFi market within this thriving ecosystem. 

With a technology score of 81% and a base case ROI prediction of 50x, Nolus presents an attractive opportunity for investors looking to capitalize on the DeFi lending and borrowing trend.

16. Taraxa

In the Moon Awards survey, Taraxa secured the 16th position with 1.6% of the total votes.

Taraxa is an EVM-compatible smart contract platform that focuses on solving real-world problems. With a market cap of $61 million, this Low-cap Altcoin has huge growth potential. 

The project utilizes a block DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph) for Web3, enabling developers to build scalable decentralized applications. 

With a solid technology score of 81%, Taraxa offers investors the opportunity to be part of a project that aims to drive blockchain adoption in practical use cases.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the crypto market is filled with opportunities for investors willing to explore beyond the mainstream cryptocurrencies. 

These best Low-cap Altcoins with high growth potential offer a chance to multiply your investment and be part of the next big thing in the crypto world. 

However, it's important to remember that investing in cryptocurrencies carries risks, and thorough research and due diligence are essential.

Disclaimer

The information provided on this website does not constitute investment advice, financial advice, trading advice, or any other advice, and you should not treat any of the website's content as such.

Token Metrics does not recommend buying, selling, or holding any cryptocurrency. Conduct your due diligence and consult your financial advisor before making investment decisions.

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About Token Metrics
Token Metrics: AI-powered crypto research and ratings platform. We help investors make smarter decisions with unbiased Token Metrics Ratings, on-chain analytics, and editor-curated “Top 10” guides. Our platform distills thousands of data points into clear scores, trends, and alerts you can act on.
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Research

Why Is Web3 UX Still Poor Compared to Web2? Understanding the Challenges in 2025

Token Metrics Team
12

Web3 promises to revolutionize the internet by decentralizing control, empowering users with data ownership, and eliminating middlemen. The technology offers improved security, higher user autonomy, and innovative ways to interact with digital assets. With the Web3 market value expected to reach $81.5 billion by 2030, the potential seems limitless. Yet anyone who’s interacted with blockchain products knows the uncomfortable truth: Web3 user experience often feels more like punishment than promise. From nerve-wracking first crypto transactions to confusing wallet popups and sudden unexplained fees, Web3 products still have a long way to go before achieving mainstream adoption. If you ask anyone in Web3 what the biggest hurdle for mass adoption is, UX is more than likely to be the answer.

This comprehensive guide explores why Web3 UX remains significantly inferior to Web2 experiences in 2025, examining the core challenges, their implications, and how platforms like Token Metrics are bridging the gap between blockchain complexity and user-friendly crypto investing.

The Fundamental UX Gap: Web2 vs Web3

To understand Web3's UX challenges, we must first recognize what users expect based on decades of Web2 evolution. Web2, the "read-write" web that started in 2004, enhanced internet engagement through user-generated content, social media platforms, and cloud-based services with intuitive interfaces that billions use daily without thought.

Web2 applications provide seamless experiences: one-click logins via Google or Facebook, instant account recovery through email, predictable transaction costs, and familiar interaction patterns across platforms. Users have become accustomed to frictionless digital experiences that just work.

Web3, by contrast, introduces entirely new paradigms requiring users to manage cryptographic wallets, understand blockchain concepts, navigate multiple networks, pay variable gas fees, and take full custody of their assets. This represents a fundamental departure from familiar patterns, creating immediate friction.

Core Challenges Plaguing Web3 UX

  1. Complex Onboarding and Wallet Setup
  2. The first interaction with most decentralized applications asks users to "Connect Wallet." If you don't have MetaMask or another compatible wallet, you're stuck before even beginning. This creates an enormous barrier to entry where Web2 simply asks for an email address.

    Setting up a Web3 wallet requires understanding seed phrases—12 to 24 random words that serve as the master key to all assets. Users must write these down, store them securely, and never lose them, as there's no "forgot password" option. One mistake means permanent loss of funds.

    Most DeFi platforms and crypto wallets nowadays still have cumbersome and confusing interfaces for wallet creation and management. The registration process, which in Web2 takes seconds through social login options, becomes a multi-step educational journey in Web3.

  3. Technical Jargon and Blockchain Complexity
  4. Most challenges in UX/UI design for blockchain stem from lack of understanding of the technology among new users, designers, and industry leaders. Crypto jargon and complex concepts of the decentralized web make it difficult to grasp product value and master new ways to manage funds.

    Getting typical users to understand complicated blockchain ideas represents one of the main design challenges. Concepts like wallets, gas fees, smart contracts, and private keys must be streamlined without compromising security or usefulness—a delicate balance few projects achieve successfully.

    The blockchain itself is a complex theory requiring significant learning to fully understand. Web3 tries converting this specialized domain knowledge into generalist applications where novices should complete tasks successfully. When blockchain products first started being developed, most were created by experts for experts, resulting in products with extreme pain points, accessibility problems, and complex user flows.

  5. Multi-Chain Fragmentation and Network Switching
  6. Another common headache in Web3 is managing assets and applications across multiple blockchains. Today, it's not uncommon for users to interact with Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, or several Layer 2 solutions—all in a single session.

    Unfortunately, most products require users to manually switch networks in wallets, manually add new networks, or rely on separate bridges to transfer assets. This creates fragmented and confusing experiences where users must understand which network each asset lives on and how to move between them.

    Making users distinguish between different networks creates unnecessary cognitive burden. In Web2, users never think about which server hosts their data—it just works. Web3 forces constant network awareness, breaking the illusion of seamless interaction.

  7. Unpredictable and Confusing Gas Fees
  8. Transaction costs in Web3 are variable, unpredictable, and often shockingly expensive. Users encounter sudden, unexplained fees that can range from cents to hundreds of dollars depending on network congestion. There's no way to know costs precisely before initiating transactions, creating anxiety and hesitation.

    Web3 experiences generally run on public chains, leading to scalability problems as multiple parties make throughput requests. The more transactions that occur, the higher gas fees become—an unsustainable model as more users adopt applications.

    Users shouldn't have to worry about paying high gas fees as transaction costs. Web2 transactions happen at predictable costs or are free to users, with businesses absorbing payment processing fees. Web3's variable cost structure creates friction at every transaction.

  9. Irreversible Transactions and Error Consequences
  10. In Web2, mistakes are forgivable. Sent money to the wrong person? Contact support. Made a typo? Edit or cancel. Web3 offers no such mercy. Blockchain's immutability means transactions are permanent—send crypto to the wrong address and it's gone forever.

    This creates enormous anxiety around every action. Users must triple-check addresses (long hexadecimal strings impossible to memorize), verify transaction details, and understand that one mistake could cost thousands. The nerve-wracking experience of making first crypto transactions drives many users away permanently.

  11. Lack of Customer Support and Recourse
  12. Web2 platforms offer customer service: live chat, email support, phone numbers, and dispute resolution processes. Web3's decentralized nature eliminates these safety nets. There's no one to call when things go wrong, no company to reverse fraudulent transactions, no support ticket system to resolve issues.

    This absence of recourse amplifies fear and reduces trust. Users accustomed to consumer protections find Web3's "code is law" philosophy terrifying rather than empowering, especially when their money is at stake.

  13. Poor Error Handling and Feedback
  14. Web3 applications often provide cryptic error messages that technical users struggle to understand, let alone mainstream audiences. "Transaction failed" without explanation, "insufficient gas" without context, or blockchain-specific error codes mean nothing to average users.

    Good UX requires clear, actionable feedback. Web2 applications excel at this—telling users exactly what went wrong and how to fix it. Web3 frequently leaves users confused, frustrated, and unable to progress.

  15. Inconsistent Design Patterns and Standards
  16. Crypto designs are easily recognizable by dark backgrounds, pixel art, and Web3 color palettes. But when hundreds of products have the same mysterious look, standing out while maintaining blockchain identity becomes challenging.

    More problematically, there are no established UX patterns for Web3 interactions. Unlike Web2, where conventions like hamburger menus, shopping carts, and navigation patterns are universal, Web3 reinvents wheels constantly. Every application handles wallet connections, transaction confirmations, and network switching differently, forcing users to relearn basic interactions repeatedly.

  17. Developer-Driven Rather Than User-Centric Design
  18. The problem with most DeFi startups and Web3 applications is that they're fundamentally developer-driven rather than consumer-friendly. When blockchain products first launched, they were created by technical experts who didn't invest effort in user experience and usability.

    This technical-first approach persists today. Products prioritize blockchain purity, decentralization orthodoxy, and feature completeness over simplicity and accessibility. The result: powerful tools that only experts can use, excluding the masses these technologies purportedly serve.

  19. Privacy Concerns in User Research
  20. The Web3 revolution caught UI/UX designers by surprise. The Web3 community values privacy and anonymity, making traditional user research challenging. How do you design for someone you don't know and who deliberately stays anonymous?

    Researching without compromising user privacy becomes complex, yet dedicating time to deep user exploration remains essential for building products that resonate with actual needs rather than developer assumptions.

Why These Challenges Persist in 2025

Despite years of development and billions in funding, Web3 UX remains problematic for several structural reasons:

  • Technical Constraints: Blockchain's decentralized architecture inherently creates friction. Distributed consensus, cryptographic security, and immutability—the features making Web3 valuable—also make it complex.
  • Rapid Evolution: Due to rapid progress in Web3 technology, UX designers face unique challenges building interfaces that can adapt to new standards, protocols, and developments without complete redesigns. They must plan for future innovations while maintaining consistent experiences.
  • Limited UX Talent: Many UX designers still aren't into Web3, making it hard to understand and convey the value of innovative crypto products. The talent gap between Web2 UX expertise and Web3 understanding creates suboptimal design outcomes.
  • Economic Incentives: Early Web3 projects targeted crypto-native users who tolerated poor UX for technology benefits. Building for mainstream users requires different priorities and investments that many projects defer.

The Path Forward: Solutions Emerging in 2025

Despite challenges, innovative solutions are emerging to bridge the Web3 UX gap:

  • Account Abstraction and Smart Wallets: Modern crypto wallets embrace account abstraction enabling social recovery (using trusted contacts to restore access), seedless wallet creation via Multi-Party Computation, and biometric logins. These features make self-custody accessible without sacrificing security.
  • Email-Based Onboarding: Forward-looking approaches use email address credentials tied to Web3 wallets. Companies like Magic and Web3Auth create non-custodial wallets behind familiar email login interfaces using multi-party compute techniques, removing seed phrases from user experiences entirely.
  • Gasless Transactions: Some platforms absorb transaction costs or implement Layer 2 solutions dramatically reducing fees, creating predictable cost structures similar to Web2.
  • Unified Interfaces: Progressive platforms abstract blockchain complexity, presenting familiar Web2-like experiences while handling Web3 mechanics behind the scenes. Users interact through recognizable patterns without needing to understand underlying technology.

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Bridging Complexity with User-Friendly Analytics

While many Web3 UX challenges persist, platforms like Token Metrics demonstrate that sophisticated blockchain functionality can coexist with excellent user experience. Token Metrics has established itself as a leading crypto trading and analytics platform by prioritizing usability without sacrificing power.

Intuitive Interface for Complex Analysis

Token Metrics provides personalized crypto research and predictions powered by AI through interfaces that feel familiar to anyone who's used financial applications. Rather than forcing users to understand blockchain intricacies, Token Metrics abstracts complexity while delivering actionable insights.

The platform assigns each cryptocurrency both Trader Grade and Investor Grade scores—simple metrics that encapsulate complex analysis including code quality, security audits, development activity, and market dynamics. Users get sophisticated intelligence without needing blockchain expertise.

Eliminating Technical Barriers

  • No Wallet Required for Research: Users can access powerful analytics without connecting wallets, eliminating the primary barrier to entry plaguing most DeFi applications.
  • Clear, Actionable Information: Instead of cryptic blockchain data, Token Metrics presents human-readable insights with clear recommendations. Users understand what actions to take without decoding technical jargon.
  • Predictable Experience: The platform maintains consistent interaction patterns familiar to anyone who's used trading or analytics tools, applying Jakob's Law—users have same expectations visiting similar sites, reducing learning strain.

Real-Time Alerts Without Complexity

Token Metrics monitors thousands of cryptocurrencies continuously, providing real-time alerts via email, SMS, or messaging apps about significant developments. Users stay informed without monitoring blockchain explorers, understanding gas prices, or navigating complex interfaces. This separation between sophisticated monitoring and simple notification demonstrates how Web3 functionality can deliver value through Web2-familiar channels.

Integrated Trading Experience

Token Metrics launched integrated trading in 2025, transforming the platform into an end-to-end solution where users analyze opportunities and execute trades without leaving the ecosystem. This unified experience eliminates the multi-platform juggling typical of Web3 investing. The seamless connection between analytics and execution showcases how thoughtful UX design bridges blockchain capabilities with user expectations, proving that Web3 doesn't require sacrificing usability.

Educational Without Overwhelming

Token Metrics provides educational resources helping users understand crypto markets without forcing deep technical knowledge. The platform demystifies complex topics through accessible explanations, gradually building user confidence and competence. This approach recognizes that mainstream adoption requires meeting users where they are—not demanding they become blockchain experts before participating.

The Future of Web3 UX

The ultimate success of Web3 hinges on user experience. No matter how revolutionary the technology, it will remain niche if everyday people find it too confusing, intimidating, or frustrating. Gaming, FinTech, digital identity, social media, and publishing will likely become Web3-enabled within the next 5 to 10 years—but only if UX improves dramatically.

UX as Competitive Advantage: Companies embracing UX early see fewer usability issues, higher retention, and more engaged users. UX-driven companies continually test assumptions, prototype features, and prioritize user-centric metrics like ease-of-use, task completion rates, and satisfaction—core measures of Web3 product success.

Design as Education: Highly comprehensive Web3 design helps educate newcomers, deliver effortless experiences, and build trust in technology. Design becomes the bridge between innovation and adoption.

Convergence with Web2 Patterns: Successful Web3 applications increasingly adopt familiar Web2 patterns while maintaining decentralized benefits underneath. This convergence represents the path to mass adoption—making blockchain invisible to end users who benefit from its properties without confronting its complexity.

Conclusion: From Barrier to Bridge

Web3 UX remains significantly inferior to Web2 in 2025 due to fundamental challenges: complex onboarding, technical jargon, multi-chain fragmentation, unpredictable fees, irreversible errors, lack of support, poor feedback, inconsistent patterns, developer-centric design, and constrained user research. These aren't superficial problems solvable through better visual design—they stem from blockchain's architectural realities and the ecosystem's technical origins. However, they're also not insurmountable. Innovative solutions like account abstraction, email-based onboarding, gasless transactions, and unified interfaces are emerging.

Platforms like Token Metrics demonstrate that Web3 functionality can deliver through Web2-familiar experiences. By prioritizing user needs over technical purity, abstracting complexity without sacrificing capability, and maintaining intuitive interfaces, Token Metrics shows the path forward for the entire ecosystem.

For Web3 to achieve its transformative potential, designers and developers must embrace user-centric principles, continuously adapting to users' needs rather than forcing users to adapt to technology. The future belongs to platforms that make blockchain invisible—where users experience benefits without confronting complexity. As we progress through 2025, the gap between Web2 and Web3 UX will narrow, driven by competition for mainstream users, maturing design standards, and recognition that accessibility determines success. The question isn't whether Web3 UX will improve—it's whether improvements arrive fast enough to capture the massive opportunity awaiting blockchain technology.

For investors navigating this evolving landscape, leveraging platforms like Token Metrics that prioritize usability alongside sophistication provides a glimpse of Web3's user-friendly future—where powerful blockchain capabilities enhance lives without requiring technical expertise, patience, or tolerance for poor design.

Research

Why Is Web3 UX Still Poor Compared to Web2? Understanding the Challenges in 2025

Token Metrics Team
1

Web3 promises to revolutionize the internet by decentralizing control, empowering users with data ownership, and eliminating middlemen. The technology offers improved security, higher user autonomy, and innovative ways to interact with digital assets. With the Web3 market value expected to reach $81.5 billion by 2030, the potential seems limitless. Yet anyone who's interacted with blockchain products knows the uncomfortable truth: Web3 user experience often feels more like punishment than promise. From nerve-wracking first crypto transactions to confusing wallet popups and sudden unexplained fees, Web3 products still have a long way to go before achieving mainstream adoption. If you ask anyone in Web3 what the biggest hurdle for mass adoption is, UX is more than likely to be the answer. This comprehensive guide explores why Web3 UX remains significantly inferior to Web2 experiences in 2025, examining the core challenges, their implications, and how platforms like Token Metrics are bridging the gap between blockchain complexity and user-friendly crypto investing.

Research

Why Is Web3 UX Still Poor Compared to Web2? Understanding the Challenges in 2025

Token Metrics Team
12

Web3 promises to revolutionize the internet by decentralizing control, empowering users with data ownership, and eliminating middlemen. The technology offers improved security, higher user autonomy, and innovative ways to interact with digital assets. With the Web3 market value expected to reach $81.5 billion by 2030, the potential seems limitless.

Yet anyone who's interacted with blockchain products knows the uncomfortable truth: Web3 user experience often feels more like punishment than promise. From nerve-wracking first crypto transactions to confusing wallet popups and sudden unexplained fees, Web3 products still have a long way to go before achieving mainstream adoption. If you ask anyone in Web3 what the biggest hurdle for mass adoption is, UX is more than likely to be the answer.

This comprehensive guide explores why Web3 UX remains significantly inferior to Web2 experiences in 2025, examining the core challenges, their implications, and how platforms like Token Metrics are bridging the gap between blockchain complexity and user-friendly crypto investing.

The Fundamental UX Gap: Web2 vs Web3

To understand Web3's UX challenges, we must first recognize what users expect based on decades of Web2 evolution. Web2, the "read-write" web that started in 2004, enhanced internet engagement through user-generated content, social media platforms, and cloud-based services with intuitive interfaces that billions use daily without thought.

Web2 applications provide seamless experiences: one-click logins via Google or Facebook, instant account recovery through email, predictable transaction costs, and familiar interaction patterns across platforms. Users have become accustomed to frictionless digital experiences that just work.

Web3, by contrast, introduces entirely new paradigms requiring users to manage cryptographic wallets, understand blockchain concepts, navigate multiple networks, pay variable gas fees, and take full custody of their assets. This represents a fundamental departure from familiar patterns, creating immediate friction.

Core Challenges Plaguing Web3 UX

1. Complex Onboarding and Wallet Setup

The first interaction with most decentralized applications asks users to "Connect Wallet." If you don't have MetaMask or another compatible wallet, you're stuck before even beginning. This creates an enormous barrier to entry where Web2 simply asks for an email address.

Setting up a Web3 wallet requires understanding seed phrases—12 to 24 random words that serve as the master key to all assets. Users must write these down, store them securely, and never lose them, as there's no "forgot password" option. One mistake means permanent loss of funds.

Most DeFi platforms and crypto wallets nowadays still have cumbersome and confusing interfaces for wallet creation and management. The registration process, which in Web2 takes seconds through social login options, becomes a multi-step educational journey in Web3.

2. Technical Jargon and Blockchain Complexity

Most challenges in UX/UI design for blockchain stem from lack of understanding of the technology among new users, designers, and industry leaders. Crypto jargon and complex concepts of the decentralized web make it difficult to grasp product value and master new ways to manage funds.

Getting typical users to understand complicated blockchain ideas represents one of the main design challenges. Concepts like wallets, gas fees, smart contracts, and private keys must be streamlined without compromising security or usefulness—a delicate balance few projects achieve successfully.

The blockchain itself is a complex theory requiring significant learning to fully understand. Web3 tries converting this specialized domain knowledge into generalist applications where novices should complete tasks successfully. When blockchain products first started being developed, most were created by experts for experts, resulting in products with extreme pain points, accessibility problems, and complex user flows.

3. Multi-Chain Fragmentation and Network Switching

Another common headache in Web3 is managing assets and applications across multiple blockchains. Today, it's not uncommon for users to interact with Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, or several Layer 2 solutions—all in a single session.

Unfortunately, most products require users to manually switch networks in wallets, manually add new networks, or rely on separate bridges to transfer assets. This creates fragmented and confusing experiences where users must understand which network each asset lives on and how to move between them.

Making users distinguish between different networks creates unnecessary cognitive burden. In Web2, users never think about which server hosts their data—it just works. Web3 forces constant network awareness, breaking the illusion of seamless interaction.

4. Unpredictable and Confusing Gas Fees

Transaction costs in Web3 are variable, unpredictable, and often shockingly expensive. Users encounter sudden, unexplained fees that can range from cents to hundreds of dollars depending on network congestion. There's no way to know costs precisely before initiating transactions, creating anxiety and hesitation.

Web3 experiences generally run on public chains, leading to scalability problems as multiple parties make throughput requests. The more transactions that occur, the higher gas fees become—an unsustainable model as more users adopt applications.

Users shouldn't have to worry about paying high gas fees as transaction costs. Web2 transactions happen at predictable costs or are free to users, with businesses absorbing payment processing fees. Web3's variable cost structure creates friction at every transaction.

5. Irreversible Transactions and Error Consequences

In Web2, mistakes are forgivable. Sent money to the wrong person? Contact support. Made a typo? Edit or cancel. Web3 offers no such mercy. Blockchain's immutability means transactions are permanent—send crypto to the wrong address and it's gone forever.

This creates enormous anxiety around every action. Users must triple-check addresses (long hexadecimal strings impossible to memorize), verify transaction details, and understand that one mistake could cost thousands. The nerve-wracking experience of making first crypto transactions drives many users away permanently.

6. Lack of Customer Support and Recourse

Web2 platforms offer customer service: live chat, email support, phone numbers, and dispute resolution processes. Web3's decentralized nature eliminates these safety nets. There's no one to call when things go wrong, no company to reverse fraudulent transactions, no support ticket system to resolve issues.

This absence of recourse amplifies fear and reduces trust. Users accustomed to consumer protections find Web3's "code is law" philosophy terrifying rather than empowering, especially when their money is at stake.

7. Poor Error Handling and Feedback

Web3 applications often provide cryptic error messages that technical users struggle to understand, let alone mainstream audiences. "Transaction failed" without explanation, "insufficient gas" without context, or blockchain-specific error codes mean nothing to average users.

Good UX requires clear, actionable feedback. Web2 applications excel at this—telling users exactly what went wrong and how to fix it. Web3 frequently leaves users confused, frustrated, and unable to progress.

8. Inconsistent Design Patterns and Standards

Crypto designs are easily recognizable by dark backgrounds, pixel art, and Web3 color palettes. But when hundreds of products have the same mysterious look, standing out while maintaining blockchain identity becomes challenging.

More problematically, there are no established UX patterns for Web3 interactions. Unlike Web2, where conventions like hamburger menus, shopping carts, and navigation patterns are universal, Web3 reinvents wheels constantly. Every application handles wallet connections, transaction confirmations, and network switching differently, forcing users to relearn basic interactions repeatedly.

9. Developer-Driven Rather Than User-Centric Design

The problem with most DeFi startups and Web3 applications is that they're fundamentally developer-driven rather than consumer-friendly. When blockchain products first launched, they were created by technical experts who didn't invest effort in user experience and usability.

This technical-first approach persists today. Products prioritize blockchain purity, decentralization orthodoxy, and feature completeness over simplicity and accessibility. The result: powerful tools that only experts can use, excluding the masses these technologies purportedly serve.

10. Privacy Concerns in User Research

The Web3 revolution caught UI/UX designers by surprise. The Web3 community values privacy and anonymity, making traditional user research challenging. How do you design for someone you don't know and who deliberately stays anonymous?

Researching without compromising user privacy becomes complex, yet dedicating time to deep user exploration remains essential for building products that resonate with actual needs rather than developer assumptions.

Why These Challenges Persist in 2025

Despite years of development and billions in funding, Web3 UX remains problematic for several structural reasons:

  • Technical Constraints: Blockchain's decentralized architecture inherently creates friction. Distributed consensus, cryptographic security, and immutability—the features making Web3 valuable—also make it complex.
  • Rapid Evolution: Due to rapid progress in Web3 technology, UX designers face unique challenges building interfaces that can adapt to new standards, protocols, and developments without complete redesigns. They must plan for future innovations while maintaining consistent experiences.
  • Limited UX Talent: Many UX designers still aren't into Web3, making it hard to understand and convey the value of innovative crypto products. The talent gap between Web2 UX expertise and Web3 understanding creates suboptimal design outcomes.
  • Economic Incentives: Early Web3 projects targeted crypto-native users who tolerated poor UX for technology benefits. Building for mainstream users requires different priorities and investments that many projects defer.

The Path Forward: Solutions Emerging in 2025

Despite challenges, innovative solutions are emerging to bridge the Web3 UX gap:

Account Abstraction and Smart Wallets

Modern crypto wallets embrace account abstraction enabling social recovery (using trusted contacts to restore access), seedless wallet creation via Multi-Party Computation, and biometric logins. These features make self-custody accessible without sacrificing security.

Email-Based Onboarding

Forward-looking approaches use email address credentials tied to Web3 wallets. Companies like Magic and Web3Auth create non-custodial wallets behind familiar email login interfaces using multi-party compute techniques, removing seed phrases from user experiences entirely.

Gasless Transactions

Some platforms absorb transaction costs or implement Layer 2 solutions dramatically reducing fees, creating predictable cost structures similar to Web2.

Unified Interfaces

Progressive platforms abstract blockchain complexity, presenting familiar Web2-like experiences while handling Web3 mechanics behind the scenes. Users interact through recognizable patterns without needing to understand underlying technology.

Token Metrics: Bridging Complexity with User-Friendly Analytics

While many Web3 UX challenges persist, platforms like Token Metrics demonstrate that sophisticated blockchain functionality can coexist with excellent user experience. Token Metrics has established itself as a leading crypto trading and analytics platform by prioritizing usability without sacrificing power.

Intuitive Interface for Complex Analysis

Token Metrics provides personalized crypto research and predictions powered by AI through interfaces that feel familiar to anyone who's used financial applications. Rather than forcing users to understand blockchain intricacies, Token Metrics abstracts complexity while delivering actionable insights.

The platform assigns each cryptocurrency both Trader Grade and Investor Grade scores—simple metrics that encapsulate complex analysis including code quality, security audits, development activity, and market dynamics. Users get sophisticated intelligence without needing blockchain expertise.

Eliminating Technical Barriers

Token Metrics removes common Web3 friction points:

  • No Wallet Required for Research: Users can access powerful analytics without connecting wallets, eliminating the primary barrier to entry plaguing most DeFi applications.
  • Clear, Actionable Information: Instead of cryptic blockchain data, Token Metrics presents human-readable insights with clear recommendations. Users understand what actions to take without decoding technical jargon.
  • Predictable Experience: The platform maintains consistent interaction patterns familiar to anyone who's used trading or analytics tools, applying Jakob's Law—users have same expectations visiting similar sites, reducing learning strain.

Real-Time Alerts Without Complexity

Token Metrics monitors thousands of cryptocurrencies continuously, providing real-time alerts via email, SMS, or messaging apps about significant developments. Users stay informed without monitoring blockchain explorers, understanding gas prices, or navigating complex interfaces.

This separation between sophisticated monitoring and simple notification demonstrates how Web3 functionality can deliver value through Web2-familiar channels.

Integrated Trading Experience

Token Metrics launched integrated trading in 2025, transforming the platform into an end-to-end solution where users analyze opportunities and execute trades without leaving the ecosystem. This unified experience eliminates the multi-platform juggling typical of Web3 investing.

This seamless connection between analytics and execution showcases how thoughtful UX design bridges blockchain capabilities with user expectations, proving that Web3 doesn't require sacrificing usability.

Educational Without Overwhelming

Token Metrics provides educational resources helping users understand crypto markets without forcing deep technical knowledge. The platform demystifies complex topics through accessible explanations, gradually building user confidence and competence.

This approach recognizes that mainstream adoption requires meeting users where they are—not demanding they become blockchain experts before participating.

The Future of Web3 UX

The ultimate success of Web3 hinges on user experience. No matter how revolutionary the technology, it will remain niche if everyday people find it too confusing, intimidating, or frustrating. Gaming, FinTech, digital identity, social media, and publishing will likely become Web3-enabled within the next 5 to 10 years—but only if UX improves dramatically.

UX as Competitive Advantage: Companies embracing UX early see fewer usability issues, higher retention, and more engaged users. UX-driven companies continually test assumptions, prototype features, and prioritize user-centric metrics like ease-of-use, task completion rates, and satisfaction—core measures of Web3 product success.

Design as Education: Highly comprehensive Web3 design helps educate newcomers, deliver effortless experiences, and build trust in technology. Design becomes the bridge between innovation and adoption.

Convergence with Web2 Patterns: Successful Web3 applications increasingly adopt familiar Web2 patterns while maintaining decentralized benefits underneath. This convergence represents the path to mass adoption—making blockchain invisible to end users who benefit from its properties without confronting its complexity.

Conclusion: From Barrier to Bridge

Web3 UX remains significantly inferior to Web2 in 2025 due to fundamental challenges: complex onboarding, technical jargon, multi-chain fragmentation, unpredictable fees, irreversible errors, lack of support, poor feedback, inconsistent patterns, developer-centric design, and constrained user research.

These aren’t superficial problems solvable through better visual design—they stem from blockchain’s architectural realities and the ecosystem’s technical origins. However, they are also not insurmountable. Innovative solutions like account abstraction, email-based onboarding, gasless transactions, and unified interfaces are emerging.

Token Metrics demonstrates that Web3 functionality can deliver through Web2-familiar experiences. By prioritizing user needs over technical purity, abstracting complexity without sacrificing capability, and maintaining intuitive interfaces, Token Metrics shows the path forward for the entire ecosystem.

For Web3 to reach its transformative potential, designers and developers must embrace user-centric principles, continuously adapting to users’ needs rather than forcing users to adapt to technology. The future belongs to platforms that make blockchain invisible—where users experience benefits without confronting complexity.

As we progress through 2025, the gap between Web2 and Web3 UX will narrow, driven by competition for mainstream users, maturing design standards, and recognition that accessibility determines success. The question isn’t whether Web3 UX will improve—it's whether improvements arrive fast enough to capture the massive opportunity awaiting blockchain technology.

For investors navigating this evolving landscape, leveraging platforms like Token Metrics that prioritize usability alongside sophistication provides a glimpse of Web3’s user-friendly future—where powerful blockchain capabilities enhance lives without requiring technical expertise, patience, or tolerance for poor design.

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