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Blockchain-Based Stock Trading Platform

End-to-end UX research and product design for a blockchain-enabled stock trading platform, focusing on trust, clarity and accessibility for Indian retail investors.

Independent Fintech MVP · 2025

StockChain dashboard and smart bundles
StockChain digital wallet
Role
UX Researcher & Product Designer
Scope
Discovery → Definition → Prototyping → Testing → High‑fidelity UI
Methods
Interviews, diary study, affinity mapping, Lean UX experiments, testing.
Outcome
SUS 83.3, 100% task success on core trading flows.

Audio Walkthrough for Busy Reviewers

16-minute deep dive into the research process and design decisions

Code on Git Hub

Project Overview

Using Design Thinking, Lean UX and Agile methodologies to translate complex blockchain
capabilities into a familiar trading experience for Indian investors.

Research Process

Understanding how Indian investors trade and what makes them trust digital platforms

Discover (Design Thinking)

Semi-structured Interviews

9 participants: first-time investors, experienced traders, financial advisors

7-Day Diary Study

Real-world frustrations with fees, risk and support in existing apps

Secondary Research

Global platforms, SEBI policies, India's digital infrastructure

Key Personas

Raj, 22, Udaipur

First-time investor, curious but with low financial literacy

Riya, 31, Mumbai

Experienced investor, wary of opaque fees and complex products

What I Learned

Investors struggled to see what happens between order placement and settlement, did not fully understand fees or risk, and found blockchain terminology intimidating rather than reassuring.

Target audience

Young Indian tech-savvy retail investors seeking low-fee, 24/7 blockchain-based stock trading via a simple mobile experience.

Hypothesis & Test (Lean UX)

Key Hypotheses

  • Plain-language blockchain timelines and clear fee breakdowns will increase perceived trust
  • Embedded education will reduce hesitation when using blockchain-enabled features
  • Visible access to human support will make investors more comfortable

Prototyping & Testing

  • Low-fi wireframes for key flows
  • Early UI explorations with UX Pilot & Figma MCP
  • Remote usability tests with realistic tasks

Results

Task success rate on core flows
100%
SUS score (System Usability Scale)
83.3
Preferred hybrid support model
88%

Key Insights

Critical learnings that shaped the design direction

Transparency ≠ Trust Alone

Blockchain logs built credibility only when translated into human-readable timelines and paired with familiar UI patterns.

Hybrid Models Win

Digital platforms alone could not replace human reassurance; participants wanted clear regulatory structures behind the interface.

Education is Design

Glossaries, guided tours and progressive disclosure turned blockchain from intimidating to approachable by explaining concepts at the moment of need.

Inclusion is Contextual

Low-bandwidth modes, mobile-first layouts and multilingual UIs were essential for investors in Tier II/III cities with varied connectivity and literacy.

Core Idea

  1. Fractional Ownership

    Each traditional share is split into many on-chain tokens, allowing you to buy small portions instead of full shares.

  2. Familiar Interface

    The interface looks like a regular trading app. Blockchain technology works behind the scenes for transparency.

  3. Transparent Records

    Every trade and token movement is recorded on the blockchain for complete transparency and security.

Reliance Industries+2.4%₹2,847.50

per share

Token 1₹284.75
Token 2₹284.75
Token 3₹284.75

1 Share = 10 Tokens

How It Works for Users

Simple Trading Process

  1. Choose Your Investment

    Select a curated bundle for beginners or individual stocks for advanced users.

  2. Enter Amount

    Input your investment amount in INR. System converts to tokens based on live stock prices.

  3. Instant Confirmation

    Tokens are minted and blockchain records the transaction. You see a clean confirmation.

  4. Portfolio Management

    View holdings, performance, and gains/losses. Sell or rebalance anytime.

RIL
Reliance Industries3.5 tokens
₹996.63+2.4%
TCS
Tata Consultancy2.1 tokens
₹756.84+1.8%
HDF
HDFC Bank4.8 tokens
₹1,247.52-0.5%
Total Portfolio Value₹3,000.99
Today’s Gain+₹372.12 (12.4%)

Combining traditional trading with blockchain innovation

Lower Entry Barrier

Start investing with any amount. No need to buy full expensive shares.

Blockchain Security

Every transaction is transparent and immutable on the blockchain.

Familiar Experience

Trade like you always have. Blockchain complexity stays hidden.

Design Outcome

From insight to UX solution

User Controlled Wallet

Control

Self-custody offered as an option with strong guardrails: clear recovery flows, warnings before irreversible actions.

Replaced raw blockchain data and transaction id with a plain-language that explains each step from order to settlement.

Result

All participants could locate their transaction state and reported feeling more confident about where their money was.

StockChain digital wallet

Scroll to explore the full screen

Tokenized Stock & Pre-made stock bundle

Tokenization to Blockchain
  • Smart Bundles are curated themed baskets of stocks (like “Tech Giants” or “Green Energy”) that let users invest in a ready-made mix instead of picking each stock individually.
  • Community Voting lets users participate in decisions such as whether to add a specific stock to a bundle, displaying the current vote percentage so investors see what the community prefers before acting.
Impact

Smart Bundles helped users start investing faster with diversified themes, while Community Voting increased engagement and confidence by letting investors see and influence bundle decisions together.

StockChain dashboard and smart bundles

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Compliance and System Health

Compliance
  • Reduced time to verify overall compliance and system health by centralizing key SEBI/RBI and security checks into a single dashboard.
  • Increased stakeholder confidence by making licenses, audits, and ISO certifications visible and always up to date in one place.
  • Improved operational transparency with real-time blockchain ledger visibility, helping teams trace and resolve issues faster.
Results

Users could quickly verify end-to-end compliance and security in one place, reducing effort and uncertainty while feeling more confident and in control of their financial operations.

StockChain compliance center

Scroll to explore the full screen

Guided and Classic modes

Transaction Confidence
  • Simplified trading flow with clear step by step actions
  • Guided and Classic modes supporting beginners and experienced traders
  • Transparent cost breakdown including brokerage and taxes
  • Quick investment presets to reduce decision friction
  • Preview order confirmation to increase transaction confidence
Impact

Users gain clarity and control during trading through transparent costs and a simplified order flow. The interface lowers entry barriers for new investors while maintaining efficiency for experienced traders.

StockChain guided and classic trading

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Verification layer

Verification integration
  • The interface introduces a blockchain transaction hash as a verification layer, allowing users to view the unique record of their trade on the blockchain. This adds transparency to the transaction process and reassures users that the trade is securely recorded and traceable.
  • By integrating the hash within the confirmation screen, users can verify the authenticity of their transaction without leaving the trading flow, strengthening trust in the platform’s underlying system.
StockChain order confirmation and blockchain verification

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Support and Settings

Real-Time Support

Users can quickly access help through multiple support options including AI assistant, live chat, ticket submission, and FAQs.

Real time availability indicators and clear support pathways reduce frustration and make problem resolution faster and more transparent.

Impact

Users found it easier to access help through clearly organised support options such as AI assistance, live chat, and ticket support. This reduced frustration during issues and increased confidence that assistance is available whenever needed.

StockChain support and settings

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KYC Verification

KYC Verification
  • The KYC interface simplifies identity verification by guiding users through a clear three step process: uploading a PAN card, uploading an Aadhaar card, and capturing a live selfie. This structured flow reduces confusion and helps users complete regulatory verification quickly and correctly.
  • Clear upload instructions and visual guidance ensure users understand document requirements, improving completion rates while maintaining compliance with financial verification standards.
StockChain PAN, Aadhaar and live selfie verification

Scroll to explore the full screen

StockChain

StockChain

Brand Name: StockChain

Core Value: Transparency, Security, Fairness

Typography

Open Sans Bold
Open Sans Regular

Colors

#4F46E5
#E5E7EB
#FFFFFF
#F97316
#10B981
#EF4444

Quick Actions

+ Add Funds↑ Withdraw↗ Buy↘ Sell
All SectorsTop GainersTop Losers
Continue

Market Snapshot

Market SnapshotRefresh
NIFTY ↑ 0.8%19,425.35+154.70 pts
SENSEX ↑ 0.7%64,718.56+431.02 pts
↗ Top Gainers

RELIANCE +3.2%

INFY +2.8%

TCS +2.1%

↘ Top Losers

HDFC BANK -1.7%

BHARTI AIRTEL -1.4%

ICICI BANK -0.9%

Total Balance

Total Balance₹24,567.89

+₹1,234 this month

Available₹18,234.56
Locked₹6,333.33
Add FundsBuy StockWatchlistSupport

All · Price Alerts · Orders

AllPrice AlertsOrders
HomeMarketsPortfolioNewsProfile

Banking

Banking₹45,234.56
15 stocks+2.34%
Top: HDFC Bank +3.2%Low: PNB -1.1%
4.2BuyBased on 28 analyst ratings
Buy (18)Hold (6)Sell (4)
Tech Giants₹25,4005 stocks · Curated+5.2%T I R +2Invest

Tata Consultancy Services

NSE: TCSBuy
Quantity20 shares
Price per share₹3,450.75
Total Amount

₹19,425.30

Recovery Options

Recovery Options

After setup, you’ll receive backup codes. Save them in a secure location to regain access if you lose your device.

  1. Documents Submitted
  2. Verification in Progress
  3. Account Activation

Last updated: 2 min ago

Design Grid

Base Screen Size
430 × 931 px (iPhone 14)
Design Grid
4pt spacing system for consistent layout
Padding/Margin
16pt standard margin, 24pt for large blocks

UI Icons

Add NewMarketsCryptoNewsTips

Prototype

Impact and reflection

Academic Contribution
Bridges blockchain theory with UX research, showing how design reduces cognitive friction in financial technology.

Practical Impact
Offers SEBI and Indian fintechs a roadmap for inclusive, trustworthy trading platforms.

"Blockchain is not the end goal, trust is. The real breakthrough wasn't technical; it was empathetic. A retail investor in Udaipur and a seasoned trader in Mumbai could both see themselves in the same transparent ecosystem."

Why transparent financial ecosystems matter?

This project demonstrates that the future of financial technology lies not just in advanced blockchain capabilities, but in making those capabilities accessible and trustworthy for everyday users. By bridging the gap between complex technology and human understanding, we can create truly inclusive financial ecosystems that serve India's diverse investor community.

References

Project artwork