Is onboarding too hard? Crypto adoption still faces major obstacles

In summary, onboarding into Web3 is a complex process that poses challenges for both users and developers. Some of the main barriers to adoption include a lack of user-friendliness, limited incentives, educational resources, and regulatory uncertainty. To address these issues, there is a need for more user-friendly interfaces, robust infrastructure, education, and regulatory clarity. Additionally, streamlining the process of converting fiat to crypto and addressing fragmentation in the blockchain space can also help increase adoption rates. Overall, it’s important for the industry to prioritize making Web3 accessible to a broader audience by addressing these challenges and building solutions that cater to mainstream users.


As a Web3 analyst, I’ve observed numerous discussions surrounding the potential drivers and challenges of widespread adoption for this emerging technology. Predictions abound regarding what factors may accelerate its growth, while potential hindrances to the onboarding process are also frequently debated.

Certain individuals, such as executives in the Web3 gaming industry, believe that the excitement surrounding cryptocurrencies may lead to the widespread adoption of blockchain technology through the release of highly anticipated games.

Based on the findings from a February 22 survey conducted by Web3Auth, a key management network, with a total of 3,378 participants who are Web3 users, developers, and decision-makers from around the world, it appears that there are still several challenges that need to be addressed before mass adoption can become a viable option.

Is onboarding too hard? Crypto adoption still faces major obstacles

As the head content analyst at DappRadar, I believe there are two major hurdles that need to be addressed when it comes to expanding the reach of cryptocurrencies like CryptoMoon. The first challenge is to simplify the user interface and overall experience for consumers. This means making it easier for people to understand and use the technology without requiring extensive technical knowledge. The second obstacle is increasing consumer awareness about cybersecurity in the context of crypto assets. With more education around this topic, users can make informed decisions and protect themselves from potential risks.

As a researcher, I’ve noticed that one particular aspect has seen significant advancements in recent years, whereas another area still requires attention. For instance, approximately 60% of American consumers unfortunately employ the same password for various accounts.

“That’s the same audience you want to onboard into Web3, and who will act surprised that MegaPepeBitcoinToken turned out to be a rug pull? That’s just one of the major challenges ahead of us.”

Simultaneously, Hoogendoorn acknowledges that technological advancements often bring forth onboarding difficulties. However, he believes the Web3 sector has made considerable strides in addressing these challenges.

Is onboarding too hard? Crypto adoption still faces major obstacles

“Web3 onboarding can be difficult. While technophiles extol its merits, the average user focuses on the overall experience.”

Hoogendoorn remarked, “We’re almost at the stage where complex Web3 financial services and advanced video games can attract a massive following due to their sophistication.”

As a crypto investor, I can relate to the concerns raised by respondents in the Web3Auth survey. The number one thing that might be preventing some of us from fully embracing Web3 technology is the perceived risks to our assets’ security. It’s natural to worry about the safety of our digital investments, given the volatile nature of the crypto market and the potential vulnerabilities associated with decentralized systems. However, as we continue to learn and explore this new frontier, it’s essential that we stay informed and take necessary precautions to protect our assets while enjoying the benefits Web3 has to offer.

As a cryptocurrency analyst, I’ve come across Hoogendoorn’s perspective that the crypto industry has been dubbed the “wild west” for over a decade. This label doesn’t sit well with the public due to concerns about cybersecurity. Hoogendoorn believes this perception is an impediment preventing potential users from embracing Web3 technologies.

As a crypto investor, I’ve noticed that high-profile cases like the FTX implosion and the subsequent trial of Sam Bankman-Fried have not exactly painted the industry in a positive light. These events have done very little to improve the public’s trust and perception towards cryptocurrency and its related businesses.

The collapse of notable crypto companies like the $10 billion Singapore-based crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital in 2022 has added to the unfavorable sentiment, potentially deterring average users from fully embracing Web3 technology.

As a seasoned analyst, I’ve come across the unfortunate reality that rug pulls and hacks continue to pose significant challenges within the Web3 landscape. According to a recent research report published by Immunefi on February 29, 2024, over $200 million in cryptocurrency has already been stolen in 32 distinct incidents this year. These incidents have left their mark on the community and serve as stark reminders of the importance of security measures and due diligence.

Education and positive PR may be the answer

As a crypto investor, I strongly believe that the current negative sentiment towards Web3 needs to be transformed for widespread acceptance of this technology. This shift is likely to be driven by an abundance of favorable public relations coming from within the industry itself.

It’s essential that the general population be educated more effectively regarding optimal security procedures. In simpler terms, we need to improve the public’s understanding of secure practices.

“People generally have poor habits when it comes to managing their account usernames and passwords. The majority do not enable two-factor authentication, and a large proportion even use the same password for multiple accounts,” Hoogendoorn explained.

“People value safety but don’t act responsibly. In Web2, this can cause issues, but in Web3, this can result in your money being stolen instantly. And when this happens, it — again — rubs off negatively on our industry.”

When communicating with CryptoMoon, the BNB Chain Core Development Team expressed concerns about several obstacles that could prevent individuals from joining Web3. The main challenges include insufficient knowledge and exposure to new interfaces, as well as the absence of compelling incentives.

“The widespread use of Web3 is expected to be encouraged by various crucial elements. These include making it user-friendly, providing robust and dependable foundations, and offering sufficient education.”

The team emphasizes that Web3 may present a challenge for newcomers, making it essential to create appealing and interactive avenues for participation. For instance, consider launching meme initiatives with incentives and rewards to attract and engage those unfamiliar with this space.

As a analyst, I’d interpret the BNB Chain Core Development Team’s statement this way: The team places great emphasis on building a solid foundation, providing an intuitive user experience, and ensuring optimal performance in order to attract more users to the Web3 ecosystem.

As a researcher studying the potential widespread use of Web3, I believe the journey toward mass adoption will be characterized by a progressive and complex process. This transition is expected to encompass groundbreaking technology, intuitive user experiences, and extensive educational efforts.

It’s more effective to focus on enhancing the user experience of current technologies than placing all our hopes on groundbreaking innovations for a smooth shift from the Web2 to Web3 era.

Complex tech and uncertain regulations slow Web3 adoption

Pavel Salas, as the main figure driving expansion at the Gear Foundation, which is the entity overseeing the Gear Protocol, acknowledged that joining the Web3 world poses intricacy and challenges for those without a technical background.

CryptoMoon mentioned that the usability of Web3 applications can be a significant challenge, making it difficult for some users to adopt these technologies and potentially deterring newcomers.

As a crypto investor, I would explain it this way: “To get started with playing an on-chain game, you’ll first need to download a digital wallet for yourself and acquire the required tokens. These tokens could be unique to the specific game, or they might be more commonly used protocol tokens such as Ethereum or Solana.”

“After setup, they face the ongoing requirement of paying for gas with each transaction.”

According to Sami Start, the founder and CEO of Transak, the process of transitioning from traditional fiat currencies to cryptocurrencies is currently facing a significant hurdle.

I ponder over the fact that fewer than one in ten internet users worldwide hold any cryptocurrencies. This realization underscores substantial hurdles to entry within this market.

Based on a market analysis conducted by cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com, the global population of crypto users expanded by approximately 34% in the year 2023, rising from an estimated 432 million to 580 million individuals. Meanwhile, Statista reports that as of April 2024, there were around 5.44 billion people using the internet worldwide.

Is onboarding too hard? Crypto adoption still faces major obstacles

The regulatory intricacies and diverse compatibility issues with current financial structures create a formidable challenge for newcomers when trying to adopt Web3 technology.

As a researcher, I’d express it this way: In May 2023, I observed that the European Council established the initial extensive regulatory structure for the crypto sector.

As a crypto investor, I’ve noticed that while some countries have embraced and regulated the use of cryptocurrencies, others are still in the process of creating a legal framework or have even banned it outright.

Additionally, the complexity of the Web3 landscape, marked by numerous blockchains and protocols, may perplex users and hinder the achievement of robust network effects essential for mass adoption.

He emphasized the need for the industry to make the process of exchanging fiat currency for cryptocurrency as easy and straightforward as any common online transaction.

“By addressing these challenges, we can make the blockchain’s transformative potential accessible to a broader audience and significantly increase adoption rates.”

When talking with CryptoMoon, Ken Timsit, the managing director at Web3 startup incubator Cronos Labs, remarked that the majority of cryptocurrency users initially go through the sign-up process on a custodial digital asset exchange.

I’ve found this step to be effective in current market conditions. Top exchanges are now heavily regulated, ensuring they carry out thorough Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures.

Crypto exchanges follow a series of procedures, referred to as KYC (Know Your Customer), during the sign-up process to authenticate users’ identities and scrutinize their financial transactions for regulatory compliance and risk assessment purposes.

As a researcher, I’ve come across Timsit expressing a common desire among us: expanding our user base to include more mainstream individuals. However, he emphasizes that there is a significant challenge we need to overcome. The technology we are developing should not only be accessible to those who are already familiar with crypto but also tailored to the needs and experience levels of the average user.

“He noted that several current achievements, including liquid staking, modular scaling methods, and meme coins, have been fueled by a knowledgeable user community.”

“As a result, projects are currently incentivized to build primarily for OGs, whales and degens. At the same time, some mainstream users are still turned off by the lack of regulatory clarity.”

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2024-05-17 16:58