Non-custodial wallets give users full control over their assets—but that freedom often comes with fear. For many users, seed phrases and backups feel confusing, intimidating, and easy to ignore. I redesigned the onboarding and backup experience to make security feel understandable, approachable, and hard to miss.

Most users don’t back up their seed phrase during onboarding. Why? • The concept is poorly explained • Security warnings feel overwhelming • Backup steps are rushed or hidden • Users underestimate the risk until it’s too late

This leads to lost wallets, lost funds, and broken trust.

I reimagined the onboarding and backup flow to build confidence before asking users to act.

Key improvements included:

A simple “What is a Seed Phrase?” explanation is shown upfront

A delayed seed phrase reveal paired with a subtle safety reminder

Clear visibility of the seed phrase with the option to back up immediately or return later

In the second onboarding step, users were given two clear backup paths:

Encrypted iCloud Backup: fast, safe, and beginner-friendly

Manual Backup for users who want full control

To prevent users from skipping backup entirely, I added:

A visible Home Screen banner reminding users to back up

A gentle "Backup Now" nudge that stays accessible without being intrusive

Security was no longer hidden, it was intentionally visible.

I led the end-to-end product design for this flow, including:

UX research and problem framing

User flow mapping and interaction design

High-fidelity UI design

Microcopy and security-focused messaging decisions3

Research & Insight

Flow Redesign

Reordered onboarding steps to prioritize understanding before action

Reduced cognitive load by limiting choices per screen

UX & UI Design

Iteration

Explaining complex security concepts without overwhelming users

Encouraging backup without fear-based messaging

Balancing beginner-friendly options with advanced user autonomy

Backup was positioned as a core action, not an afterthought

Users were guided with clarity instead of pressure

The experience felt safer, calmer, and more intentional

By making security visible, understandable, and optional, the onboarding flow supported both trust and long-term user safety.