Details
Role: Senior UX Designer & Research Lead
Platform: Merkle Science, a predictive risk solution for cryptocurrency compliance and forensics
Objective: Transform a data-heavy and complex tool into a streamlined, user-centric platform that reduces compliance costs and attracts major clients
Notable Impact: Reduced compliance costs by 50% and secured high-profile clients (Binance, Crypto.com, US Government agencies)
Pinpointing Core Usability and Compliance Issues
Problem Statement
“Merkle Science’s user experience is hindered by excessive data complexity and limited customization, making it difficult for compliance officers and forensic analysts to efficiently detect and prevent crypto-related crimes.”
Goals & Success Metrics
Streamline Dashboards: Reduce the time compliance officers spend sorting data by 30%.
Enhance Reporting Tools: Make forensic analysts’ daily tasks 25% more efficient.
Competitive Differentiation: Offer user-friendly yet highly customizable features surpassing competitors (Chainalysis, Elliptic).
Competitive Analysis
Chainalysis: Powerful forensic features but complicated, overwhelming UI.
Elliptic: More user-friendly but limited customization.
Our Edge: A hybrid approach—deep functionality with a clean interface and behavior-based transaction monitoring that stands out in the market.
Prototype: Iterative Design for Optimal Usability
I mapped out essential workflows (transaction overview, alert review, case reporting) and focused on clarity of navigation and minimal clutter.
The next step was to incorporate branding elements, chart placeholders, and preliminary color schemes. Then I started testing with select compliance officers to confirm the logical flow of data.
Finally, I built interactive prototypes in Figma with advanced filtering logic and dynamic chart transitions. Also ensured that it showcased a robust reporting mechanism, including an “attach evidence” feature for forensic teams.
Test & Refine: Validating Usability Gains
Once we refined the prototype, we moved to continuous improvement cycles:
Time-on-Task Metrics: Observed a 20% increase in user engagement and a 15% decrease in task completion times.
Dashboard Customization: Reduced data management overhead by 30% for compliance officers.
Forensic Reporting: Decreased the average investigation time by 25%, thanks to comprehensive export features.
When I joined Merkle Science, the platform was already handling critical functionalities like transaction monitoring, forensic investigations, and compliance training. However, the UI and workflows were too complex, which required steep learning curves and was very inefficient.
There were some immediate questions I had from the start:
Who exactly are our primary users (e.g., compliance officers vs. forensic analysts vs. regulators)?
What are their biggest pain points with cryptocurrency risk analysis?
How can we simplify data presentation without losing critical detail?
To answer these questions, I set up a multi-department workshop (involving product managers, customer support lead, developers, and marketing) to clarify the platform’s current capabilities and identify core user challenges.The outcome of the workshop made it clear the compliance officer segment of our user base was facing data overload, and the analyst segment of our users required thorough transaction histories and quick report generation.
Ideate: Crafting Solutions to Balance Data Depth and Clarity
With research insights and competitive findings in hand, I led brainstorming sessions to propose and prioritize solutions.
I proposed the following concepts:
Customizable dashboard to let compliance officers choose which widgets appear, ensuring relevant data surfaces first. and advanced filters to segment transactions by risk score, geography, or wallet type.
Enhanced Forensics Toolkit for detailed transaction history (rich metadata, visual data overlays, and timeline views) and a report builder with one-click export with custom templates for investigators or legal teams.
The behavior-based monitoring idea was to introduce machine-learning patterns that flag anomalous transactions before they escalate. Also to present suspicious activity alerts in a clear, simplified feed.
During an internal demo, a compliance officer from a pilot client quipped, “I finally don’t feel like the data is yelling at me.” This small comment validated our belief that usability was as crucial as raw functionality.
Launch & Impact: Building Trust and Securing Major Clients
High-Profile Client Acquisition
Post-implementation, existing clients recommended Merkle Science to larger crypto exchanges.
Secured trials with Binance, Crypto.com, and a live testing session with U.S. government agencies.
Regulatory Bodies: Engaged in pilot programs with federal law enforcement, showcasing the platform’s robust forensics and user-friendly design.
