Why the abstraction of user experience is key to the widespread adoption of Web3

Original authors: Geng Kai, Eric, DF

Introduction: The biggest bottleneck of Web3 is not the infrastructure, but the user experience.

The early stage of Web3 focused on innovation. At that time, several independent blockchains were launched with different priorities, including speed, security, composability, and community ownership. However, this explosion of creativity led to the fragmentation of the ecosystem, a lack of interoperability, inconsistent tools, and isolation of assets and liquidity.

Web3 has solved some problems, but one challenge still obstructs everything: user experience.

We are at a familiar turning point, reminiscent of the evolution of the early internet. Today, using dApps is akin to browsing the internet in the 90s. For the average user, the experience of navigating blockchain, wallets, cross-chain bridges, Gas fees, protocols, and signatures remains clunky and off-putting. These are not just minor issues; they are barriers to widespread adoption.

The introduction of TCP/IP and web browsers unlocked the Internet and led to widespread adoption.

The contradiction is obvious: while the infrastructure is mature, the user experience has not changed for a long time. With the increase in institutional recognition, the launch of BTC and ETH ETFs, and the advancement of regulatory frameworks such as the “GENIUS Act”, what restricts the popularization of cryptocurrencies is no longer the infrastructure, but the usability.

User Experience Abstract Framework: From Friction to Smoothness

User experience abstraction is the process of systematically hiding the underlying complexities of blockchain interaction from the end user. It is not just about simplifying operations, but also about designing a system that is intelligent enough to manage complexity on behalf of the user. Just as the internet transitioned from IP addresses and command lines to browsers and applications, Web3 must transition from mnemonic phrases and signatures to seamless intent-driven interfaces.

This process is divided into three abstract stages, each representing a deeper level of integration and a clearer path to mainstream availability.

Phase 1: Easy-to-understand user experience improvements

In the first stage, developers focus on minimizing friction in existing Web3 mental models. Users still need to understand networks, wallets, and assets, but the interface will be streamlined to reduce context switching. For example, decentralized exchanges now typically integrate cross-chain bridge protocols directly into their user interfaces, allowing users to transfer assets across chains without leaving the platform.

Integration of Pancakeswap with multiple bridges such as Celer, StarGate, and DeBridge.

Wallets like Phantom and Trust are expanding their native ecosystems, providing one-stop multi-link services. Yield platforms such as Superlend and Beefy aggregate cross-network investment opportunities, allowing users to compare and deploy funds on a unified dashboard.

Cross-chain aggregated lending opportunities on Superlend

However, despite these advancements, the cognitive burden still exists. Users still need to track the location of their assets, manage Gas tokens across different chains, and understand the nuances of specific networks. While this level of abstraction has improved the interface, it has not changed the experience. The fundamental mental models of “Which chain is this application on?” and “I need to bridge and switch chains” still persist.

Phase Two: Execution Layer Abstraction

In the second phase, the complexity of Web3 interaction begins to shift from the interface to the execution layer. Users no longer need to understand or coordinate multi-step, cross-chain workflows. Instead, they simply define the desired actions, and the rest is handled by the application.

This is thanks to technologies such as ERC-4337 and Gas abstraction, which eliminate the need for users to hold native Gas tokens on each chain they interact with. Smart contracts or third-party relayers bear the associated costs through sponsorship or dynamic fee mechanisms. From the user’s perspective, transactions can proceed smoothly—no need to manually top up wallets on unfamiliar chains.

Zerolend Paymaster integration allows for gas payments using multiple tokens.

The solver network further enhances this advantage by introducing an intent-based architecture. Users do not need to interact with a single protocol; instead, they express a result (such as exchanging tokens or bridging assets), and then competing solvers determine the most efficient execution path. Networks like Enso, Aori, and Khalani are exemplars of this model, providing support for cross-chain applications with better pricing and execution speed.

Cross-chain swap on Debridge

The new token standards also play a key role. Solutions such as LayerZero’s OFT, Chainlink’s CCT, and Wormhole’s NTT simplify the interoperability of cross-chain tokens through burn and mint mechanisms, thereby reducing the risks of liquidity fragmentation and decoupling.

Although these developments have significantly reduced the complexity of workflows, users are still aware that they are using a blockchain system. They must sign transactions, manage wallets, and understand that certain operations may fail due to underlying network issues. Abstraction has penetrated deeper into the stack, but it has not disappeared.

Stage Three: Complete Concept Abstraction

The third layer of abstract user experience, and the most advanced one, allows users to completely forget about blockchain. In this layer, the concepts of chain, gas, and wallet will no longer exist. The experience reflects the simplicity of Web2 - user actions, result delivery.

This is an emerging field of super wallets and intent-driven agents. Platforms such as NEAR Wallet, Particle Network, Turnkey, and OneBalance provide smart wallet infrastructure that abstracts private key management, supports Web2-style social logins, and aggregates user balances across chains. OKX’s wallet embodies this approach by integrating gasless transactions and multi-chain support into an easy-to-use interface.

A highly promising innovation is the chain signature of the NEAR protocol, which allows users to sign transactions across multiple blockchains with a single NEAR account. This architecture employs multi-party computation (MPC) technology, eliminating the need for developers to redeploy contracts on different chains or build signature logic specific to a particular chain.

Griffain and HeyAnon have provided groundbreaking interactive interfaces on the DeFAI platform, allowing users to express their goals in natural language—such as “stake my USDC to earn SOL rewards”—while the solver executes the necessary steps in the background. These systems utilize delegated wallets and session keys, eliminating the need for repeated transaction approvals.

Combining the technology stack mentioned in the first and second layers, these smart wallets and AI-supported applications achieve the highest level of user experience abstraction currently available.

However, even at this level, abstraction is not absolute. If a smart wallet does not yet support a specific blockchain, the experience may quickly deteriorate. AI-supported platforms may still require users to have an understanding of relevant financial terminology. Moreover, developers and protocols often optimize for specific ecosystems, which can create subtle barriers even in interfaces unrelated to blockchains.

To overcome these limitations, developers must adopt a new way of thinking—prioritizing outcomes over infrastructure when designing experiences, and focusing on building universality rather than ecosystem lock-in.

Why is user experience abstraction the future of Web3?

Abstraction is a structural necessity for the scalability of cryptocurrencies. The next wave of users will not learn to use blockchain. They expect to use applications, which must be smart enough to manage complexity in an invisible, secure, and reliable way.

Abstraction has facilitated this transformation by breaking down the barriers between protocols and chains, eliminating the cumbersome calculations of managing gas and keys, and aligning the cryptocurrency user experience with the expectations set by modern Web2 products. Just as TCP/IP and HTTP facilitated the widespread adoption of the internet, user experience abstraction is an application-level requirement for achieving the widespread adoption of Web3.

Importantly, abstraction is not one-size-fits-all. Native cryptocurrency users may still value granular control and composability, while newcomers might prefer simplicity. Supporting multi-layered abstraction ensures that Web3 can inclusively scale without alienating any party.

The Road to the Future

Clear direction: The future of Web3 is chainless. However, achieving this goal requires not only technological breakthroughs but also a completely new way of thinking – developers’ design goals should focus on outcomes rather than just the protocols; wallets will become their agents; user experience will no longer be an afterthought but a foundation.

With the right abstract concept, users will no longer need to understand blockchain in order to use it. They just need to take action - the dApp will deliver results.

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About DFG

Digital Finance Group (DFG) is a global leading Web3 investment and venture capital firm established in 2015. DFG manages assets exceeding 1 billion USD, with investments covering various sectors within the blockchain ecosystem. Our portfolio includes over 100 pioneering projects such as Circle, Ledger, Coinlist, Near, Solana, Render Network, ZetaChain, and more.

At DFG, we are committed to creating value for our portfolio companies through market research, strategic consulting, and sharing our vast resources globally. We are actively collaborating with the most transformative and promising blockchain and Web 3.0 projects that are ready to revolutionize the industry.

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