Note: The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views or opinions of crypto.news’ editorial team.
In terms of finance, every individual shares fundamental needs: the ability to save, send, and spend money securely and conveniently. Yet, even in 2025, billions remain excluded from the traditional financial system. This issue isn’t limited to emerging markets; it paradoxically also affects the world’s most developed nations.
Summary
- Millions are still underbanked in developed nations, while blockchain has yet to provide practical solutions due to poor user experience and complexity.
- Successful adoption hinges on relatability — models like Nubank in Brazil and GCash in the Philippines demonstrate that people embrace technology when it is simple and effectively addresses daily issues.
- Blockchain’s focus must be on utility rather than ideology; initiatives like El Salvador’s Bitcoin venture highlight the risks, while stablecoins and tokenized assets present a clearer path to trust and usability.
- For widespread adoption, crypto must be as simple to use as current applications, making saving, sending, and spending intuitive; otherwise, it risks remaining a niche sector for years.
Recent surveys indicate that over 36 million consumers in North America are underbanked, while more than 20.2 million adults in the United Kingdom are underserved. Whether due to a lack of infrastructure or distrust of banking, this financial exclusion inhibits economic progress and access to vital opportunities. Many view blockchain as a groundbreaking solution, promising faster, cheaper, and borderless financial services globally, yet we have yet to deliver that promise for everyday users.
At present, cryptocurrencies and blockchain are often viewed as speculative vehicles rather than practical tools for real-world issues. The technology can appear cumbersome and daunting, with user experiences designed more for developers than ordinary users. Setting up wallets, managing private keys, transitioning between assets, and dealing with unfamiliar interfaces creates friction at every turn. These procedures are complicated and unforgiving; a single error can lead to permanent loss of funds. Adoption has been slow because people are not interested in innovations for their own sake, particularly if they involve heavy-handed efforts to introduce them to a complex world that lacks immediate value. They seek simple solutions to everyday challenges.
This is why the future of blockchain won’t belong to those who emphasize decentralization or tokenomics — it will favor those who simplify complexity, deliver significant utility, and embed this technology into applications that users already trust.
Global adoption necessitates relatability
Often, innovation is inspired by markets lacking a well-established financial system. Consider how digital banking has revolutionized Brazil. Nubank has changed financial accessibility by providing users with a straightforward, mobile-first way to manage their finances without the hurdles of traditional banks. This model prospered by aligning with user behaviors and addressing distinct local needs. While the technology was new, it effectively tackled daily challenges without requiring consumers to understand its underlying mechanics.
User experience becomes a crucial factor in making financial tools feel integrated into everyday life. Take GCash in the Philippines, which has evolved into a central hub for various financial activities: bill payments, money transfers (especially receiving remittances), shopping, and credit access. The same concept can extend to blockchain. We see this with platforms like Telegram, which facilitates TON-based payments directly within the app, demonstrating how blockchain capabilities can be as easy and natural to use as sending a text. By keeping complexity hidden, these platforms show how crypto can seamlessly integrate into the tools people already depend on.
That said, while Nubank succeeded with Brazil’s population of 200 million, scaling that model globally presents a unique set of challenges: reaching diverse audiences, navigating regulatory variations, and aligning with existing payment preferences.
With Telegram’s user base exceeding a billion, platforms with large, engaged communities serve as valuable channels for introducing new services, including blockchain financial tools. By discreetly embedding financial utilities, it becomes feasible to offer features like cross-border payments or tokenized assets without requiring users to adapt to a new system. For many, these functionalities won’t feel like crypto at all — simply an additional reliable feature in an app they already trust.
Creating pathways or obstacles?
Blockchain aims to eliminate barriers, yet poorly executed applications can inadvertently create them. All too often, developers concentrate on ideals over practical use cases. The emphasis should not be on forcing crypto into unnecessary situations. Prioritizing simplicity and utility over novelty and ideology is vital: technology adoption should focus on clarity and tangible benefits rather than mere allure of innovation.
El Salvador’s adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender provides a pertinent example. The country has invested significantly in Bitcoin, yet the initiative faces major challenges, including price volatility, public distrust, and inadequate utilization for remittances, which are crucial for the nation’s economy. Many citizens opted to cash out their Bitcoin immediately or avoid the system entirely, highlighting the divide between theoretical potential and real-world usability.
A more promising route involves stablecoins tied to fiat currency values. These maintain the price stability of fiat while offering cryptocurrency benefits: swift, low-cost transactions with global reach. Integrated into familiar applications, stablecoins could discreetly facilitate remittances, routine payments, and even savings solutions in underserved communities. Beyond payments, blockchain has the potential to unlock more advanced financial tools for the masses. Envision a token that mirrors a collection of stocks, enabling someone in an emerging market to invest in Apple shares—something unimaginable just a short while ago. NFTs and DeFi can redefine ownership and democratize access to wealth-building instruments historically reserved for a select few.
Returning to fundamentals
The rapid advancement of blockchain adoption has shown that this technology can offer opportunities in ways traditional finance cannot. However, currently, these opportunities are mainly accessible to those willing to invest time in understanding cryptocurrency.
For a blockchain-centric future to materialize, our primary focus must be on launching straightforward projects that provide valuable use cases for the average individual. We need to develop a system that respects what should be a universally acknowledged right: every person’s ability to save, send, and spend. This involves progressing beyond mere education and making cryptocurrency as seamless as the applications people use daily. If it fails to resonate with the mass consumer, widespread acceptance will remain decades away, not just years.
