Invisible Infrastructure 04 | Conversation with OKX Web3 Team: How Can Participating in DeFi Be as Simple as Shopping?
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Invisible Infrastructure 04 | Conversation with OKX Web3 Team: How Can Participating in DeFi Be as Simple as Shopping?
Our product design follows three core principles: do no harm, maintain openness and transparency, and strive to secure greater benefits for users. We aim to simplify the complexities of DeFi and deliver a brand-new, seamless, one-stop experience for all OKX Web3 users.
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insights
DeFi originated with the birth of Bitcoin and rose to prominence through the development of Ethereum.
In 2017, as lending protocols such as Uniswap and Compound launched on Ethereum, DeFi quickly attracted widespread attention. By 2020, innovations like liquidity mining and AMM mechanisms emerged one after another, driving rapid growth in total value locked (TVL) across DeFi protocols and ushering in the legendary "DeFi Summer." Meanwhile, the DeFi ecosystem expanded from Ethereum to various other public blockchains including Solana and Avalanche, leading to a full-scale breakout of the DeFi concept. Since then, DeFi has continued integrating with NFTs and GameFi, promoting asset diversification and enabling new types of financial products and value storage methods, while advancing toward broader adoption through Layer2 and cross-chain technologies.
Today, DeFi has become the most fundamental and widely used application in the crypto industry. However, with the influx of new users, issues such as high technical barriers, complex user interfaces, and security risks have been increasingly exposed, hindering ordinary users' willingness to participate. As an industry-leading all-in-one Web3 gateway, OKX Web3 Wallet offers a comprehensive suite of on-chain trading tools that allow users—regardless of prior on-chain experience—to easily engage in top-tier protocol activities with just one click and more readily earn rewards. Additionally, OKX Web3 DeFi carefully partners with reputable leading protocols in the industry, prioritizing those with higher security standards. While OKX Web3 DeFi does not custody user funds, it makes every effort to enhance security protections. Notably, apart from the standard on-chain network fees required for each transaction, OKX Web3 DeFi charges no additional fees.
In summary, while addressing key user pain points, OKX Web3 DeFi simplifies complexity through product innovation, significantly improving the overall user experience in participating in DeFi. This article is the fourth installment of OKX Web3 Wallet’s "Invisible Infrastructure" series, exploring in-depth the UX philosophy and design thinking behind the OKX Web3 DeFi team through dialogue.
Product Origins
OKX Web3 Team: Our product design begins with solving core user pain points—including high entry barriers, significant protocol risks, and difficulty finding optimal yields. Let's break down these challenges.
1) High usage barrier: Currently, there are numerous DeFi protocols with complex and inconsistent operations. Users must spend considerable time learning different workflows for each DApp, increasing both learning and operational costs. OKX DeFi aggregates multiple protocols onto a unified platform with standardized interaction design, greatly streamlining discovery and exploration paths so users don’t need to switch between different protocols, thereby reducing learning curves. Moreover, the platform presents yield structures through intuitive interfaces, helping users easily understand and use the products.
2) High protocol risk: DeFi protocols manage large amounts of capital, making them prime targets for hackers. Official websites and social media channels of many protocols are also vulnerable to attacks, posing threats to user funds. OKX DeFi mitigates external risks by conducting strict protocol vetting and directly integrating smart contracts. This protective mechanism reduces the likelihood of hacker attacks and helps safeguard user assets—for example, during the recent incident where Pendle’s official site was hijacked, OKX DeFi avoided similar security breaches thanks to this approach.
3) Difficulty identifying better returns: With diverse yield mechanisms across DeFi protocols, users struggle to quickly identify suitable opportunities. OKX DeFi sorts protocols using multi-dimensional data such as annual percentage yield (APY) and total value locked (TVL), and combines this with users’ portfolio composition and trading history to provide comprehensive filtering tools that help them find appropriate DeFi strategies. Furthermore, OKX DeFi collaborates with popular protocols like Babylon, Pendle, and Compound to secure exclusive bonus incentives, enabling users to earn extra rewards on top of base yields.
Overall, OKX Web3 DeFi aims to lower the barrier to DeFi participation, making decentralized financial tools easy to use. We strive to become a leading all-in-one DeFi service platform, simplifying complex processes and delivering superior user experiences so DeFi can benefit a wider audience and help users earn rewards from decentralized finance.
To put it simply, users can participate in DeFi transactions as easily as online shopping.
Latest Updates
OKX Web3 Team: The OKX Web3 DeFi platform analyzes various DeFi protocols to clearly present their risk and return profiles to users. It also enables seamless deposit and withdrawal of digital assets, lowering entry barriers. OKX DeFi provides users with exclusive bonus rewards and bridges CeFi and DeFi, allowing exchange users to access high-yield on-chain opportunities.
We recently launched a “Play Zone,” starting with Babylon, categorizing and step-by-step breaking down DeFi operations to guide users through complex transaction flows. Additionally, OKX DeFi will introduce a new Rewards Pool feature to offer users more on-chain earnings. Future plans include launching a “Simple Earn” product based on vault strategies, further enhancing yield experiences. Through continuous UX optimization, we’re presenting complex DeFi participation in stepwise formats—not only helping users better understand DeFi but also offering them more efficient pathways to engage.
Thoughts on User Experience
OKX Web3 Team: Balancing rich functionality with operational simplicity is key to enhancing user experience. First, we classify protocols by transaction type and apply consistent interaction patterns across different protocols to ensure uniformity. For instance, we separate single-asset and multi-asset interactions into two standard templates, applying common designs across lending, staking, and other DeFi activities.
Second, we integrate as many chains, protocols, and reward programs as possible, yet minimize relearning through simplified universal templates.
Third, after achieving relatively comprehensive integration of DeFi protocols, we're introducing new educational formats like the Play Zone, gradually unpacking complex, nested DeFi protocols so users can understand operational paths, risks, and returns—lowering the barrier for beginners.
Finally, DeFi involves four dimensions: assets, chains, protocols, and orders—and even the same token may carry different APYs and TVL depending on chain, protocol, or timing. This often overwhelms users with complex information. We address this by organizing data logically and visualizing it intuitively, enabling users to easily compare and select optimal strategies. Through repeated, intuitive interactions, we consistently convey DeFi concepts across scenarios, gradually teaching users the underlying logic so every operation becomes simpler and clearer.
Market Trends and User Feedback
OKX Web3 Team: Our technological innovation isn't about revolutionizing底层 technology, but rather rapidly capturing market trends and integrating them promptly. For example, when TON ecosystem staking, SEI ecosystem yield boosts, or Pendle’s nested strategies gained popularity, our team swiftly brought these opportunities to users. At the same time, we simplify high-barrier protocols like Uniswap V3, enabling even novice users to participate with simple clicks and monitor returns effortlessly. Despite the complexity of on-chain protocols—which presents challenges such as simultaneously integrating multiple new chains and protocols including lending and quantitative arbitrage—the OKX Web3 DeFi team remains committed to simplifying these processes so users can experience DeFi innovation in the most intuitive way.
We collect user feedback through multiple channels to ensure our product closely aligns with user needs. On one hand, we gather real-world usage insights via external user surveys; on the other, we leverage internal feedback mechanisms, treating team members’ personal experiences as critical input. Our team includes OG DeFi users who’ve farmed since DeFi Summer, veterans who built OKX’s inscription product from scratch within the BTC ecosystem, and builders from leading DeFi projects—all deeply experienced users who help refine our product. Beyond that, we review product data daily, tracking metrics like user activity and new protocol performance, ensuring timely identification and resolution of issues.
In short, our team excels at capturing market trends from both community and internal sources, evaluating applicable DeFi instruments, and rapidly integrating them into the platform—keeping users always at the forefront of DeFi trends.
Product Design Principles
OKX Web3 Team: Undoubtedly, the first principle is "Don't be evil." This principle guides every aspect of our product design. First, we ensure our own intent remains non-malicious—our product avoids direct interaction with user assets, instead connecting user funds to third-party protocols in a decentralized manner, eliminating potential platform-side risks. We also assess project-side risks, reviewing audit reports of integrated contracts and displaying them directly to users. Combined with our own protocol analysis, we aim to avoid exposing users to unnecessary financial risks. We proactively block high-risk protocols and immediately delist any that pose threats, continuing to monitor and study response measures in case of serious incidents. While helping users pursue yields, we jointly protect their fund security.
The second principle is transparency. In designing our product, we present comprehensive information objectively to users. We apply objective criteria—such as APY and TVL—for sorting and filtering, ensuring users aren't influenced by subjective judgments from OKX DeFi, but instead make decisions based on transparent, factual data. We strive to fully disclose both risks and returns.
The third principle is maximizing user benefits. On the foundation of "don't be evil" and transparency, once users have a certain level of fund security, OKX Web3 DeFi assists them in assessing risk and return trade-offs, presenting as many earning opportunities as possible. We actively engage with top-tier public chains and leading protocols to negotiate exclusive channel rewards and points for our users.
Security Mechanisms & Partnerships for Protocol Integration
OKX Web3 Team: When integrating new protocols, we have established multiple layers of security defense.
1) Audit Reports and Risk Scores Displayed: We display audit reports and risk scores directly to users to enhance transparency.
2) Risk Alert System: If potential risks are detected during integration, we immediately halt the process to protect user assets.
3) Project Screening: We rigorously vet leading projects to minimize the risk of malicious behavior from project teams.
4) Risk Response: In the event of a risk, OKX Web3 DeFi will immediately delist the relevant protocol and continuously monitor developments to safeguard user interests.
Currently, we collaborate with most leading DeFi protocols and public chains, including Ston.fi in the TON ecosystem, Jito in the Solana ecosystem, veteran Ethereum protocols like Lido, Uniswap, and Compound, emerging protocols such as Pendle, Eigenlayer, Babylon, ether.fi, and Zircuit, as well as SUI and SEI chain ecosystems. Essentially, most top-tier public chains and protocols are partners of the OKX Web3 DeFi team.
Maintaining Competitiveness in a Fast-Changing Market
OKX Web3 Team: First is market sensitivity—we have mature, responsive, and comprehensive internal and external monitoring systems that enable us to detect trends instantly and evaluate them appropriately.
Second is execution capability. Through close collaboration between the OKX Web3 DeFi team and partner teams, we typically begin chain parsing and protocol integration immediately upon decision, rapidly implementing frontend templates or designing new product forms to launch features for users without delay.
Finally, talent cultivation and continuous technological innovation remain central. The core competitiveness of OKX Web3 DeFi ultimately lies in talent and innovation. By bringing together exceptional individuals from across the industry, we believe we can maintain sustained competitiveness no matter how turbulent or dynamic the future market becomes.
Product Roadmap and Future Innovation Directions
OKX Web3 Team: There are many exciting features in the pipeline, including: 1) A more comprehensive DeFi Play Center—currently launched its first phase with Babylon, with more protocols and convenient iterations to follow. 2) A redesigned Rewards module offering enhanced presentation and greater rewards. 3) Exploration of new chains like TON and integration of more novel protocols. 4) Ongoing iteration of the Points module, making point balances and transactions more visual and manageable, turning points into assets users can actively manage within DeFi.
Our future innovation focuses on two main directions:
1) Simplifying Complex Protocols: After aggregating a wide range of protocols and chains, we will gradually shift from basic trading tools to providing richer gameplay guidance, offering users a more immersive DeFi experience. Eventually, users could optimize DeFi trading strategies—balancing risk and return—without needing to entrust custody of their funds, significantly enhancing the overall DeFi experience.
2) Open Collaboration and Permissionless Access: We plan to open more permissions to partners, including the Rewards module and DeFi API. OKX Web3 DeFi won't just be an OKX-exclusive product—it will allow other platforms to integrate with OKX Web3 DeFi, and open up rewards and services to B2B clients such as project teams. Ultimately, we aim to evolve into a permissionless on-chain DeFi tool, offering broader services to enterprise clients.
The Future of DeFi
OKX Web3 Team: Since DeFi Summer, DeFi has remained a central theme in the Web3 space. Although its hype has cooled compared to earlier days, it continues to be the core hub for capital and OG users across major public chains, maintaining high total value locked (TVL). Today, emerging protocols like restaking are injecting new vitality into DeFi, with many protocols still offering APYs above 10%. We believe even more innovative and engaging protocols will emerge, leading DeFi toward a new peak.
OKX DeFi will continue closely following market trends, rapidly integrating new protocols, and steadfastly protecting user asset security—all in pursuit of delivering a superior DeFi participation experience.
Learn More About OKX Web3 Invisible Infrastructure
To learn more about OKX Web3 Wallet's invisible infrastructure, read:
Disclaimer:
This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered (i) investment advice or recommendation, (ii) an offer or solicitation to buy, sell, or hold digital assets, or (iii) financial, accounting, legal, or tax advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the information provided. Digital assets (including stablecoins and NFTs) are subject to market volatility, involve high risk, may depreciate, and could become worthless. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital assets is suitable for you based on your financial situation and risk tolerance. Please consult your legal/tax/investment professionals regarding your specific circumstances. Not all products are available in all regions. For more details, please refer to the OKX Terms of Service and Risk Disclosure & Disclaimer. OKX Web3 Wallet and its derivative services are governed by separate terms of service. You are solely responsible for understanding and complying with applicable local laws and regulations.
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