Why user experience abstraction is the key to the large-scale adoption of Web3

Written by: 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 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 hinders everything: user experience.

We are at a familiar turning point, reminiscent of the early evolution of the internet. Nowadays, using dApps is like browsing the internet in the 90s. For the average user, the experience of navigating blockchain, wallets, cross-chain bridges, Gas fees, protocols, and signatures is still clumsy and unacceptable. These are not just minor issues, but significant 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 increased 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 usability.

User Experience Abstraction Framework: From Friction to Smoothness

User experience abstraction is the process of systematically hiding the underlying complexity of blockchain interactions from the end user. It is not just about simplifying operations but also about designing sufficiently intelligent systems that can manage complexity on behalf of the user. Just as the internet transitioned from IP addresses and command lines to browsers and applications, Web3 must also transition from mnemonics 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 towards mainstream availability.

Phase 1: Easy-to-understand User Experience Improvements

In the first phase, developers focus on minimizing friction in existing Web3 thinking models. Users still need to understand networks, wallets, and assets, but the interface will be streamlined to reduce scene environment switching. For example, decentralized exchanges now often integrate cross-chain bridge protocols directly into their user interface, 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 to offer 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 interactions 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 only need to define the desired actions, and the rest is handled by the application.

This is thanks to technologies like 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 take on 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 payment using multiple tokens.

The solver network enhances this advantage further by introducing an intent-based architecture. Users do not need to interact with a single protocol, but rather express a desired outcome (such as swapping 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 cross-chain applications with better pricing and execution speed.

Cross-chain swap on Debridge

The new token standards also play a key role. Solutions like LayerZero's OFT, Chainlink's CCT, and Wormhole's NTT simplify the interoperability of cross-chain tokens through burning and minting 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 also the most advanced layer, allows users to completely not think about blockchain. In this layer, the concepts of chains, gas, and wallets will no longer exist. The experience embodies the simplicity of Web2 - user operation, result delivery.

This is an emerging field of super wallets and intent-driven agents. Platforms like 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, 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 using 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 each chain.

Griffain and HeyAnon have provided innovative 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 tech stacks 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 the 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 the relevant financial terms. Additionally, developers and protocols often optimize for specific ecosystems, which may introduce subtle barriers even in interfaces unrelated to the blockchain.

To overcome these limitations, developers must adopt a new mindset—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 cryptocurrencies to achieve scalability. The next wave of users will not learn to use the blockchain. They expect to use applications, and these applications must be smart enough to manage complexity in an invisible, secure, and reliable manner.

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 realizing the mass adoption of Web3.

Importantly, abstraction is not one-size-fits-all. Native cryptocurrency users may still value granular control and composability, while newcomers may 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 — the design goal for developers is outcomes, not just focusing on protocols; wallets will become their agents; user experience is no longer an afterthought but a foundation.

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