Trust in crypto remains biggest barrier to adoption, say Consensus Miami 2026 panelists

Speakers point to complexity, poor user experience and lack of transparency as key obstacles for mainstream users.

What to know:

• Panelists at Consensus 2026 said trust remains the main obstacle to wider crypto adoption, driven by complexity, jargon and misinformation.
• Speakers from Circle, U.S. Bank and ChangeNOW argued that trust is earned through clear, simple user experiences, strong customer support and visible human interaction rather than technical claims alone.
• The discussion emphasized that transparency, usability, education and regulatory alignment must be built into product design and communication to make crypto accessible and trustworthy for mainstream users.

Trust remains a primary barrier to broader crypto adoption, according to representatives from the National Cryptocurrency Association, Circle, U.S. Bank and ChangeNOW at Consensus 2026 in Miami.

Ali Tager of the National Cryptocurrency Association said research shows “the number one barrier to non-crypto holders is they just do not get it,” citing complexity, jargon and misinformation as persistent challenges.

Panelists from Circle, U.S. Bank and ChangeNOW said trust is built gradually through user experience rather than technical claims. Britt Cambas of Circle said “you are not going to get technical trust in 30 seconds,” emphasizing clarity and reducing complexity as prerequisites for adoption.

Rachel Castro of U.S. Bank said trust is central to financial services and “very easily broken,” adding that rebuilding it takes significantly longer once lost.

Speakers highlighted customer support and human interaction as critical differentiators in crypto platforms. Pauline Shangett of ChangeNOW said “the primary factor of trust for me when it comes to a web3 project is a feeling that you are working with real people,” pointing to gaps in user support across the industry.

Cambas said reducing ambiguity in products and partnerships is key, noting that simplifying complex systems can drive adoption more effectively than new features.

Panelists also pointed to education as a necessary step for onboarding new users. Tager said the industry must “make it super simple, make it accessible, make it trustworthy” to reach mainstream audiences.

The discussion, moderated by Ashley Wright, focused on designing systems that prioritize transparency, usability and communication, with speakers agreeing that trust must be embedded across product design, customer engagement and regulatory frameworks rather than treated as a standalone feature.

More For You

The Nevada Democrat told Professor Yesha Yadav that incremental, bipartisan reform is the path forward as Senate negotiations on the CLARITY Act stall.

What to know:

• Rep. Steven Horsford, co-author of the bipartisan PARITY Act, told the audience at CoinDesk's Consensus Miami conference Tuesday that crypto tax policy needs to advance through narrow, durable reform rather than a single comprehensive overhaul.
• He admitted Senate negotiations on the CLARITY Act between Senators Thom Tillis and Angela Alsobrooks...

The world's entire economy will be tokenized, says Consensys’ Joseph Lubin

53 minutes ago

It's transparency, not tech alone, that drives crypto adoption, panelists tell Consensus Miami

55 minutes ago

Different voices in product, policy and hiring change crypto outcomes, panelists tell Consensus Miami

1 hour ago

AI agents are breaking web economics, but Cloudflare says x402 can help

1 hour ago

Kraken eyes IPO as it partners with MoneyGram to bridge crypto-to-cash gap

1 hour ago

State Street says institutions want improved blockchain security in wake of recent DeFi attacks

1 hour ago

Strategy posts $12.54 billion Q1 loss on declining bitcoin price

2 hours ago

Bitcoin extends gains to $81,500 as tokenization push lifts Bullish, Galaxy, Centrifuge

4 hours ago

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse says Clarity better than chaos as Senate hits key moment

6 hours ago

Consensus Miami Day 1: Real-time coverage and highlights from on the ground

9 hours ago

Figure targets Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in mortgage push, citing massive cost cuts for borrowers

5 hours ago

Coinbase cuts 14% of staff as AI reshapes how crypto companies operate

11 hours ago