Trust remains a major barrier to broader cryptocurrency adoption, according to representatives from the National Cryptocurrency Association, Circle, US Bank and ChangeNOW at Consensus 2026 in Miami.
Ali Tager of the National Cryptocurrency Association said research shows that “the number one barrier for non-cryptocurrency holders is simply not understanding it,” citing complexity, jargon and misinformation as persistent challenges.
Panelists from Circle, US Bank and ChangeNOW said trust is built gradually through user experience rather than technical claims. Circle’s Britt Cambas said that “you won’t get technical confidence in 30 seconds,” emphasizing clarity and reducing complexity as prerequisites for adoption.
Rachel Castro of US Bank said trust is critical to financial services and “very easy to break,” adding that rebuilding it takes much longer once it is lost.
Speakers highlighted customer support and human interaction as critical differentiators in crypto platforms. ChangeNOW’s Pauline Shangett said that “the biggest confidence factor for me when it comes to a web3 project is the feeling that you’re working with real people,” pointing out 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 to onboarding new users. Tager said the industry needs to “make it super simple, make it accessible and reliable” to reach the general public.
The discussion, moderated by Ashley Wright, focused on designing systems that prioritize transparency, usability and communication, with speakers agreeing that trust should be built into product design, customer engagement and regulatory frameworks rather than treated as a stand-alone feature.
