According to representatives from the National Cryptocurrency Association, Circle, Bank of America, and ChangeNOW, trust remains the primary barrier to broader adoption of cryptocurrency. Consensus 2026 in Miami.
Ali Taghavi of the National Cryptocurrency Association stated that research shows "the biggest barrier for non-crypto holders is that they simply don't understand cryptocurrency," pointing to complexity, terminology, and misinformation as ongoing challenges.
Experts from Circle, Bank of America, and ChangeNOW stated that trust is built gradually through user experience, not merely through technical claims. Britt Cambas from Circle noted, “You can’t gain technical trust in 30 seconds,” emphasizing that clarity, simplicity, and reducing complexity are prerequisites for users to adopt new technologies.
Rachel Castro of Bank of America said that trust is at the core of financial services and “easily broken,” adding that once trust is lost, rebuilding it takes much longer.
The speaker emphasized that customer support and human interaction are key differentiators for crypto platforms. Pauline Shangett of ChangeNOW said, “For me, the top factor in building trust in a Web3 project is feeling like I’m interacting with a real person,” noting that the industry as a whole falls short in user support.
Cambas stated that reducing ambiguity in products and partnerships is crucial, noting that simplifying complex systems is more effective than launching new features in driving product adoption.
The experts also noted that education is a necessary step to onboard new users. Tag stated that to reach mainstream audiences, the industry must “make products extremely simple, easy to use, and trustworthy.”
This discussion, moderated by Ashley Wright, focused on designing systems with transparency, accessibility, and communication as top priorities. The speakers agreed that trust must be embedded into product design, customer interactions, and regulatory frameworks—not treated as a standalone feature.