TON Cash reimagined retail cashback by seamlessly integrating cryptocurrency rewards into everyday shopping, leveraging the Telegram ecosystem to create a frictionless experience that brings crypto benefits to mainstream consumers without requiring technical knowledge.
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The Challenge
Traditional cashback programs suffer from high friction: complicated redemption processes, minimum payout thresholds, and limited payment options often result in unredeemed rewards and poor user experiences. Meanwhile, cryptocurrency adoption faces barriers for everyday consumers due to technical complexity. TON Cash aimed to solve both problems simultaneously by creating a seamless cashback experience powered by the TON blockchain and Telegram's ecosystem.
The challenge extended beyond just connecting shoppers to deals - we needed to demystify the entire cashback process while subtly introducing users to cryptocurrency benefits without overwhelming them with technical details. The solution needed to feel familiar to traditional cashback users while offering the unique advantages of blockchain-based rewards.
Key Challenges
• Creating intuitive deal discovery that matched users with relevant shopping opportunities
• Simplifying the multi-step cashback process to build user confidence and trust
• Designing a reward system that felt valuable and easy to understand regardless of crypto familiarity
Process
Stakeholder Collab
• Conducted discovery calls to align business requirements with user needs
• Organized regular design reviews to gather feedback on iterations
• Mediated between stakeholders when visions weren't aligned
Project Management
• Created structured timelines for design deliverables
Challenges & Solutions
• Stakeholders had different visions for aspects of the product
• Resolved by mediating discussions and finding design solutions that addressed core concerns
The Solution
The interface focused on three key user journeys: discovering relevant deals, tracking cashback progress transparently, and redeeming rewards effortlessly with the TON blockchain.
I designed a personalized deal discovery system that learned from user preferences and shopping patterns. The multi-step cashback process was visualized through a simple progress tracker that built confidence by showing exactly where rewards stood in the pipeline. For redemption, I created a one-click solution that leveraged Telegram's wallet for instant payouts without minimum thresholds.
Key Features
Personalized Deal Discovery
• Recommendations based on shopping history and preferences
• Curated collections highlighting best value opportunities
Transparent Cashback Tracking
• Visual progress tracker showing each step from purchase to reward
• Real-time notifications at each milestone
• Estimated payout timelines based on merchant processing patterns
Seamless Reward Redemption
• One-click transfers to Telegram wallet
Impact
The app brought a familiar world to a new paradigm:
• Achieved 30% higher redemption rates than traditional cashback programs
• Reduced average time from purchase to reward by 65% compared to industry standard
Lessons Learned
• Introducing innovative technology to mainstream users requires focusing on benefits rather than technical details
• Clear visual feedback throughout multi-step processes significantly increases user confidence and retention
• When designing for mass consumer adoption, familiar patterns must be prioritized over novel interactions