At the recent Consensus 2026 event in Miami, panelists from the National Cryptocurrency Association, Circle, U.S. Bank, and ChangeNOW identified trust as a major obstacle hindering wider acceptance of cryptocurrency. Ali Tager from the National Cryptocurrency Association highlighted that complexity, jargon, and misinformation contribute to the hesitance among non-crypto users.
The panelists emphasized that trust develops through user experience over time rather than technical specifications alone. Britt Cambas of Circle underscored that gaining ‘technical trust’ isn’t instantaneous, advocating for clarity and simplification as essential first steps towards wider adoption.
Rachel Castro from U.S. Bank highlighted the fragility of trust in financial services, noting its ease to break and the challenge in re-establishing it once lost. The discussion also focused on customer service and direct human interaction as vital components that distinguish crypto platforms. Pauline Shangett of ChangeNOW stressed that a sense of genuine human engagement is crucial for fostering trust.
Cambas suggested that clarifying products and partnerships could significantly enhance user adoption, arguing that simplification of complex systems might be more effective than introducing new features. Education was also highlighted as an essential factor in onboarding new users. Tager noted the need to simplify, make crypto accessible, and ensure it is trustworthy for broader appeal.
Moderated by Ashley Wright, the conversation centered around designing transparent, user-friendly systems where trust is integrated into all aspects of product design, customer interaction, and regulatory compliance rather than being an isolated feature.