Product design for the EVEDEX DEX ecosystem

EVEDEX is a decentralized crypto exchange (DEX) where users trade directly from their own wallets. The platform does not require KYC, never stores user funds, and gives users full control over their assets while preserving their privacy.

Over the past few years, crypto has started to resemble traditional banking. Centralized exchanges hold user funds, require identity verification (KYC), and increasingly restrict access to their services.

The EVEDEX team set out to restore crypto to its original principles: decentralized, secure, and focused on complete financial freedom. They set out to build a platform that delivers the same level of usability and functionality as platforms such as Binance and Bybit while preserving the core advantages of a DEX.

The platform had to enable users to manage their assets directly from their own wallets while remaining intuitive and avoiding unnecessary complications.

Rather than feeling like a professional trading terminal built only for experienced traders, it had to combine seamless trading, educational resources, and support into a product anyone could use with confidence.

To build a truly competitive platform, we focused on the client's three priorities: simplifying trading, expanding DEX capabilities, and increasing user engagement.

Together, we set out to simplify everyday trading, introduce features unavailable on most competing exchanges, and design an interface that feels intuitive rather than overwhelming.

Retention was equally important. At the client's request, we designed an affiliate programme, platform-wide gamification, and engagement mechanics that encourage users to return, explore more features, and build lasting trading habits.

From day one, Depot 42 has been responsible for the product design of the exchange and the EVEDEX ecosystem as a whole. During the project’s initial stages, we also handled communication design.

We actively applied ourselves as an extension of the client's product team, taking part in planning, research, feature discussions, and product discovery.

Working alongside the EVEDEX team, we successfully made DEX trading more convenient than most centralized exchanges. We introduced and integrated platform-wide gamification elements across the entire ecosystem, designed a unified registration flow, and adapted the interface for right-to-left languages, including Arabic. These features may appear simple, but they are still missing from many crypto exchanges.

We analysed the leading centralized and decentralized exchanges, including Hyperliquid and AEVO, mapped out the complete user journey, from funding an account to withdrawing assets, and conducted dozens of UX interviews.

This research enabled us to identify the key user scenarios and design the platform around real trading workflows rather than assumptions.

As new features were rolled out, we worked closely with legal experts. In crypto products, regulatory requirements form part of the product architecture, so many decisions had to account for multiple jurisdictions before development even began.

Most traders prefer not to relearn or reconfigure familiar workflows when switching to a new exchange. That's why we maintained the interaction patterns they already knew while bringing the most frequently used tools to the forefront for accessibility and convenience.

The trading terminal combines Long/Short order placement, the order book, TradingView charts, open positions, and trading history in a single workspace.

To make trading more accessible, we integrated two types of AI trading bots into the ecosystem.

We, as Depot 42, designed the interface for EVEDEX's proprietary bots, while EVEDEX’s team of experts developed the trading logic. Users are able to configure their budget, leverage, risk tolerance, and trading frequency directly on the platform.

To encourage long-term engagement, we designed the Prime subscription. It increases trading limits, cashback, and referral rewards while unlocking exclusive Academy content.

We also mapped the full user journey, covering everything from plan selection to subscription management, to ensure a seamless experience at every stage.

DEX platforms often feel overwhelming for newcomers, so we built education directly into the product at the client's request.

The Academy includes courses to properly educate users on crypto wallets, security, and trading strategies. Lessons are available as videos with multilingual subtitles, while Prime subscribers get access to additional content.

Marketing became a natural extension of the product, so we designed the key marketing touchpoints as part of the product experience.

We created leaderboards, feature announcements, landing pages, banners, and email campaigns. Depot 42 produced some assets, while others were developed alongside the EVEDEX team to ensure the visual language is maintained and kept consistent throughout the entire ecosystem.

To promote pre-launch user engagement and early adoption, we designed a dedicated affiliate platform. Rather than being yet another vanilla referral system, it became a core element of the ecosystem, connecting to registration, gamifying the experience, and integrating with other EVEDEX services.

We rolled out the exchange in three stages to minimise risk and validate the product with real users.

Phase one included a testnet, which became the first proving ground. Users traded with virtual funds while the team observed their behaviour, addressed and fixed issues, and refined the overall experience.

The next stage saw the testnet evolve into a demo trading mode with the same interface and trading scenarios, but without the risk of losing real money.

The final step was the launch of beta mainnet, where a limited group of users were allowed to trade with real funds. This enabled the team to validate the platform under real market conditions and make final preparations for the official launch.

Only then did EVEDEX make real-world trading publicly accessible on the exchange. Compared to the testnet version, the platform added more trading pairs, multiple deposit and withdrawal methods, and real cashback and rewards through the gamification system.

We developed a scalable design system from the start, creating a springboard that would make EVEDEX’s growth feel organic and seamless.

It includes:

• Product UI Kit
• Marketing UI Kit
• Gamification UI Kit
• Scalable design patterns
• Developer documentation

This foundation enables the team to roll out new products faster while maintaining visual and functional consistency across the ecosystem.

We helped deliver the design and launch of 10 products across the EVEDEX ecosystem.

In just 6 months, the team launched a fully-fledged decentralized crypto exchange (DEX) with a trading terminal, AI trading bots, an affiliate programme, the Academy, Prime subscription, and a platform-wide gamification system.

For the crypto industry, this is an exceptional pace. Similar products tend to spend years in development before reaching a public release.