BitPay Hodl Pay
First DeFi-commerce integration enabling crypto spending without selling.
Client
BitPay
Services
Visual Design UI & UX Design
Industries
Crypto
Date
2025
Groundbreaking integration between Aave DeFi lending and BitPay payments, solving the crypto holder's dilemma by enabling spending without selling investment holdings.
01. Problem
Crypto holders viewed their assets as investments, not spending money. They wanted to make purchases but didn't want to sell appreciating holdings, creating a fundamental barrier to crypto commerce adoption.
No payment processor had solved this because the technical challenge of integrating DeFi lending with real-world payments hadn't been attempted. The opportunity existed due to growing Aave borrowing activity, but required connecting three separate protocols seamlessly.
02. Solution
I designed the first DeFi-commerce integration, allowing users to borrow stablecoins against their Aave holdings and pay BitPay invoices (a user would need to borrow first on Aave). The system gives users protocol options and shows available borrowing tokens, while relying on Aave's proven health factor system for liquidation protection.
The key insight was positioning this as "keeping your stack" rather than spending crypto - appealing directly to holders who want liquidity without losing investment upside.
03. Process
With no precedent to follow, I had to design the UX for connecting BitPay checkout, Aave lending, and various crypto wallets into one seamless flow. I kept the interface simple but comprehensive for users already familiar with DeFi borrowing, providing clear token selection and borrowing options.
04. Impact
Created an entirely new product category by bridging DeFi and commerce for the first time. The solution unlocked a previously untapped user segment - crypto holders who wanted to spend but refused to sell their investments. This positioning of "keep your stack while spending" fundamentally changed how BitPay could market to long-term crypto holders.