Crypto’s supposed inclusivity debunked as visually impaired individuals are left out
Crypto, despite its promise of financial inclusivity, continues to be largely inaccessible to the blind and visually impaired. This issue was highlighted in a 2017 interview with Craig McGee, a blind Bitcoin enthusiast from the UK. McGee, who has Norrie disease, a genetic disorder, explained that the biggest challenge for the blind in the crypto world is accessibility.
Unfortunately, this is not a unique experience for McGee. It is a shared experience among the 43 million blind and 295 million severely visually impaired individuals worldwide. Engaging with crypto platforms, such as wallets and exchanges, often requires visual interaction that is not compatible with assistive technologies like screen readers. This lack of accessibility means that a significant portion of the global population is unintentionally excluded from participating fully in the digital economy.
A recent study on the accessibility of crypto wallets found that eight out of ten popular wallets lacked dedicated accessibility features. Users of popular wallets like MetaMask and Coinbase faced challenges due to confusing layouts, poor color contrast, and inadequate keyboard navigation support. Usability tests showed that blind participants took an average of 70% longer to complete tasks compared to sighted users. This delay was primarily due to accessibility barriers like unlabeled buttons and screen reader incompatibilities. These barriers not only slowed down their interaction but also increased security risks.
One example of a security challenge for blind users is handling secret recovery phrases. The poor compatibility with screen readers often forced them to skip these essential steps or resort to less secure methods, such as saving sensitive information in plain text files. The study also highlighted inconsistencies in notifications and labeling within crypto platforms, making it difficult for blind users to perform basic operations.
In response to these challenges, some initiatives have been launched to improve accessibility in the crypto space. Bitget, an exchange, plans to introduce features similar to Binance’s palette for color vision deficiencies. Binance itself added a new palette for users with color vision deficiencies in 2022. Other initiatives include Haptics DAO, a startup developing an audio and haptic feedback platform to aid visually and hearing-impaired users in accessing wallets and understanding financial data.
To enhance accessibility for the blind and visually impaired, crypto platforms should ensure screen reader compatibility, adhere to color contrast guidelines, allow text customization, implement direct labeling and alternative text, embed educational resources, establish a feedback mechanism, undergo accessibility testing, and obtain certification from reputable organizations. By making crypto platforms more user-friendly for blind and visually impaired individuals, the industry can foster a more inclusive and diverse ecosystem that benefits everyone.
