Ship or Die Accelerate 2025: Why Everyone Should Refocus on Mobile

In a groundbreaking interview at Ship or Die Accelerate 2025, Chris Maddern sits down with Johann Kerbrat, GM of Robinhood Crypto, to discuss the pivotal role of mobile in driving mainstream crypto adoption. As the world becomes increasingly mobile-first, Kerbrat shares insights on why Robinhood is doubling down on mobile strategies and what exciting developments we can expect in the blockchain space.

Summary

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The interview kicks off with a discussion on why mobile is crucial for the next billion crypto users. Kerbrat, drawing from his experience at Robinhood, emphasizes that crypto's 24/7 nature necessitates accessibility from anywhere, making mobile the ideal platform. He highlights Robinhood's focus on simplifying complex crypto processes for users, including features like gas selection and free Solana swaps for Robinhood Gold members.

The conversation then shifts to the development of non-custodial wallets and why Robinhood chose a mobile-first approach in this space. Kerbrat explains that while browser extensions have their place, the real excitement lies in daily crypto usage facilitated by mobile devices. He touches on the potential for mobile wallets in gaming and everyday transactions.

Kerbrat also shares his thoughts on exciting on-chain developments, including the tokenization of real-world assets and the intersection of blockchain with AI. He discusses the potential for crypto to enable more decentralized AI model training and fairer content creator compensation.

The interview concludes with a look at the future of mobile crypto products and the ongoing race between bringing off-chain assets on-chain and vice versa through products like ETFs. Kerbrat predicts that both trends will continue, with institutional involvement bringing stability to the market and on-chain solutions offering 24/7 access and fractionalization.

Key Points:

Mobile-First Strategy for Crypto Adoption

Robinhood's decision to focus on mobile for crypto adoption stems from two main factors. First, the 24/7 nature of crypto markets demands accessibility from anywhere, making mobile devices the perfect platform. Second, to reach a broader audience beyond traditional finance professionals, mobile offers the most inclusive approach. Kerbrat emphasizes that while Robinhood also develops powerful web and desktop platforms, being mobile-first is essential for success in the crypto space.

This strategy extends to Robinhood's non-custodial wallet development. While browser extensions were common in the crypto space, Robinhood saw an opportunity to simplify DeFi and Web3 interactions through a mobile-first approach. By focusing on user experience and removing complexities like gas selection, Robinhood aims to make crypto more accessible to everyday users.

Exciting On-Chain Developments

Kerbrat highlights several exciting developments in the blockchain space. The tokenization of real-world assets is finally gaining traction after years of discussion. This opens up new possibilities for fractional ownership and increased liquidity in traditionally illiquid markets.

Another area of interest is the intersection of blockchain and AI. Kerbrat sees potential for decentralized AI model training and data management. This could address concerns about fair compensation for content creators whose data is used to train AI models. Blockchain's ability to facilitate micropayments at scale makes it well-suited for this use case, potentially leading to more diverse and globally representative AI models.

The Future of Mobile Crypto Products

Looking ahead to 2027, Kerbrat predicts significant developments in mobile crypto products. He anticipates growth in futures and derivatives trading on mobile platforms, citing the recent success of products like Perp Protocol. Decentralized exchanges (DEXs) are also expected to gain market share, with their volume increasing from around 5% to 20-25% of total trading volume.

Kerbrat believes that more centralized platforms will begin offering access to DEXs, further blurring the lines between traditional and decentralized finance. This integration could lead to increased liquidity and more sophisticated financial products in the crypto space.

The Race Between On-Chain and Off-Chain Solutions

Kerbrat discusses the ongoing competition between bringing off-chain assets on-chain and creating traditional financial products (like ETFs) for crypto exposure. He believes both trends will continue to develop in parallel.

ETFs and similar products are bringing in a new wave of investors and institutions, leading to increased market stability and liquidity. On the other hand, the move towards on-chain solutions is driven by demand for 24/7 access, fractionalization, and unrestricted price discovery. Kerbrat sees this as an inevitable trend, though the exact implementation will depend on evolving regulatory frameworks.

Facts + Figures

• Robinhood offers a platform called Robinhood Legend, described as "TradingView on steroids" with advanced charting capabilities
• Robinhood Gold members can now get free Solana swaps
• DEX volume has increased from about 5% to 20-25% of total trading volume in recent years
• Bitcoin price remained relatively stable around $85,000 during a recent stock market correction
• Kerbrat observed widespread adoption of crypto wallets for everyday transactions in an unnamed country, replacing traditional banking infrastructure
• On-ramp processes for crypto remain a significant hurdle for many companies due to regulatory challenges

Top quotes

1. "If you want to be in crypto, you need to be mobile first."
2. "We try to remove a lot of the complexity to make sure that people can actually focus on doing what they're trying to do and not just trying to understand how to use crypto."
3. "I think for us, we were more excited about the people that are actually using crypto on a day-to-day versus just using a one-off on the Chrome extension."
4. "The bar of what has passed for UX in crypto has been pretty sad for a really long time."
5. "If we want these [AI] models to work for everyone, not just the people that are in Silicon Valley on the west coast of the US, we will need to have this content that is from the entire world. And so I think crypto will be super useful."
6. "I think everything will come on-chain at some point. It's just a question of how and under which regulatory framework."

Questions Answered

Why is mobile-first important for crypto adoption?

Mobile-first is crucial for crypto adoption because crypto markets operate 24/7, and users need access from anywhere at any time. Additionally, mobile devices are the primary means of internet access for a large portion of the global population, making them essential for reaching a broader audience beyond traditional finance professionals. Robinhood's focus on mobile ensures that crypto is accessible to anyone, not just those with desktop computers or Bloomberg terminals.

What advantages does a mobile-first approach offer for crypto products?

A mobile-first approach challenges developers to create clearer, more user-friendly experiences. Mobile users expect fast and simple interfaces, which forces crypto products to simplify complex processes. This results in more intuitive products that can capture users' attention and become part of their daily routines. Additionally, mobile apps can leverage features like biometric authentication and push notifications to enhance security and engagement.

How is Robinhood approaching non-custodial wallets?

Robinhood is developing a mobile-first non-custodial wallet that aims to simplify DeFi and Web3 interactions. Rather than focusing on browser extensions, which they felt were already well-served, Robinhood is creating a wallet that handles complexities like gas selection automatically. This approach allows users to focus on their intended actions rather than getting bogged down in technical details. The wallet also integrates with mobile games and everyday transactions, making crypto more accessible for daily use.

What exciting developments are happening in the blockchain space?

Two major developments in the blockchain space are the tokenization of real-world assets and the intersection of blockchain with AI. Real-world asset tokenization is finally gaining traction, opening up new possibilities for fractional ownership and increased liquidity. In the AI space, blockchain technology could enable more decentralized and fair systems for training AI models and compensating content creators. This could lead to more diverse and globally representative AI models.

How will mobile crypto products evolve by 2027?

By 2027, mobile crypto products are expected to offer more sophisticated financial instruments, including futures and derivatives trading. Decentralized exchanges (DEXs) are likely to gain significant market share, potentially accounting for 20-25% of total trading volume. We may also see increased integration between centralized platforms and DEXs, providing users with seamless access to a wide range of crypto financial products and services directly from their mobile devices.