The Problem: Redundancy and Liquidity Confusion
Currently, the Nimiq wallet displays the fiat value of the account in two primary locations on the main dashboard:
- The Header: A large “Total Balance” at the top.
- The Account Card: A smaller fiat value next to the specific Address/NIM amount.
While this confirms the user’s total “net worth” within the app, it creates a potential UX pitfall. Total Balance DOES NOT EQUAL Spendable Fiat.
The “Coffee Shop” Scenario
Imagine a user enters a coffee shop. They look at their wallet and see a Total Balance of $100. They feel confident and order a $5 latte. However, the transaction fails because $98 of that balance is currently staked (locked), leaving only $2 in spendable liquidity.
In this moment, the UI has “lied” to the user about their immediate purchasing power. It’s the digital equivalent of trying to pay for coffee with your 401k—it’s part of your wealth, but it’s not in your pocket.
The Proposal: Liquidity-First Dashboard
I suggest we repurpose the real estate on the main screen to provide more functional information:
- Top Header (Prominent): Change this to “Spendable Balance.” This tells the user exactly what they can walk into a store and spend right now.
- Account Level (Below): Maintain the “Total NIM” and “Total Balance” (fiat) here. This serves as the “Net Worth” view, showing the sum of spendable + staked/locked assets.
| Current UX | Proposed UX |
|---|---|
| Header: Total Balance (Fiat) | Header: Spendable Balance (Fiat) |
| Account: Total NIM + Total Fiat | Account: Total NIM + Total Fiat (Net Worth) |
Why this works:
- Eliminates Redundancy: We stop showing the exact same fiat number in two places.
- Prevents Payment Failure: Users have a realistic expectation of their liquidity before they initiate a transaction.
- Encourages Planning: If a user sees a low “Spendable” balance but a high “Total” balance, they are prompted to unstake or manage their funds before they reach the point of sale.
I’d love to hear the community’s thoughts on whether prioritizing liquidity over total net worth would improve the daily-use experience of the wallet.