Chestnut
Pioneering blockchain smart account technology
Chestnut addressed a critical barrier to mainstream cryptocurrency adoption: user fear about managing and protecting digital assets. The team met in Bali and bonded over a shared belief that widespread blockchain adoption would only happen when Smart Accounts offered the same security and protections as traditional banking.
The concept was simple: a permission-based Smart Account that let users set their own rules around transactions — spending limits, transaction thresholds, and security parameters — with automatic rejection of anything outside those bounds. When the EOS Global Hackathon theme turned to privacy and security, the "if this, then that" model clicked into place.
As co-founder and design director, I shaped the brand identity, designed the user experience, and crafted a product language that made smart contract interactions feel intuitive — the quality of work that ultimately won Best UX. The goal was always "grandma-friendly": designed for mainstream users, not just crypto natives.
"Their idea and team are both wicked smart... necessary piece of the puzzle on the way to mass adoption." — Phillip Hamnett
Highlights
- 1st Runner Up and Best UX award at EOS Global Hackathon, London (September 2018)
- US$25,000 second prize — presented to ~700 attendees plus thousands on YouTube livestream
- Finalist at Cape Town Grand Finale
- Featured by EOSIO as a #BuiltOnEOSIO project
- Smart contracts deployed on Jungle testnet
- Partnership with Telos for planned deployment
- Published Technical White Paper
Key Contributions
- Co-founded and led creative direction for the product
- Designed the user experience that won Best UX — making smart contract interactions intuitive
- Prototyped and pitched in under 72 hours at competitive hackathon
- Shaped brand identity and visual language across product and presentation materials
- Represented the team through London and Cape Town hackathon stages
Links
- Chestnut Technical White Paper
- London Hackathon Recap
- Block One / EOSIO Team Profile
- Telos Announcement
Acknowledgements
Danielle Diamond (Co-Founder), Daniel Liebeskind (Co-Founder & CEO), Ashe Oro (Co-Founder), Jack Disalvatore (Co-Founder), Anette Wilms (Co-Founder).
