Designing the Coverage Planner came with a unique set of challenges at the intersection of data, regulation, and remote collaboration.

Working with distributed teams across the U.S. and Ukraine required tight async coordination and clear documentation to keep momentum across time zones. Aligning product decisions, engineering constraints, and design priorities in this environment demanded a high level of autonomy and structured communication.

One of the most complex aspects of the project was visualising large, layered datasets, on-chain rewards, signal strength, existing coverage zones, and user accounts, without overwhelming the user. Striking a balance between map interactivity and performance meant iterating closely with engineers and fine-tuning how and when information was surfaced.

The broader regulatory climate also posed significant constraints. With increasing scrutiny on crypto-related platforms, we had to be careful with terminology, onboarding flows, and the overall tone of the product to ensure compliance - while still delivering value to crypto-native users.

Perhaps the biggest challenge was simplifying a technically dense and often unfamiliar process. Many users didn’t fully understand how DePIN networks work, or what made a hotspot location viable. Turning that complexity into clarity, through UI, copy, and guided flows was a constant focus.