ClearFeed
Revolutionizing News Reading with Web3
Project Context
Today, most digital news is locked behind rigid subscription models. As readers, we often want to explore stories from different sources — but hitting a paywall after one article breaks the flow. At the same time, trust in major media is declining, and independent journalism often struggles to reach wider audiences.
Goal
Explore a more flexible, reader-first model that lowers barriers to accessing trusted journalism, highlights independent voices, and gives readers control over how they pay for content.
Outcome
Designed ClearFeed: a conceptual reading experience where users can pay per article through a seamless, low-friction flow. We also explored how emerging Web3 technologies like crypto micropayments could power this model.
Team
Yao Zhou (Product Designer)
Gurmandeep Kaur (UX Researcher)
Timeline
Dec 2025~ Jan 2025
Research & Insights
Before designing, we explored how modern readers engage with news — and why current models feel broken:
Paywalls create friction
75%+ of top news outlets are behind paywalls, disrupting casual reading.
Trust is declining
62% of readers say media bias is a concern — many seek independent voices.
Rigid subscriptions don’t fit today’s habits
40%+ churn within a year; users want flexibility.
Solution
Solution → ClearFeed
A conceptual pay-per-article reading experience — designed to lower access barriers, highlight independent journalism, and give readers more control:
Discover Independent Journalism
The platform surfaces content from independent journalists and creators — helping readers discover diverse voices outside traditional media, and allowing more direct support for underrepresented perspectives.
Pay-Per-Article
A flexible, pay-per-article model gives readers the freedom to unlock individual stories without committing to subscriptions.
Seamless payments via crypto
Web3-based micropayments power the experience — enabling low-cost, frictionless payments across platforms, and allowing users to support journalism on their own terms.
User-driven content curation
Instead of algorithmic recommendation feeds, ClearFeed uses a transparent, community-based rating system — giving readers more control over how content is surfaced, reducing bias, and encouraging more trust-driven discovery.
Process
Framing the Opportunity
With a clear problem space defined, I shifted focus toward designing a more flexible, reader-first experience — one that would:
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