Balancing simplicity with advanced features in a stock exchange application
Redefining stock trading with an intuitive interface and powerful tools, enhancing decision-making for informed and confident investors at the largest investment bank in Latin America.
/client
BTG Pactual
/PRODUCT
BTG Trader
/When
2021-2025
Until 2022, BTG Pactual’s trading experience relied on a white-label app managed by a third party. Although functional, the platform offered limited flexibility. Customizations were blocked, since any changes would affect all of the vendor’s clients — not just BTG.
In early 2021, we made a strategic decision: build our own app from scratch. This move gave us full control over the user experience and the freedom to tailor every detail to our clients’ needs.
Here's a look at the old version of the app:
The Challenge
The MVP had to match – at a minimum – all the functionalities of the previous app. Leaving out features wasn't an option: if users couldn’t perform certain operations at launch, we risked losing them to competitors.
Feature A
Feature B
Feature C
Feature D
Feature E
Score
Design Process
To get it right, we spent months in discovery:
Interviewing active clients and internal experts;
Benchmarking local and global trading platforms;
Mapping out flows based on real use cases;
Testing and iterating designs through every sprint;
The mission was clear: create a modern, fast, and intuitive trading platform that could scale with user needs — from beginners to professionals day traders.
Evolution of the Home Screen
From vendor constraints to full design ownership — here's how we evolved the home screen over time:
2021
The original version. Dense layout, low visual hierarchy, and zero customization. |
2022
Our MVP. Focused on usability and consistency. We introduced a clear navigation structure and a more modern look. |
2024
We rethought the navigation, improved tab icon clarity, and aligned components with our design system.
2025
A new 'Negociar' button for key actions and boosted engagement. We also desaturated the dark mode theme for a more pleasant and modern look. |
Feature Overview
The BTG Trader App was designed to centralize everything a variable income investor needs — with speed, depth, and clarity. Here's a breakdown of the core features that make this app powerful yet user-friendly:
What I'm Most Proud Of
Trade Button
Traders need speed. We placed a persistent “Negociar” button directly in the tab bar, available on every screen. It offers quick access to the main trading actions — from buying/selling to charts and order books.
Asset Page Customization
Each asset page delivers a wealth of information, from real-time quotes to news and analisys. Users can personalize the experience by adding or removing financial indicators.
Share Your Gains
We noticed a trend on Reddit and other forums: users shared screenshots of their portfolios — often manually censoring sensitive data. We designed a native sharing feature that lets users pick exactly what info they want to show.
In-Chart Order Execution
For advanced users, placing trades directly from charts brings speed and clarity. Our new in-chart trading flow lets them analyze and act in one place.
Results
Since its launch in April 2022, the app has grown organically from 30k MAUs to over 122k in January 2025, showing a clear shift in user adoption and satisfaction over the years.
