Reflecting on Tanari Beta: A First Step Toward Bitcoin's Financial Layer

A few months ago, we launched the Tanari Beta and invited a small group of early users to explore what Bitcoin finance could look like when it’s rebuilt from scratch.

Beta was more than showcasing a feature-packed release. It was about focus: how do we make the most important Bitcoin actions feel easy, familiar, and fast?

That’s what we tested. That’s what we learned. And now, we’re getting ready for what comes next.

Here’s what we built, what people experienced, and where we’re going next.

What the Tanari Beta Included

Early testers got access to the first layer of Tanari, our take on the essential Bitcoin experience. It was a focused release, and it included:

• Passkey login using Face ID or fingerprint (no passwords)
• A fast, responsive interface to store, send, and receive BTC
• Human-readable usernames like @tanarian or @btcparent to send BTC (no addresses required)
• A contact system for fast, organized transfers
• Social backup that allowed trusted contacts to help recover access
• Seamless cross-device syncing

These were core building blocks delivered without distractions. We wanted to see what it felt like to get the foundations right before moving forward.

What people loved

1. Usernames changed everything.

This was the single most loved feature. People didn’t want to copy and paste addresses. They didn’t want to scan QR codes. They wanted to type a name and hit send, and that’s exactly what they got.

2. Speed made it stick.

Transactions were fast. App load times were fast. Recovery flows were fast. The experience felt responsive and intuitive across devices, and users told us they noticed.

3. Face ID login created real confidence.

Using Face ID (or fingerprint) instead of a password made Tanari feel familiar. Not “crypto-familiar”, actually familiar. Like something you’d use every day. And under the hood, the tech was solid: secure passkeys, not shortcuts.

4. Guardian recovery earned trust.

People don’t usually talk about recovery flows. But in Tanari, they did. The Guardian system stood out for being smooth, easy to set up, and clearly designed for real-world fail-safes.

5. The UI surprised people.

This wasn’t just “good for Bitcoin.” It was good, period. People called it clean, minimal, and easy to navigate. Even first-time users moved through core actions without hand-holding. That was exactly the goal.

What We Held Back (On Purpose)

Stablecoins, lending, on/off ramps, merchant tools, none of that was in the Beta. And that was intentional.

This was Phase 1. We were focused on getting the basics right making sure Bitcoin felt like it belonged in 2025, not 2013. Now, we’re entering Phase 2: the collaborative stage.

This is where we begin working with other bApps in the Citrea ecosystem to bring more advanced tools directly into the Tanari experience. This includes:

• Nectra for BTC-backed stablecoins
• Satsuma for Bitcoin-native lending
• Crest for fiat on/off ramps
• MintNFT for identity and digital asset utility
• And more ₿Apps launching soon

We are not trying to do everything by ourselves. That’s not the point. Instead, we want Tanari to serve as the interface. The hub. The place where those services come together, with the same level of clarity and user ownership we introduced in the Beta.

Building With Our Community

One thing that became clear during Beta: we're not building for the community, we're building with it!

Our testers gave direct feedback, asked hard questions, and suggested features we hadn’t even considered. We chatted on Discord, laughed, debated, and learned. We received honest, direct feedback, or Dutch directness, as one user called it. We heard from Bitcoiners in Nigeria, the Netherlands, Argentina, Turkey, the U.S, Serbia, and so much more! People who weren’t just here to “try a product,” but to help shape a better Bitcoin ecosystem for their own communities.

Some are working on local meetups. Others are focused on helping friends get into Bitcoin safely. Some just want better tools for everyday use.

We see that. We respect it. And we’re building Tanari with those people in mind: people trying to bring Bitcoin to life where it matters most.

We want you to know that you're not just testers.  You're part of the team. 🧡

What’s Next

Beta was the first step, the next one is public. We're preparing to open up access, expand features, and onboard thousands more into Tanari. But before we do that, something’s coming.

The Unfreeze Campaign is around the corner.

It’s our next big phase: the Tanari testnet, where everyone (who has code 👀) will get a chance to try Tanari, experiment freely, and unlock what we’ve been holding back.

If you missed the Beta, Unfreeze is your chance to jump in. And if you were part of it, get ready to push the limits!

→ **Follow us on X to be the first to know when it drops.