Scaling the crypto frontier: How Blox built for scalability with AxonIQ

Blox, a cryptocurrency trading platform launched in 2019, set out with a simple goal: make crypto trading accessible to everyone—no technical expertise required. “We’ve often said our app should work so easily that even someone’s grandmother could buy crypto,” said Björn Smits, Software Development Manager at Blox. This user-first approach quickly attracted over 400,000 active users.

However, the rapid growth brought significant technical challenges. With activity surging up to 20x during bull runs, Blox needed infrastructure that could scale effortlessly, handle real-time transactions, and ensure zero downtime under intense pressure. Crypto traders have no tolerance for outages and will quickly move to competitors if a platform falls short. Coupled with strict security and compliance requirements, there was no room for compromise between performance and reliability.

Our app’s simplicity is its strength, but it depends on infrastructure that can handle volatility and maintain a great user experience.

- Björn Smits, Software Development Manager at Blox

The challenge

The cryptocurrency market is volatile and unforgiving. Platforms must scale instantly, maintain speed during surges, and comply with strict financial regulations—all while staying resilient. For Blox, success hinged on solving four critical issues:

• Scalability under pressure

  Bull markets could bring a 20x surge in activity, stressing their systems. Processing delays risked user dissatisfaction and retention.

• Real-time transaction speed

  Delays in deposits or withdrawals were unacceptable in a market where seconds matter.

• Security and compliance

  Meeting regulations like DORA and MIKAR required secure and reliable processes for user verification and data handling.

• Resilience and uptime

  Any downtime or unavailability of trading pairs could send users to competitors. Crypto never sleeps, and neither can a trading platform. Even a brief outage or a single unavailable trading pair could send users to competitors. “If we’re not available, or a coin isn’t tradable, users will simply go elsewhere,” Smits said.

Blox’s existing architecture struggled to keep up. To maintain their promise of simple, seamless trading, they needed a technical solution that could handle these challenges and future-proof their platform.

The solution

To tackle its challenges head-on Blox chose the event sourcing and Command Query Responsibility Separation (CQRS) architectural patterns. They created a system that could handle surges in activity without breaking a sweat. The result? A platform that delivers reliability, scalability, and performance—no matter what the markets throw its way.

Blox turned to Axon Framework and Axon Server to implement these patterns quickly.

Technical impact

Blox saw measurable improvements after implementing AxonIQ’s tools:

• Scalability: The platform effortlessly handled a 20x increase in traffic during peak periods, ensuring uninterrupted user experiences.

• Speed: Real-time transaction processing reduced delays, with users no longer waiting to see their balances or trade confirmations.

• Resilience: High availability during both bull and bear markets maintained user trust and minimized churn.

• Simplified development: Developers could focus on core functionalities instead of building custom infrastructure, accelerating feature rollouts.

As Smits described, “Thanks to Axon, we were able to quickly go to market with a reliable solution. Its out-of-the-box support saved us significant time and effort, allowing us to focus on delivering value to our users.”

Real-world impact

For Blox users, the benefits were clear: faster, smoother transactions and uninterrupted access to the platform, regardless of market conditions. Features like lending and staking became effortless, while Blox’s reliability earned the trust of traders navigating the chaos of crypto.

For the business, improved scalability and operational efficiency meant fewer bottlenecks and greater customer satisfaction. Blox cemented its reputation as a user-friendly, reliable crypto platform. Now, with 750,000 “carefree users” trading across 125 coins, Blox has set a new standard in crypto: simplicity that scales, reliability that lasts, and a user-first approach that defines the future.

AxonIQ’s contribution

AxonIQ played a pivotal role in Blox’s success by providing tools and frameworks that simplified complex processes.

• Event Sourcing expertise: AxonIQ’s out-of-the-box capabilities saved Blox months of development time.

• Seamless integration: AxonIQ’s solutions integrated effortlessly into Blox’s existing architecture.

• Continuous support: AxonIQ offered guidance and training to ensure Blox maximized the value of their tools.

Other companies spend months building what Axon provides out of the box. AxonIQ’s support has been invaluable in helping us focus on what matters—delivering value to our users.

- Björn Smits, Software Development Manager at Blox

Looking forward

Blox plans to expand its capabilities by closing the crypto ecosystem loop: enabling users not only to trade and earn but also to make everyday payments with their assets.

The company also aims to enhance its systems further by refining its use of Domain-Driven Design (DDD) and reducing unnecessary complexity in non-core domains.

“Our goal is to remain at the forefront of innovation while keeping things simple and accessible for everyone,” Smits shared.

Conclusion

Blox’s journey proves that even in the high-stakes, volatile world of crypto, simplicity and reliability can win. By embracing Axon Framework and Axon Server, they turned complex challenges into opportunities, creating a platform that delivers seamless trading experiences to over three quarters of a million users.

"Axon made it possible for us to focus on delivering value to our users instead of getting bogged down in technical complexity,” Smits said.

As Blox looks ahead—closing the loop on crypto trading, earning, and payments—they’re shaping the future of how people engage with digital assets. Their success shows that when speed, reliability, and scalability align, anything is possible—even bringing cryptocurrency to your grandmother’s fingertips.