- George Harrap founded Step Finance to simplify Solana’s complex DeFi landscape for everyday users.
- He focuses on building tools that empower people to truly understand their crypto activity.
Few people can say they were in crypto before Bitcoin was a mainstream topic. George Harrap is one of those few. He wasn’t just an early observer but an active participant who shaped the way people interact with digital assets today.
If Step Finance sounds familiar to Solana users, George is the man behind the analytics dashboard. But George’s story isn’t just about technology. It’s about someone who wasn’t content to be a passenger in the digital revolution—he wanted to be in the driver’s seat.
How George Harrap Bridged Cash and Crypto Worlds
Before the world knew about Step Finance, George had already built something else. He founded BitSpark, a blockchain-based remittance platform that sought to bridge the gap between cash and digital assets.
It was here that he learned firsthand about the friction of the global financial system—from prohibitive transaction fees to the slow pace of sending money across borders. The experience gave him not only technical insight but also a practical understanding of the problems everyday people face.
In turn, it was a pivotal moment that changed the course of his career. Rather than focusing on solutions, George began asking a more fundamental question: how can people see and understand what’s happening in their crypto world? It’s a simple question, but in the increasingly complex DeFi ecosystem, the answer isn’t so simple.
Step Finance: More Than Just a Dashboard
Enter Step Finance, an analytics dashboard that not only makes it easy for users to monitor their portfolios but also bridges them to the many features of the Solana network. George and his team saw a huge opportunity: the Solana ecosystem was growing rapidly but lacked tools to help them navigate its complexity.
Step served as the “front page of the internet” for Solana users, allowing them to track assets, exchange tokens, explore NFTs, and engage in yield farming without having to switch apps.
However, building on a new network like Solana was no small feat. It was fast and cheap, but it lacked documentation or standards. George often shared stories of Step’s ups and downs on social media, from mind-numbing bugs to insights into user behavior. He was active on Twitter, often giving pointed but honest commentary on where DeFi was headed.
Furthermore, he is not afraid to criticize things that he thinks are hindering adoption. For example, confusing UI/UX or projects that are too technical to the point of forgetting about ordinary users. This is where one thing becomes clear: George is not just building a product, but also helping to shape the direction of the industry he is working in.
Dubai Days: Advising, Building, Connecting
George now lives in Dubai, a city that is rising as a magnet for blockchain projects and crypto innovators. This choice of residence is not arbitrary. Dubai offers a unique combination: relatively open regulations, access to a global investor network, and an active crypto community. From here he has developed a network and also become an advisor to other projects, showing that his role in the industry is more than just a single founder.
For example, he has been involved in discussions about how to integrate cross-chain analytics tools or how to create a user experience that is not bogged down in technical terms. His communication style is also straightforward.
Rather than wrapping ideas in complicated jargon, he chooses simple words that provoke discussion. Perhaps because of his background in the world of remittances, he is more sensitive to the needs of ordinary people than many other developers.
Making Crypto Understandable, One Tool at a Time
If there’s one common thread running through all of George’s projects, it’s a desire to make sense of the complex. Whether at BitSpark or Step Finance, the end goal is always the same: to put control back in the hands of users. He believes that transparency is the ultimate strength of blockchain, but openness alone isn’t enough—people also need to know what all those numbers mean.
This is where Step Finance becomes more than just a tracking tool. Step Finance serves as a concealed educational platform, enabling individuals to not only embrace the DeFi movement, but to truly comprehend its principles.
George has even criticized projects that lack a solid foundation and are merely hype. He’s more interested in sustainable development, even if it takes a little longer.
