How we sound

Our verbal identity

Our verbal identity enables us to tell people who we are and what we do. Being consistent in the way that we speak reinforces our brand presence and helps people to recognise it’s us.

Overview

Our tone of voice flexes from bold and punchy headlines to clear supporting copy. We mean what we say, and say what we mean.

MidChains billboard in a subway station
MidChains billboard in a subway stationMidChains billboard in a subway station
MidChains billboard in a subway station

Tone of voice

The way we talk must be in harmony with how we look. We are credible, confident and we bring clarity to complexity.

MidChains billboard in a subway station
MidChains billboard in a subway station
MidChains billboard in a subway station
MidChains billboard in a subway station

Strategic overview

For an audience accustomed to the credibility and control of traditional finance, crypto can feel dizzying: full of hype, jargon and volatility. They may be curious about its potential but they do not want or need to understand the infrastructure behind it.

MidChains transforms that underlying complexity into an experience of clarity, making sophisticated digital-finance infrastructure feel clear, seamless and understandable, without making it lightweight, simplistic or any less rigorous.

Example MidChains web page: Move seamlessly between fiat and digital assets

What does this mean for MidChains’ verbal identity?

The way the brand ‘talks’ must work in harmony with the clean, minimal and intuitive design to dispel the crypto broker misconception. But beyond that immediate need, what we say and how we say it will create a distinct personality for MidChains – a voice that’s instantly credible, commands attention and communicates the high calibre of the business.

Brand archetypes

It’s useful to draw on archetypes (these ones were coined by psychologist Carl Jung), to help define MidChains’ personality and appeal to a specific audience desire. In this case, the desire for simplification, clarity, ease and reassurance. Most brands fit into more than one archetype.

Examples
Here are the two archetypes that are most aligned with MidChains
01.
‘The Ruler’

A debonair brand that exerts a natural authority through strong leadership and organisation. Excels at making things function seamlessly.

Examples:
Goldman Sachs, Mercedes-Benz, Rolex, Forbes

Guiding principles

There are three guiding principles that help to keep our communication consistent. We use contemporary banking language, communicate calibre and have a touch of panache. The way we speak is part of what makes us MidChains. Follow the steps below to speak like MidChains.

MidChains app on a phone: Money talks. We make it move.
MidChains app on a phone: Money talks. We make it move.
MidChains app on a phone: Money talks. We make it move.
MidChains app on a phone: Money talks. We make it move.

Principle 01: Use contemporary banking language

People are accustomed to the personal, friendly and direct tone of the modern banking world. We don’t need to try and be another Monzo but it’s important to say what we mean in the clearest way.

Writing tip:
Explain the potential, not the mechanics.
The reader doesn’t need to understand blockchain or settlement rails to trust that the infrastructure will do what they need it to do.
Examples
Communicate a core message in the simplest way.
Close-up crop of MidChains coins
Make your assets easier to move, manage and settle.
Writing tip:
Avoid insider crypto language.
Writing exactly what we mean makes copy easier to digest at a glance and reassures the reader we truly understand what we’re talking about.
Examples
It can be industry specific without being overwhelming.
Close-up crop of MidChains coins
Deep liquidity
Move large trades without moving the market.
Writing tip:
Speak person to person
Use language that helps people feel like they’re face to face with a banking advisor. It should feel clear, authoritative and to the point, yet unmistakably human.
Examples
Strive to make the intangible tangible.
Close-up crop of MidChains coins
Talk to our desk
Speak with our advisors.

Principle 02: Communicate calibre

For an audience who may be cautious of crypto, demonstrating legitimacy cannot be done just once. This doesn’t mean using the VARA certification logo everywhere, but subtly seeding credibility throughout.

Writing tip:
Show credibility through specifics
Help a client reach a stamp of approval in under a minute. Rather than saying ‘we are trusted’ show legitimacy through experience, social proof (such as quotes, partner logos and case studies) and certifications.
Examples
Utilise the wider network.
Close-up crop of MidChains coins
VARA-licensed. Sovereign-backed.
Writing tip:
Use the language of quality, trust, proof and choice
A few carefully chosen words and phrases will reinforce MidChains’ calibre. Never use more than one adjective in a phrase or overpromise.
Examples
Make the MidChains story known.
Close-up crop of MidChains coins
Setting the gold standard in regulated digital infrastructure

Principle 03: Add a touch of panache

Here’s where the ‘rebel in a nice suit’ comes into play. Unlike other competitors, we carry a distinct point of view about digital assets – we know that the infrastructure is the most important part and that certainty will always trump crypto hype.

Writing tip:
Take a distinct point of view
Demonstrate a confident opinion by showing MidChains’ role in transactions. Where Coinbase speaks as a passive one-stop-shop, MidChains stands out as the choice of discerning investors and institutional treasurers.
Examples
Confidence in where we’re from and where we’re going is inspiring.
Close-up crop of MidChains coins
Money talks. We make it move.
Writing tip:
Occasionally use alliteration or three-step headlines.
When copy uses alliteration it adds an appealing musical quality that creates deeper engagement with the content. Three-step headlines can help simplify tasks that seem overwhelming.
Examples
Memorability is powerful.
Close-up crop of MidChains coins
[three step]
Request, accept, settle.
Writing tip:
Show restraint.
Allow a moment of rhythm or edge in headlines but never too much. Clarity and simplicity should always prevail.
Examples
Confidence is key.
Close-up crop of MidChains coins
Discretion at every step.
Writing tip:
Beware AI-formulaic writing
The human brain likes to be entertained to engage. Too much copy that follows the same pattern has the effect of making people switch off, or doubt credibility.
Examples
There’s never been a better time to be unique.
Close-up crop of MidChains coins
Avoid the AI ‘X. Not Y.’ headline, for example:
‘One price. No surprises.’
Settle at your quoted price.