Buy the universe. Interview with Bitget’s CEO, Gracy Chen

The word blockchain is forever tied to the most famous of all digital currencies, Bitcoin, which created a new gang of millionaires and billionaires, some interesting financial innovations and a solid dose of controversial press coverage and media debate. Blockchain has also been used, over the past five years, to sell pics of bored monkeys, trade meme coins (and similar programs) and generate a few, very well publicized and global scandals, which, given the still measurable size of the crypto industry, are being perceived as way too many. The technology per se is evolving, and it has the potential to become useful, and necessary in various parts of the world, to both new and traditional finance operators, as they seem to be its keenest adopters. To understand the “State of the Nation” and get a glimpse into the future of the space, we sit down with Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget, one of the Top 10 exchanges in the world (they also have their own wallet and coin). They serve over 120+ million users in 150+ countries and regions, and the exchange is committed to helping fans trade smarter. That’s pro-lingo for it’s not just about crypto. This is our exchange.

Tell us a bit your story. 

In 2014, I graduated from college, with a BA in Applied Mathematics, in Singapore. I became a TV journalist, covering finance and tech topics, mostly because it was very close to my quantitative background. My encounter with the crypto world happened in 2015, via friends and some blockchain pioneers, like Tim Draper. I immediately appreciated the mathematical beauty of the Bitcoin concept      and bought some bitcoin for myself. I got my MBA from MIT, as I am a firm believer of life-long learning, plus there was the huge attraction of studying in the US and being exposed to the tech world. In 2022 I joined Bitget as a Managing Director, after co-founding a couple of tech start-ups. In 2024, the Bitget board asked me to step up to the CEO role. I am the only woman leading a Top 10 exchange, which I strongly believe needs to change. This was one of the key driving factors for the creation of the “Blockchain for her” program, to foster diversity and inclusion in the industry.

What’s unique about Bitget? 

Our USP, if you will, is that we are the first UEX, or universal exchange. I coined the term for us as it embodied the direction that we wanted to take Bitget to. Our users want to have options in asset allocation, diversifying their portfolio. We serve users, who want to buy, for example, tokenized stock, commodities, or ETFs, on top of crypto. We are covering all asset classes. The whole finance world is changing in this direction. For example, Nasdaq filed a proposal to introduce the trading of tokenized securities, starting 24/7 activities and leveraging blockchain-powered tech. Tokenization of assets is growing. Our UEX has also other elements, including AI. Our GetAgent can become fans’ advisor, educator and sidekick on all things crypto. It makes sense to create a platform that can provide      everyone access to financial instruments. Blockchain is a superior tech stack, cheaper and faster, operating 24/7. It’s especially important to place it at the service of investors globally, giving them a trusted one-stop platform for all their trading needs.

What’s the future of the crypto space, in your opinion?

The industry is not innovating enough. Bitcoin, stablecoins and AI+ crypto are probably three solutions that gives me hope about what we are doing and about the future. Short-term hype like meme     coins are not the best that blockchain can do for us. Stablecoins are responsible for one in ten global cross-border transactions. Visa, Mastercard, SWIFT are all looking at blockchain and crypto based innovations. We haven’t done enough, but there is traction. We are at the beginning.

Besides finance, other industries could be revolutionized by blockchain. Real World Asset (RWA) tokenization could be done tomorrow, from a tech point of view. Regulation is not there. Context and culture are not ready. Law and enforcement are needed for complex programs to fly.

Money, payments and investments are for sure use cases that we need to crack fast, that we can solve, for everyone. Bitget wants to be a part of that.

A universal exchange, for everyone to find any asset the universe can offer sounds like a bold vision. Making money with a trusted and efficient commodity for all will unlock tremendous value for the whole world and it’s the best way to use a technology like blockchain, most often than not used for speculation and short-term gains. Time to look at the big, almost “universal” picture.