Bitget CEO's Open Letter: A New Journey — Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself and Bitget
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Bitget CEO's Open Letter: A New Journey — Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself and Bitget
There are more adventures ahead, let's keep striving to BUIDL!
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insights
I’m thrilled to embark on a new journey as CEO of Bitget. I’d like to share some of Bitget’s current priorities and future plans (it seems every newly appointed CEO does this), but first, please indulge me in a lengthy self-introduction (perhaps not something every new CEO would do, but bear with me).
I grew up in a single-parent household. My mother always had one simple wish for me: to grow up happily. Like many Asian parents, she hoped I wouldn’t be too assertive and believed my most important task as an adult would be to find the right life partner. Yet from a young age, I wanted to be a “leader.” Starting in elementary school, I actively sought out every leadership opportunity. It wasn’t just about managing or directing others—it was because I saw leaders as people who create more value, take on greater responsibility, and drive meaningful change. (I’m not sure 8-year-old Gracy would fully agree with that view.)
At 18, I earned a full scholarship to study undergraduate in Singapore. I chose applied mathematics. After graduation, I became a host for a financial technology TV program. In 2015, some guests and colleagues from my show told me: “Gracy, you should look into crypto assets…” At that time, one bitcoin was worth around $300 (yes, recently it surpassed $71,000!)
Gracy interviewing Michelle Yeoh (2016)
I started reading the Bitcoin white paper and was immediately captivated. As a math enthusiast, I loved its mathematical elegance and was excited by the idea of a decentralized system. Most importantly, I was drawn to the vision of creating a decentralized ledger that complements traditional finance.
While I don’t consider myself “rebellious,” I’ve never been interested in blindly following rules. I’d rather make my own! I found that the crypto industry allowed me to stay at the forefront of innovation. I bought some major cryptocurrencies—Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple (wish I’d bought more…)—and later invested in several crypto startups, such as BitKeep, now known as Bitget Wallet.
Between 2015 and 2016, I also met many early investors and builders in the crypto space, including Tim Draper, founder of DFJ. From them, I saw remarkable qualities—sharp insight, foresight, and groundedness—that continue to define the industry’s leading figures today.
Soon after, I left my job at the TV station and became a serial entrepreneur, founding two startups in fintech and virtual reality (VR). (How do you describe entrepreneurs who keep failing? Let’s call them “serial entrepreneurs”—ha, that was me back then.) I’ve always believed in lifelong learning, so I decided to pursue an MBA at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
In the spring of 2022, a friend told me Bitget was hiring for a Managing Director (MD) role. I already knew the Bitget team through my investment in BitKeep, but joining an exchange was still a big decision. After speaking individually with each member of the management team, I found them highly professional, execution-driven, and ethically strong. I believed this platform had untapped potential. The market already had several established exchanges—this wasn’t a guaranteed win—but seeing such a sincere and capable team, I decided to join them in taking on the challenge.
Gracy on MIT campus (2022)
Fortunately, thanks to the collective efforts of the management team and 1,500 Bitget employees (my contribution being the smallest), we achieved over fourfold growth in just two years, surpassing 25 million users. Bitget has become a top 5 global futures trading platform and a top 10 spot trading platform. I feel incredibly lucky to work alongside some of the best talent in the industry—people who avoid internal friction, work hard, and are united in pushing toward bigger, stronger goals.
From Managing Director to Chief Executive Officer, I’ve witnessed Bitget’s evolution. While everyone may have their own perception of “what kind of company is Bitget,” I’d describe it using two words. (Alright, enough joking—time to get serious...)
User-first. I firmly believe users are the starting point and ultimate goal of everything we do—that’s why I strongly advocate for a user-centric approach. Take the SLERF incident this past March: when users lost funds due to an error, we stepped in without hesitation, donating all SLERF trading fees so every participant in the SLERF presale could recover their assets.
Diversity. Bitget is a community of 1,500 individuals across different genders, nationalities, and beliefs. We work diligently to create change and communicate openly and honestly. When we see inequality, we strive to bridge it. As a single mother (I divorced in 2022), I deeply understand the importance of equal opportunities and gender diversity in the industry. That’s why I launched the #Blockchain4Her initiative—to help build a more women-friendly crypto industry.
Gracy with her son (2020)
Earlier this year, I outlined Bitget’s three key focuses for 2024 in an open letter: 1) Compliance, 2) Emerging Markets, 3) Web3.
Six months on, we’ve made solid progress in all three areas. For example, in Web3, our non-custodial wallet Bitget Wallet recently completed the BWB points airdrop. According to its newly released product roadmap, Bitget Wallet will serve as Bitget’s onchain layer, integrating a suite of modular DApps through industry partnerships. More exciting developments around BWB will be revealed in the coming week.
Beyond these three strategic pillars, we have even greater aspirations for Bitget’s role in driving crypto mainstream adoption. Over the longer term, we will focus on:
1. Strengthening the Bitget Ecosystem: Beyond our centralized exchange, Bitget is enriching its ecosystem through strategic investments. After launching the Bitget Web3 Fund and EmpowerX Fund last year, ecosystem development through investment will remain a core long-term strategy.
2. Bridging Traditional Finance and Crypto: With spot crypto ETFs now approved in major markets like the U.S. and Hong Kong, more institutional and retail investors are expected to include crypto in their portfolios. We’re committed to collaborating with industry partners to advance this trend and lower the barrier to entry into the crypto world.
3. Bringing Crypto into Daily Life: At the end of 2023, we launched the Bitget Card—a crypto-backed credit card usable anywhere Visa is accepted. This innovation helps make crypto part of everyday life, not just an investment vehicle. We’ll develop more services to support this integration.
Gracy at the Bitget EmpowerX Summit in Singapore (2023)
Looking ahead, the crypto industry is poised for continued growth. Whether it’s Bitcoin’s price performance, increasing talent inflow, innovative new projects, or deeper integration with traditional finance and broader public participation—the industry will only grow stronger!
We’re fortunate to have one of the best teams in the industry, but I believe Bitget’s success ultimately stems from our shared belief. We aim to be marathon runners, not sprinters. Six years ago, Bitget was founded during a crypto winter. We’ve faced many challenges but never chased overnight success. Instead, we’ve focused on building solid foundations, embracing long-termism, and believing that consistent effort leads to progress. Bitget’s journey mirrors that of our global brand ambassador, Lionel Messi—driven by a similar spirit, he rose from a young athlete with less-than-ideal physical attributes to become one of football’s greatest legends.
Gracy with Messi (2023)
I’m deeply grateful to be on this journey with each and every one of you. Let’s roll up our sleeves, open our minds, and create more possibilities!
There are more adventures ahead—let’s keep BUIDLing!
Sincerely,
Gracy Chen, CEO of TechFlow
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