Gracy, CEO of Bitget, on "Her Power" in the Web3 Era: Rewriting the Rules with Authenticity and Determination
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Gracy, CEO of Bitget, on "Her Power" in the Web3 Era: Rewriting the Rules with Authenticity and Determination
It's okay, every step is worth it.
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insightsArticle by: Echo, MetaEra
In December 2024, a street interview video titled "How to Become a Seven-Figure CEO" quietly entered public view, like a pebble dropped into a lake. Soon after, discussions across social networks about "exchanges, single mothers, and female CEOs" began swelling like tides, gradually pushing the protagonist, Gracy, into the center of public attention.
A year ago, Gracy was promoted from Managing Director to CEO of Bitget. Under her leadership, the exchange rose into the global top five within less than a year.
When interviewed, Gracy appeared without makeup, her face bright with smiles, instantly putting people at ease. Throughout our conversation, her answers were grounded, sincere, and carried an unmistakable sense of determination—down-to-earth yet resolute—conveying clearly that she knows exactly what she wants and how to get there.
From Observer to Leader
Gracy’s career began at Phoenix Finance, where she worked as a host and producer, forming a deep connection with the media industry. In 2015, her mindset shifted—she no longer wanted to merely observe innovation from the sidelines but actively participate in it. She joined Yunzhanghu, a FinTech startup, as co-founder and CMO, overseeing external communications and partnerships. A decade later, this company, which specializes in payroll solutions for freelancers, continues to thrive and has become one of Tianjin’s top tax-paying enterprises. “I still maintain a good relationship with the original founders. They’re increasingly interested in Web3 now and have started exploring compliant exchanges—we occasionally exchange insights on the industry.”
She later ventured into the VR space before joining Bitget in 2022. Initially serving as Managing Director responsible for external affairs, she was invited by the board to succeed the outgoing CEO in May 2024. After several days of reflection, she accepted the challenge. Under her leadership, Bitget has expanded from a 150-person team to 1,800 employees, emerging as a top-five global platform by comprehensive ranking.
Self-Expression in the Digital Age
Many are surprised that Bitget’s CEO is a woman, but Gracy remains unfazed. “I don’t really understand why that’s the focus,” she says. “Personally, I tend not to care about gender labels. I prefer to focus on outcomes, team building, and the core responsibilities of a CEO—finding people, raising capital, and setting direction.”
“The achievements I’ve made aren’t because I’m a woman,” Gracy emphasizes. “They’re because I’ve proven my value through hard work and capability.” In 2022, she successfully secured football legend Lionel Messi as the brand ambassador. As Messi led Argentina to World Cup victory, Bitget’s global visibility surged. In 2023, Bitget strengthened user asset security through its Protection Fund and Proof of Reserves initiatives, while integrating KOL and KOC resources to enhance user experience. In 2024, the platform focused on expanding spot trading, entering the global top five. For instance, when the prominent DeFi project Ethena launched on Launchpool, Gracy leveraged sharp judgment and efficient communication to secure cooperation with the project’s CEO just two days before listing, locking in allocation successfully. Bitget’s rapid rise into an industry giant reflects not only precise strategic execution but also genuine strength and value.
Gracy is also an active and skilled content creator. Her social media presence spans Twitter, LinkedIn, Xiaohongshu, Douyin, and more, drawing significant followings. Her videos, such as “How to Become a Seven-Figure CEO,” have sparked widespread discussion. She admits she enjoys creating content—a passion that originally led her to pursue media after university. Today, her content creation serves not just personal expression but also the strategic alignment of personal and corporate branding.
Her posts cover industry trends, clips from past interviews on CNBC and Bloomberg, and timely topics—such as Bitget’s role as a “white knight” during Bybit’s crisis. While differing audience perspectives sometimes lead to misunderstandings, Gracy remains committed to transparent sharing.
“No matter the feedback, I’ll continue to openly share my views. For example, I firmly believe in managing large positions with controlled risk and using leverage moderately. These are based entirely on my own investment principles, not necessarily universal advice. Some friends joke: ‘Don’t exchanges want users to use more leverage to boost volume? Why would a CEO tell people to use less?’ But whatever I say publicly is what I truly believe—and what I’d advise my closest friends. I value integrity between words and actions.”
Defining Authenticity Through Controversy and Competition
As a public figure, Gracy’s statements inevitably spark debate. While emotional reactions are natural, she holds firm to a belief: “Being misunderstood is the fate of anyone who speaks up.” This quote from Ma Dong of *I Can I BB* shapes her calm mindset amid controversy. She believes no one can be flawless under public scrutiny, and the most impactful ideas often come with inherent controversy.
“I can’t please everyone,” says Gracy, “but I can ensure I stay true to my principles and values.” This openness to criticism is part of her leadership philosophy.
In the fiercely competitive exchange industry, Bitget, under her guidance, adheres to principles of healthy competition. Using the Bybit incident as an example, when Bybit faced short-term liquidity issues, Bitget swiftly provided 40,000 ETH (approximately $100 million) in support. This move earned gratitude from Bybit, respect from the industry, and demonstrated responsibility.
“Competition is inevitable, but it must be constructive,” Gracy stresses. “We compete with Bybit for projects and talent, but we strictly prohibit any team member from attacking competitors. Industry growth doesn’t come from dividing the existing pie—it comes from collectively making the pie bigger.”
Bitget’s lavish year-end bonuses last year stirred waves across the industry. Gracy explains that these rewards are tied to the company’s OKR system, designed to recognize employees who create exceptional value. Top performers received annual compensation (base salary plus bonus) equivalent to nearly 50 months of salary.
“Of course, such rewards are justified only when employees generate substantial value for the company. We don’t support mediocrity,” Gracy states plainly. “We reward excellence and let go of those who fail to contribute. It may seem harsh, but this is our culture—and one reason we keep improving.”
Remaining Courageous in Exploration and Acceptance
Gracy even built an AI workflow, naming her AI assistant Artificial Gracy's Intelligence (AGI), which regularly scrapes trending industry news and summarizes it into tailored content for various social platforms. During our interview, Gracy also used her AI notetaker, streamlining workflows and simplifying daily life. She notes that Bitget is actively exploring deeper integration of AI into exchange operations—from customer service, translation, recruitment to compliance and fraud detection—optimizing internal processes across multiple dimensions.
“We’re still learning the full potential of AI,” Gracy says. “In the future, AI will further optimize our workflows and user experiences in even more ways.”
Her Power, Her Future
In January 2024, Gracy launched Blockchain4Her at the World Economic Forum in Davos—an initiative dedicated to supporting women in blockchain. Over the past year, the project has made significant progress, including awarding $50,000 in grants, recognizing outstanding women, and hosting over ten meetups worldwide. Events range from afternoon networking teas to large-scale forums, offering valuable support to young female entrepreneurs—including Stanford graduates and serial founders. To date, over 1,000 women globally have participated in Blockchain4Her’s offline events. Gracy has also shared the project’s vision at the UN Women’s Conference and engaged with leaders from women’s communities supported by UNICEF, as well as in Africa and South America.
“Through Blockchain4Her, we aim to amplify women’s influence in the blockchain industry,” says Gracy. “Looking ahead, we’ll expand the initiative’s impact through awards, online and offline events, mentorship programs, and collaborations with more NGOs to advance this mission.”
For women aspiring to grow personally and professionally, Gracy offers simple yet practical advice: focus on creating value. She recalls a piece of wisdom from a mentor: “You are not paid by how hard you work, but by how hard you are replaced.”
On personal growth and emotional well-being, Gracy emphasizes “avoiding internal draining.” She believes that if a person or situation makes you unhappy and cannot be resolved through communication, it likely stems from incompatible energies. “This isn’t about expecting everyone to revolve around you, but about maintaining a positive energy field. When you surround yourself with like-minded people, you feel comfortable and aligned—free to focus fully on your career and life.”
“If something makes you unhappy, the best solution is to decisively kick it out of your life!” Gracy laughs.
Gracy Chen Biography
Gracy Chen is CEO of Bitget, with over 10 years of experience in management, marketing, and investment. She joined Bitget as Managing Director in 2022 and was promoted to CEO in May 2024. Gracy is also a columnist for renowned publications including Forbes and Cointelegraph. Additionally, she has joined the production team of Hollywood’s first crypto-themed reality TV show, *Killer Whales*, as a judge to identify promising Web3 startups. Gracy holds a bachelor’s degree from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
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