In May 2024, Gracy Chen took the helm at Bitget. Since then, the platform has expanded its user base to 120 million and introduced the concept of a universal exchange (UEX).

ForkLog spoke with Bitget's CEO about the strategies that fueled the company's growth, how tokenized stocks are transforming the market, and the role of artificial intelligence in trading.

Career Before the Crypto Industry

ForkLog: Before joining Bitget in June 2022, you worked as a producer for Phoenix TV, a major media conglomerate in China. You then moved to Taiwanese XRSPACE, focusing on virtual reality and metaverse technologies. What skills from that period have been useful in managing an exchange?

Gracy Chen: My time at Phoenix TV taught me the importance of explaining complex concepts in simple, honest terms. The finance and technology sectors are often bogged down by jargon, and audience trust is built through clarity and accountability. This skill is crucial in the crypto industry, where trust is a scarce resource.

My experience at XRSPACE was about product development and future trends. We explored virtual worlds and how technology alters human behavior. This fostered a systemic mindset: looking not just at current demand but also at how users will interact with products in 3-5 years. At Bitget, this approach has influenced our vision for UEX and AI integration.

Growth to 120 Million Users

ForkLog: In May 2024, you became CEO of Bitget. During this time, the user base grew to 120 million. What key decisions contributed to this growth?

Gracy Chen: It’s a combination of strategic choices. First, we invested in infrastructure and security well before the market began to recover. Second, we expanded our product offerings beyond a traditional crypto exchange—introducing copy trading, TradFi, tokenized stocks, and AI assistants.

Third, we focused on global localization. We don’t scale the same product “for everyone”; instead, we adapt it to different regions, cultures, and regulatory expectations. Finally, speed is crucial. We’ve learned to make decisions quickly but thoughtfully—this is vital in an industry where windows of opportunity can last months, or sometimes just weeks.

ForkLog: Until the recent appointment of Yi He as co-CEO of Binance, you were the only female CEO among the top 10 crypto exchanges. According to CoinDesk, over half of your management team is female. How does this influence the corporate culture of an exchange operating in a predominantly male industry?

Gracy Chen: It influences our management style. At Bitget, there’s less hierarchy and more accountability, less focus on “cult of personality” and more on team decisions. We’re building a culture that values results over aggression, and arguments over volume.

The crypto industry has historically developed as a male-dominated space with a high tolerance for risk. Gender diversity adds balance: a more measured approach to risks, users, and reputation. As experience shows, this reflects positively on business resilience.

ForkLog: The Blockchain4Her program supports women in blockchain. What are its key outcomes?

Gracy Chen: Since its inception, Blockchain4Her has reached thousands of participants across various regions: Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. For me, the quality of impact matters more than the numbers. We see women launching startups, taking on technical and managerial roles, and securing funding after completing the program.

The main outcome is lowering the entry barrier. Many women previously viewed blockchain as “not their territory.” Today, they are entering the industry consciously and for the long term.

About the UEX Concept

ForkLog: In September 2025, you introduced the concept of a universal exchange. What problem does it primarily address?

Gracy Chen: UEX addresses the issue of market fragmentation. Today, users must register on multiple platforms for cryptocurrencies, stocks, gold, currencies, and derivatives. This is inconvenient, costly, and increases risks.

UEX consolidates markets into a single interface, with a unified balance and management logic. We base our design on how traders and investors actually think, rather than how markets have historically been structured.

ForkLog: The daily trading volume on Bitget's TradFi platform exceeded $2 billion. Which stocks are traded the most actively?

Gracy Chen: Apple, Tesla, Nvidia, Alphabet, as well as indices and gold. For many users, tokenized stocks have become a bridge between cryptocurrency and traditional markets.

In terms of volume, this segment currently lags behind traditional crypto assets, but its growth rate is significantly higher. We see it as one of the key drivers in the coming years.

ForkLog: How do you implement 24/7 perpetual contracts on stocks and indices when traditional markets don’t operate around the clock?

Gracy Chen: We use an on-chain replication model that accounts for liquidity, indicative prices, and risk adjustments outside of primary trading hours. This is not a copy of TradFi, but the creation of a new class of instruments adapted to a 24/7 economy.

It’s important to understand: this is not a replacement for traditional markets, but their evolution in the digital space.

On AI

ForkLog: In December, you updated the AI assistant GetAgent. What trading actions will it be able to perform autonomously?

Gracy Chen: GetAgent is transitioning from an advisory role to that of an executor. It will be able to automatically rebalance portfolios, place orders according to specified strategies, manage risks, lock in profits, or limit losses.

The key point is that the user always sets the parameters. AI does not replace humans; it reduces cognitive load and operational errors.

ForkLog: In your plans for 2026, you mention AI specialists for taxes and digital avatars. How will accountability for errors be addressed?

Gracy Chen: AI tools will function as recommendation systems with transparent logic and mandatory user verification. Final responsibility always rests with the individual.

We view AI as an assistant, not a legal entity. This is a fundamental stance.

On Regulation

ForkLog: What regulatory framework could serve as a model for the crypto industry?

Gracy Chen: The best framework strikes a balance between investor protection and space for innovation. I would highlight Singapore, the UAE, and the gradually evolving model in the US as examples of a pragmatic approach.

Regulation should be predictable, technologically neutral, and dialogical.

ForkLog: Which markets will be prioritized for licensing in 2026?Gracy Chen: We are focusing on the Middle East, Europe, and specific Asian jurisdictions. We are also closely monitoring regulatory developments in the US and Latin America.

On Crypto Skeptics

ForkLog: In your New Year letter, you share a story about a mother who, against the advice of others, bought a townhouse, drawing a parallel with the crypto industry. What would you say to those who are skeptical about digital assets today?

Gracy Chen: Doubts are normal. It’s dangerous not to question things, but rather to blindly follow others’ opinions. I would advise people not to believe slogans—whether optimistic or pessimistic—but to study, ask questions, and think long-term.

Crypto is not about quick money. It’s about the infrastructure of the future. And, as history shows, such changes often provoke the greatest doubts at first.