Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, has built her reputation at the intersection of finance and technology, leading one of the world’s top crypto exchanges into its next chapter.
In this conversation with Finbold, she unpacks the thinking behind Bitget’s Universal Exchange (UEX) as a platform designed to solve the long-standing “exchange trilemma” of user experience, asset variety, and security. Chen shares how Bitget is approaching this transformation, what sets UEX apart, and why she believes the future of trading lies in unifying markets without sacrificing trust or accessibility.
You’ve described UEX as Bitget’s solution to the exchange trilemma: user experience, asset variety, and security. How do you define each, and what makes UEX capable of balancing them better than past models?
For me, UX means zero-friction accounts and fast, intuitive flows; variety means going beyond crypto into tokenized stocks, ETFs, forex, and commodities; security means pre-funded protection, proof-of-reserves, and real-time risk controls. Past models usually compromised somewhere. UEX is built to avoid that trade-off: a unified account spans on-chain and off-chain rails, our user Protection Fund consistently sits above $700 million, and we publish Proof-of-Reserves, while AI tools like GetAgent help people act faster without sacrificing discipline.
UEX aims to host all tradable assets. How do you navigate the regulatory and technical challenges of integrating such diverse markets into a single platform?
There’s no single global license that magically covers everything, so we work jurisdiction by jurisdiction and build compliance as part of the product. In Europe, for example, we’ve registered in Poland and Lithuania and added a Bulgarian VASP license as the bloc moves toward MiCA, while we expand in other regions under local rules. Technically, we connect tokenized markets to blockchain custody, reliable price feeds, and settlement, and we keep the front-end consistent so users don’t feel the plumbing. This is illustrated by our on-chain integrations of tokenized stocks and ETFs with Ondo and xStocks.
You’ve said UEX is more than combining CEX and DEX, that it’s a fusion of technology and philosophy. What innovations make it different, and how do you balance decentralization with centralized trust?
UEX is a single environment where users can hold and trade across crypto and tokenized traditional assets without hopping wallets or apps. Our AI assistance, GetAgent, sits natively in the flow, and tokenized stocks and ETFs are already live for eligible markets. The balance is simple: we use decentralized rails for transparency and portability, and centralized controls for speed, service, and compliance. That gives people the clarity of on-chain with the comfort of an accountable operator.
Expanding into traditional assets means stricter oversight is required. How is Bitget approaching licensing and compliance globally, and which jurisdictions are most critical for UEX?
Expanding into traditional assets inevitably raises the bar on compliance. We see licensing not as a checkbox but as core infrastructure, just like liquidity or custody. That means building jurisdiction by jurisdiction, aligning early with regulators, and structuring the platform to withstand evolving frameworks rather than react to them. Europe is a clear priority with MiCA setting a global benchmark, and as I’ve mentioned, Bitget has already added registrations and licenses in Poland, Lithuania, and Bulgaria.
Latin America and parts of Asia are equally important for their rapidly growing user bases. Analysts show LATAM’s rising share and Brazil’s heavy stablecoin usage. In the U.S., we remain cautious but engaged, preparing for clearer pathways. What matters is earning the right to operate sustainably in each market, and we’re investing heavily to ensure UEX can do that.
To support stocks, ETFs, and forex, deep liquidity is vital. How will Bitget secure liquidity pools for these assets, and are you working with traditional providers or brokers?
We’re building depth through a mix of tokenization partners and derivatives market structure. On the spot side, the Ondo and xStocks integrations bring a broad shelf of tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs to eligible users. On the derivatives side, we’ve launched USDT-margined perpetual futures on 25 leading U.S. names (AAPL, NVDA, and more) where we work with established market makers and brokers for depth, tight spreads, and robust routing.
You emphasize democratization and financial freedom. What transparency measures will UEX adopt to ensure user trust?
Trust is earned in public. At Bitget, we publish monthly Transparency Reports so users can track how we’re managing and safeguarding funds. Our Proof-of-Reserves (PoR), most recently shows a reserve ratio well above 100%, gives users confidence that assets are fully backed. We also maintain a visible, pre-funded Protection Fund, designed to cover unexpected risks and protect users in extreme scenarios. On top of that, we commit to independent audits and plain-language disclosures for more complex products, so users can clearly understand both the opportunities and risks involved.
This layered approach: real-time verification, proactive protection, and ongoing disclosures, ensures that financial freedom is matched with transparency and accountability.
Other exchanges are moving into tokenized assets. What makes Bitget’s UEX vision unique, and how do you see competition in this space evolving over the next few years?
Our edge is scope plus integration: UEX isn’t a bolt-on “stock token” tab, it’s a model built to host all tradable assets with AI guidance and hybrid rails. It is already shipping, from on-chain tokenized equities to stock perpetuals. As rules clarify, competition will center on liquidity and transparency, two things users feel immediately, and we’re investing in both.
Beyond volumes and users, how will you measure UEX’s success in democratizing financial access, especially for emerging markets where TradFi is still restrictive?
The signal is practical access at a fair cost. If a first-time investor in LATAM, Africa, or Southeast Asia can buy a tokenized ETF with local on-ramps, low slippage, and clear disclosures, that’s progress. If our AI assistant is helping them avoid avoidable mistakes, that’s impact. The recent expansion of tokenized U.S. equities to eligible non-U.S. users is a good early marker of what broader, cheaper access can look like.
As Bitget celebrates its seventh anniversary and launches UEX, what excites you most about the next seven years, both for the company and for the evolution of global markets?
I’m excited to see tokenized and traditional markets finally feel like one. I see it has the same screen, same standards, and better protection, so people everywhere can invest with the tools once reserved for a few. Our seventh-anniversary UEX launch is the start of that, and with products like stock perpetuals rolling out, I think the next cycle is about disciplined integration for the next billions.
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