On September 9, 2025, Bitget CEO Gracy Chen introduced the concept of a universal exchange (UEX) in a letter shared with the community during the exchange’s 7th anniversary. The CEO introduced Bitget as ‘an exchange that offers all the tradable assets.’
So, what is a universal exchange? In this article, we explore how a UEX works, introduce new investment opportunities, and explain how Bitget is leading the change.
What is a Universal Exchange (UEX)?
Universal Exchange, or UEX, is the next evolution in trading platforms. It combines the best parts of centralized exchanges (CEXs) and decentralized exchanges (DEXs) as well as TradFi platforms into one seamless experience.
A UEX unifies centralized and decentralized services into a single platform.
“The limited scope of asset listings on centralized exchange (CEX) or the complex, fragmented experience of a decentralized one (DEX) both have their place, but neither provides a truly complete solution,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget.
Why unify the centralized and decentralized services?
Centralized exchanges prioritize convenience, liquidity, and advanced trading features, while decentralized exchanges (DEX) focus on privacy, self-custody, and permissionless access. Neither is better; the best choice depends on whether you value complete control over your assets or ease of use and fiat access.
The “impossible triangle” stipulates that a crypto exchange cannot provide a good user experience, asset variety, and security on one platform.
A universal exchange transcends the established barriers of the “impossible triangle” by leveraging the best of both worlds. For Bitget, this also includes:
- A market for all tradable financial assets, including ETFs, gold, and tokenized real-world assets, US stocks, and S&P 500 ETFs.
- Leveraging artificial intelligence tools for trade analysis and execution for a seamless trading experience.
- Better security, combining user control with institutional protections, backed by a protection fund valued at over $700 million.
How do a CEX, DEX, and UEX compare?
At the bare minimum, a CEX is a crypto exchange with a hierarchical form of governance. A DEX is a crypto exchange that runs on the blockchain, meaning it is run by multiple users running the blockchain. A UEX is a crypto exchange combining CEXs and DEXs features for a unified trading experience.
The table below dives deeper into how the three platforms compare.
| Feature / Attribute | CEX | DEX | UEX (Universal Exchange) |
| Custody of Assets | Custodial (exchange holds assets) | Non-custodial (user controls assets) | Offers both custodial and non-custodial options |
| User Experience (UX) | High (intuitive interfaces, support) | Moderate to Low (technical barriers) | High (streamlined UX with hybrid access) |
| Security | Vulnerable to hacks (single point) | High (decentralized, self-custody) | Balanced: user choice + AI-enhanced threat detection |
| Privacy | Low (KYC/AML required) | High (anonymous, no KYC) | Mixed: KYC for CEX layer, optional for DEX-like services |
| Liquidity | High (deep order books) | Often low (especially for niche tokens) | High (CEX liquidity + DEX pools) |
| Access to Tokens | Limited (often only vetted tokens) | Broad (many new tokens available) | Broad (CEX listings + DEX token support) |
| Trading Features | Advanced (margin, futures, etc.) | Basic (swaps, liquidity pools) | Advanced features across both layers |
| Fiat On/Off Ramp | Yes | Rarely | Yes (via CEX integration) |
| Control Over Funds | Limited (exchange has control) | Full (user has private keys) | User-defined (choose custody level) |
| Regulatory Compliance | High | Low/None | Compliant on CEX side; flexible on DEX side |
| Interoperability | Low (closed ecosystem) | Medium (depends on blockchain) | High (cross-chain and cross-service support) |
| AI/Automation Tools | Emerging | Rare | Integrated (e.g., Bitget’s AI-driven features) |
Unlocking the power of trading with Bitget UEX
Bitget is the first crypto exchange to introduce and define itself as the largest universal exchange providing a simplified, more inclusive gateway to global financial products.
Diversified investment opportunities
From crypto to stocks, ETFs, gold, and tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), Bitget UEX provides access to millions of tokens plus traditional investments through partnerships. Users can buy US stocks, S&P 500 ETFs, and gold previously restricted by geography or platform limitations.
Bitget’s integration of Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, Base, and Solana assets on Bitget Onchain marked a major milestone in becoming a UEX. The feature on Bitget gave users access to millions of tokens from a single account. The integration also combined the scale of on-chain markets with the protections of centralized trading, such as token screening before listing.
The exchange’s diversification growth didn’t stop at Web3 assets. Recently, the exchange launched stock futures, allowing users to trade tokenized traditional assets like TSLA, NVDA, AAPL, and CRCL.
Partnerships with xStocks and Ondo expanded market access to tokenized stocks, electronically traded funds (ETFs), and real-world assets (RWAs) such as real estate, commodities, and intellectual property.
By evolving into a UEX, Bitget provided its community with a more diversified investment portfolio to choose from by providing access to financial assets that would otherwise be difficult to access through traditional platforms.
Automation and AI-driven tools
Automation and artificial intelligence are important for Bitget’s UEX model. The exchange’s mission on this front is to launch new technologies and tools that provide users a smooth and better trading experience.
Artificial intelligence (AI) on the platform is modeled to provide beginners with an easy on-boarding experience, and for advanced traders, acts as a professional grade tool capable of real time market analysis.
A significant aspect of the UEX is provided through its proprietary platform, GetAgent. First introduced in July on an invite-only basis, GetAgent analyzes real-time market data using AI to deliver actionable trading insights and execution tools.
The AI, GetAgent, is accessible as a chat interface on the Bitget mobile app. You can type your questions in plain language, and it responds with actionable trading insights. You can also execute trades by requesting the AI from the chat interface. Moreover, the AI acts as your personal crypto strategist by studying your trading strategies and tailoring its responses to your trading style.
The UEX enables arbitrage and portfolio balancing opportunities by enabling users to execute cross-asset strategies without transfer delays or multiple account management.
The exchange also achieves automation through customizable trading bots that run 24/7 to capture market opportunities that would otherwise be difficult to track. The bots follow pre-determined instructions to execute trades based on trading patterns and market trends.
Security
Bitget remains one of the safest digital asset exchanges in the space, with a $700 million security fund providing an extra layer of resilience against cybersecurity threats.
As a UEX, it combines the best security features of centralized and decentralized systems. These features include multi-factor authentication, SSL encryption, cold storage of assets in multi-signature wallets, proof-of-reserve (POR) reports, and anti-phishing codes.
The exchange also leverages artificial intelligence to detect patterns and establish a security baseline for the platform. Any activity beyond the baseline is immediately flagged for swift resolution. Bitget uses AI for threat detection, prevention, and remediation, such as signs of token concentration or potential rug-pull risks.
Global reach
Bitget is now licensed to operate in multiple jurisdictions, including Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Czechia, El Salvador, Argentina, Bulgaria, and Georgia, with licenses acquired this year (2025). Its decentralized features are accessible globally through the Bitget Wallet, as the regulation of decentralized products remains elusive.
To support the growing community of over 120 million users, Bitget invests in localized community programs, offline engagement, and multilingual support.
Full-stack centralized DeFi ecosystem
By combining the best of centralized and decentralized finance, Bitget can now provide some of the best investment opportunities in the space. For instance, the union allows access to thousands of digital assets across more than 100 blockchains.
In 2024, the platform’s Launchpool program provided an average return of 89%. At its peak, it reached 329%. The platform also allows access to pre-market launches of 50+ currencies with sizable trading volumes.
A UEX interface, therefore, stands out for its inclusivity, diverse investment opportunities, and security.
Conclusion
Bitget is now becoming the one-stop shop for financial assets—stocks, ETFs, gold, and forex—all under one platform. The UEX leverages AI-powered tools for advanced market analysis and execution, and the blockchain for hybrid security and settlement of a varied selection of financial assets. Going forward, we anticipate that Bitget will continue to innovate new security and accessibility standards to cater to a global community of investors. The future also includes more advanced technologies and tools for a smooth user experience.
Source: https://www.cryptopolitan.com/what-is-a-universal-exchange-uex-bitget/