"Web3 Era 'Her' Power" Bitget CEO Gracy: Rewrite the Rules with Authenticity and Determination

Article Author: Echo, MetaEra

In December 2024, a street interview video titled "How to Become a 7-Figure CEO" made waves, capturing everyone's attention like a stone thrown into a lake. Subsequently, discussions on social networks about "exchanges, single mothers, and female CEOs" surged, pushing the protagonist Gracy into the spotlight.

A year ago, Gracy was promoted from Managing Director to CEO of Bitget. Under her leadership, the exchange climbed into the global top five in less than a year.

When interviewed, Gracy appeared without makeup, her smile warm and inviting, making one feel as if they were basking in spring. In the subsequent conversation, her responses were straightforward and sincere, revealing a sense of determination that was both down-to-earth and assertive, as if to say: she knows what she wants and how to get there.

From Bystander to Helm

Gracy's career began at Phoenix Finance, where she worked as a host and producer, forging an inseparable bond with the media industry. In 2015, her mindset shifted—she was no longer satisfied with being a mere observer in the innovative industry; she yearned to be a participant. Thus, she joined a FinTech startup called Yun Account as a co-founder and CMO, responsible for external communications and partnerships. Today, this company, which focuses on salary settlement for freelancers, continues to thrive a decade later and has become one of the top tax-paying enterprises in Tianjin. "I still maintain a good relationship with the original founders, who are increasingly interested in Web3 and have some plans for compliant exchanges. We occasionally exchange industry insights."

Afterward, Gracy ventured into the VR field until she joined Bitget in 2022. Initially, she served as Managing Director, overseeing external affairs. In May 2024, following the departure of the former CEO, Gracy was invited by the board to take over as CEO. After a few days of contemplation, she accepted the challenge. Now, under her leadership, Bitget has expanded from a team of 150 to 1,800, growing into one of the top five comprehensive platforms globally.

Self-Writing in the Digital Age

Many are surprised that the CEO of Bitget is a woman, but Gracy is indifferent to this. "I don't know what everyone's focus is; personally, I tend to not care much about these things, or rather, I prefer to overlook the role of women and focus more on results, team building, and what a CEO should do—finding people, money, and direction."

"The achievements I've made are not because I'm a woman," Gracy emphasizes, "but because I've proven my value through hard work and capability." In 2022, she successfully signed legendary football star Messi as a brand ambassador. With Messi leading Argentina to victory in the World Cup, Bitget's global influence significantly increased. In 2023, Bitget focused on user asset security with a protection fund and reserves, while integrating KOL and KOC resources to enhance user service experience. In 2024, Bitget shifted its business focus to expanding spot trading, ranking among the top five globally. For example, the well-known DeFi project Ethena launched on Launchpool, and Gracy, with her keen judgment and efficient communication, secured a partnership with the project's CEO just two days before the listing, successfully locking in the quota. Bitget's rapid growth into an industry giant is attributed not only to precise execution of strategic planning but also to a genuine reflection of strength and value.

Gracy is also an active and outstanding content creator, with her social media presence spanning multiple platforms including Twitter, LinkedIn, Xiaohongshu, and Douyin, attracting a large following. Her video content, such as "How to Become a 7-Figure CEO," has sparked widespread discussion. She admits that she enjoys producing content, which is also why she chose to be a media person after graduating from university. Now, her content creation is not only for personal expression but primarily to build her personal and company brand, achieving an organic synergy between the two.

The content she shares includes industry trends, previous interviews with CNBC and Bloomberg, and some topical events, such as Bitget's role as a "white knight" during the Bybit crisis. Despite occasional misunderstandings on social media due to differing audience perspectives, Gracy remains committed to honest sharing.

"No matter what comments I receive, I will still openly share my views. For instance, I always believe that large positions must manage risk well, and leverage should be used moderately. This is entirely based on my own investment principles and may not be suitable for everyone. Some friends joke that exchanges must want users to leverage more to increase trading volume, right? How could a CEO advise everyone to use less leverage? But what I say in public is what I genuinely believe and what I advise myself and my friends. I value the unity of knowledge and action."

Defining Authenticity Amid Controversy and Competition

As mentioned, Gracy's statements as a public figure inevitably spark controversy. While inner turmoil is unavoidable, she firmly believes: "Being misunderstood is the fate of the expresser." This quote from Ma Dong of "Qi Pa Shuo" has established her calm mindset when facing controversy. She believes that under public scrutiny, no one can achieve 100% perfection. The most impactful opinions often come with inherent controversy.

"I can't please everyone," Gracy says, "but I can ensure that I feel at peace with myself and uphold my principles and values." This attitude of facing controversy head-on is part of her leadership style.

In the fiercely competitive exchange industry, Bitget, under her leadership, has consistently adhered to the principle of healthy competition. Gracy cites the Bybit incident as an example, where, during its short-term liquidity crisis, Bitget swiftly provided support of 40,000 Ethereum (approximately $100 million). This action not only earned gratitude from Bybit but also garnered respect from the industry, showcasing responsibility.

"Competition is inevitable, but it must be healthy," Gracy emphasizes. "We may compete with Bybit for projects and talent, but we do not allow any team member to disparage competitors. The prosperity of the industry does not rely on dividing existing market shares but requires collective efforts to expand the 'cake.'"

Bitget's extravagant year-end bonuses last year caused a stir in the industry. Gracy explains that this is linked to the company's OKR mechanism, aimed at rewarding employees who create significant value for the company. The top-performing employees had annual earnings (including base salary and year-end bonus) equivalent to about 50 months' salary.

"Of course, such rewards are based on the premise that employees have created significant value for the company. We do not support mediocrity," Gracy states frankly. "We reward the best while eliminating those who cannot create value. It's a bit harsh, but that's our culture and one of the reasons we continue to progress."

Maintaining the Courage to Explore and Accept

Gracy has also created an AI workflow, naming her AI assistant Artificial Gracy's Intelligence (AGI), which regularly fetches trending industry news and summarizes it into content suitable for different social media platforms. During our interview, Gracy also integrated her AI notetaker, optimizing her workflow while making life easier. She stated that Bitget is actively exploring the deep integration of AI with exchange operations, optimizing workflows across various dimensions, from customer service, translation, and recruitment to compliance and fraud detection.

"We are still learning about the potential of AI," Gracy said. "In the future, AI will help us optimize workflows and user experiences in more areas."

Her Strength, Her Future

In January 2024, Gracy launched a public welfare project called Blockchain4Her in Davos, aimed at supporting women's development in the blockchain field. Over the past year, the project has made significant progress, including granting $50,000 in funding, recognizing outstanding women, and hosting over ten meetups globally. These activities vary in format, from afternoon tea networking sessions to large forums, all providing valuable support for young female entrepreneurs, including many talented individuals such as Stanford graduates and serial entrepreneurs. Currently, over 1,000 women worldwide have participated in Blockchain4Her's offline events. Gracy also shared the vision of this project at the UN Women Conference and engaged with leaders of women's communities in Africa, South America, and other regions.

"We hope to further expand women's influence in the blockchain industry through Blockchain4Her," Gracy stated. "In the future, we will also focus on awards, online and offline activities, mentorship programs, and further expanding Blockchain4Her's influence in collaboration with more NGOs to achieve this goal."

For women seeking personal growth, Gracy's advice is simple and pragmatic: focus on creating value. She quotes a senior who once told her: "You are not paid by how hard you work, but by how hard you are replaced."

On personal growth and emotional dimensions, Gracy emphasizes "avoiding internal conflict." She believes that if a person or a situation makes you unhappy and cannot be resolved through communication, it is likely due to a mismatch in energy with the other party. "This doesn't mean everyone should revolve around you, but rather that you should maintain a positive energy field. Keep a positive energy field. When those around you are 'in sync' with you, you will feel comfortable and self-consistent, allowing you to better focus on your career and life."

"If something makes you unhappy, the best way is to decisively 'kick it out' of your life!" Gracy laughed.

Gracy Chen Profile

Gracy Chen is the CEO of Bitget, with over 10 years of management, marketing, and investment experience. She joined Bitget as Managing Director in 2022 and was promoted to CEO in May 2024. Gracy is also a columnist for well-known media outlets such as Forbes and Cointelegraph. Additionally, she has been invited to join the first crypto reality TV show "Killer Whales," produced by a Hollywood team, as a judge to seek 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).