Technology has the power to change people's futures - there is a woman who firmly believes this. Gracie Chen is CEO of Bitget, a major global cryptocurrency exchange. She is not just a cryptocurrency exchange manager. She has an unusual career history, having switched from being a TV journalist to being an entrepreneur, and having built a track record in both the Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 fields, and at the heart of it all has always been a perspective that focuses on "people".
Her recent global announcement of a partnership with UNICEF has attracted a lot of attention. This initiative, which aims to provide educational opportunities using blockchain for young people and women, goes beyond the scope of CSR (corporate social responsibility) activities and redefines the role that technology plays in society.
Even in the midst of a turbulent bear market, Gracie has spared no effort in investing in human resources and education, and has worked hard to create a society where everyone has a fair chance through CSR programs such as "Blockchain for Youth" and "Blockchain for Her". Her attitude is a fusion of strong entrepreneurial spirit and social responsibility that goes beyond the scope of a simple business leader.
In this interview, we will explore the future of Web 3.0, Bitget's vision, and her leadership philosophy as a woman. The key to building the future may be the "humanity" that lies beyond technology.
Nagatomo: You had a diverse career before joining Bitget. Tell us about your career and turning points leading up to now.
Chen: I graduated from college in 2014 with a bachelor's degree. I was a TV journalist for the first year. Around that time, my friends in the TV industry told me to check out Bitcoin. That was in 2015.
So I read the Bitcoin white paper and was really drawn to its mathematical beauty. I studied applied mathematics in college. From there, I decided to try buying a small amount of crypto assets.
After that, I focused on Web 2.0 startup businesses. One was fintech and the other was metaverse-related. The fintech one in particular is still running quite well. It's a Chinese startup for freelancers, and has traded about 80 billion USDT to date.
The companies I worked for and with helped me build a foundation for product-market fit, which is very important when building a product. In other words, how do you create a product that solves a problem that users really need?
So, the first turning point for me was when a friend recommended that I learn about Bitcoin, which was a very lucky and important event. And the other turning point was when I moved from journalism to the world of entrepreneurship. I would say that the whole journey as an entrepreneur before joining Bitget was important for me.