Did you know that two of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world are led by women? In a recent blog post, Gracy Chen, the CEO of Bitget, shared her journey of leading an exchange that facilitates $4 billion in trading volume. Chen’s story began when she received a scholarship to study applied mathematics in Singapore at the age of 18. After graduating, she became a television host for a Chinese finance and technology program where she first learned about Bitcoin from her interviewees in 2015 when its price was $300. Chen then co-founded two startups in fintech and virtual reality while pursuing an MBA program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In 2022, Chen joined Bitget as the managing director and eventually became the CEO, overseeing a team of over 1,500 staff members. Another influential woman in the crypto industry is Yi He, the co-founder of Binance. Born in 1986 in a remote countryside in Sichuan Province, China, He demonstrated exceptional academic abilities from a young age. Despite coming from a humble background, she excelled in her studies and developed a passion for learning.
After leaving her hometown to pursue a career in psychology, He realized that there were limited opportunities in the field at that time. However, her communication skills and outgoing personality helped her land a role as a TV host for a Chinese tourism program. During her time as a TV host, she met Star Xu, the founder of Okcoin, and became interested in the cryptocurrency space. He joined Okcoin as the vice president, leading the exchange to become a prominent player in mainland China. It was during this time that she introduced Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, her future spouse and the current CEO of Binance, to Okcoin as the chief technology officer.
However, both He and CZ eventually left Okcoin due to internal conflicts. Looking for new opportunities, He was drawn to CZ’s vision of creating a global cryptocurrency exchange, as outlined in his white paper for Binance. Recognizing CZ’s expertise and character, He co-founded Binance in 2017, which has since become the world’s largest crypto exchange with billions of dollars in daily volume and assets. Although CZ is no longer actively involved in Binance’s operations, He and the current CEO, Richard Teng, have taken charge and continue to shape the future of the crypto industry.
These women are just a few examples of the significant contributions that women have made in the crypto industry. As the industry continues to evolve, it’s essential to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women in this space.