In an industry where longevity is rare, exchange of cryptocurrency Bitmart celebrates its seventh anniversary in the middle of a landscape marked by volatility, safety challenges and rapid technological evolution. CEO Sheldon Xia has led the platform through several market cycles to build what is now a global operation serving more than 10 million users in 200 regions and countries.
While exchanges face a thorough examination after the $ 1.5 billion recent HackThe emphasis on XIA on basic security measures and user empowerment offers an overview of sustainable exchange operations. I sat with Sheldon earlier this month in Hong Kong, where his team met to plan the strategies of 2025, to discuss the accent put by the platform on the balancing of the global scope with localized experiences.
With annual trading volumes now exceeding 3 dollars, Xia considers the integration of AI as the next border for cryptocurrency scholarships in 2025, potentially redefining trade experiences for new arrivals and experienced merchants.
Security as a foundation, not a reflection after the fact
In the wake of North Korean pirates compromising Bybit systems, security has become the main concern of crypto and users’ exchanges. For Xia, robust security is not an answer to industry events, but has been Bitmart’s main philosophy from the first day.
“Security is always the biggest step above all change at Bitmart. It is not a reflection afterwards, it is the foundation of everything we do,” explains Xia.
Bitmart implements a multilayer defense frame that includes a hybrid hot and cold portfolio structure, multi-signating technologies and advanced protocols like WAF, XDR and CWPP. The platform has also trained strategic partnerships with third-party security companies to strengthen its systems.
Speaking with Xia, he said that “the recent violation of the appeal strengthened our vigilance. Our third generation negotiation system strengthens the integrity of the execution of the order and protects against data vulnerabilities ”.
Beyond the infrastructure, Bitmart applies compulsory authentication to two factors and provides anti-phishing codes for individual users, with institutional childcare solutions available through partners such as copper, fire objects and Cobo.
Xia recognizes the evolution of the nature of security threats. “Pirates become smarter, so we have become more difficult. We are continuously improving risk controls to make sure to remain a security fortress for our 10 million users.”
Global reach by local relevance
When many exchanges are based on a unique approach, Bitmart has “deliberately focused on the design of its platform as users on various markets,” Xia explained during our conversation. Bitmart currently supports more than 90 fiduciary currencies and the offer of 11-languages services has enabled the platform to build substantial user bases on established and emerging markets.
“We focus on providing really localized capacities,” says Xia. “It is not only a question of accessibility, it is a question of ensuring that each user feels at home, whether in the European Union, in Latin America or in the MENA region.”
This double focus on regulatory mature markets as the EU alongside strong growth regions led the expansion of the platform to 200 regions and countries. The exchange maintains this global-local balance thanks to nearly 100 offline events across Asia, Europe and South Africa and active commitment to social platforms where user feedback directly shapes the development of the platform.
“The European Union is a priority because its regulatory landscape matures,” explains Xia. “At the same time, we see explosive opportunities in the MENA and LATAM regions where the demand for the adoption of cryptography aligns perfectly with our mission,” Xia revealed in the middle of our cat in Hong Kong.
Empowerment of users thanks to innovation
Perhaps the most distinctive in Bitmart’s approach is its commitment to transform users of simple customers into active stakeholders through its “Pope to vote” mechanism.
“Our stake on voting functionality changes the situation,” explains Xia. “Users set up BMX, our platform token, to influence the lists of tokens, which makes them co-creators of our future.”
This community -centered philosophy extends to Bitmart technological innovations. The platform recently launched its third generation negotiation system, reducing the processing time of orders from 20 milliseconds to only two milliseconds and managing up to 80,000 orders per second-a considerable realization for a platform with trading volumes in billions of tickets.
Xia underlines during the interview that “commitment is further reinforced by incentive structures”, including a seventh anniversary campaign with a considerable pool prize, alongside regular ardrop award programs which promote user loyalty in their global community.
The AI revolution in crypto
In 2025, Xia considered artificial intelligence as the transformative force which will redefine trading of cryptocurrencies and potentially fill the gap between digital assets and traditional finance.
“The integration of the AI will be a major objective in 2025”, reveals Xia. “We are deploying intelligent analyzes, automated trading tools and personalized user experiences that will make trading more intelligent and more efficient.”
As a former programmer, Xia brings a technical overview of her vision of the impact of AI. “What excites me the most is how emerging technologies like AI can redefine finances through predictive trading models, more intelligent risk management and personalized investment strategies.”
Beyond AI, Xia was monitoring developments in the tokenization of active world active ingredients and metovers’ integration – the technologies it believes “have massive potential to fill digital and physical economies, unlocking entirely new financial opportunities”.
Trace the way
While Bitmart celebrates seven years in an industry where few exchanges even survive half of this time, the XIA approach balances technological innovation with the fundamental principles of security and the empowerment of users. The capacity of the platform to navigate regulatory complexity in several jurisdictions while maintaining a solid security posture offers a plan for sustainable exchange operations.
“We are building a platform that will define the next era of finance,” concludes Xia. “At the heart of everything we do is user empowerment, whether through advanced trading tools or new gain avenues. We will continue to push the limits to stimulate financial inclusion on a global scale, while retaining our advantage with high level security. ”
The emphasis on Bitmart on safety, location and prospective innovation suggest that the most resilient exchanges can be those that balance technological progress with user fundamentals.
