When Ignacio first bought crypto, he had no idea what he was doing. “It was thrilling,” he recalled his experience. That moment of curiosity now fuels his mission as Bitget’s Chief Marketing Officer to help millions around the world take their first step into crypto and trading.
Ignacio Aguirre Franco, Bitget CMO known as Nacho AF, calls crypto a fast-paced industry, where change is inevitable. The next big thing he envisions for the crypto space is the Universal Exchange (UEX).
Role of community building
Bitget, a leading crypto exchange, now redefined as a Universal exchange (UEX), stands for more than just trading and exchange. They have been pioneering community building in the crypto space through a blend of culture and trade with initiatives such as the Bitget Builders program and their most recent collaboration with a multisensory music festival: UNTOLD Dubai.
The Bitget Builders program extends its services beyond cities to even remote regions, hosting events and promoting crypto education as the company understands the need for financial literacy. It acts as a bridge between Bitget and users, bringing feedback that shapes product improvements. “We had some big events in the Philippines in some remote communities, I think that’s where we are, we also have a recent one in Brazil.”
“When you think of Bitget today, we’re shifting towards universal exchanges,” Nacho told AltcoinDesk.com in an exclusive interview. “This means that we’re not only a crypto exchange. Integrating traditional finance, stocks, and on-chain futures gives you access to almost 200 million new tokens, and at the end, we also have product features like trading, copy trading, and more,” he said.
He compares Bitget’s UEX to Steve Jobs’ iPod or today’s Spotify: “Everything we need is available in a single app.”
Imagine trading more professionally with someone who knows the market. That’s what Nacho said: Bitget is building for beginners. They are not catering to just professionals, but also late laggards, who are fearful of their first step. They also promote copy trading for all levels of users.
Challenges posed and opportunities created
“I don’t really see it as a challenge,” Nacho said when asked about the challenges posed to Centralized Exchanges (CEX) compared to Decentralized Exchanges (DEX). The challenges of security posed in Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and the constraints of user control and transparency discussed in CEX are all key concerns in the crypto world.
However, Nacho says it also comes with areas of friction, and that is the next best way around. He urges a change in perception from CEX versus DEX to CEX with DEX, as the effortless combination builds infrastructure and security under the umbrella of Universal Exchanges.
“It’s undeniable, DeFi obviously has permissionless access, it has transparency, and it’s like a peer-to-peer, so a lot of people love it, but when you dig in a little bit more. You’ll start to find areas of friction,” he added.
Bitget, however, is a step ahead. Their move is not toward decentralization but a hybrid access to centralized, decentralized, and traditional finance, all under one platform. The future, as Nacho says, isn’t about dividing but about integration. Users shouldn’t need five apps but one seamless place for their entire financial ecosystem.
Regulatory grounds and compliance for Bitget
Bitget holds licenses in several jurisdictions, working closely with regulators to adapt and create frameworks that inspire industry growth. “We are very serious about,” he said.
The company holds a 1.8x Proof of Reserves (PoR), a protection fund of almost $800 million, and almost 70 employees working in the compliance department.
Stablecoins and CBDCs, as viewed by Nacho, are a way for the government to connect with the crypto space, where the CEXs find a place at the table with the regulators to help them better understand the crypto ecosystem and adapt it.
What sets Bitget apart from competitors
Bitget takes great pride in calling itself a universal exchange. But Nacho said: “GetAgent is a big differentiator and I think it’s a really good product.”
AI’s role in Bitget’s vision
Bitget uses AI to be the extra hand and first source of information that every trader needs, not to replace or change the art of trade. GetAgent allows users to find all the information at their fingertips with the right prompt. It emphasizes the role of education and safety in Bitget’s rule book.
“Everything, from trading to learning, is unified in one app, supported by Proof of Reserves and a Protection Fund. Trust and transparency come first; once you earn trust, liquidity follows,” Nacho said about GetAgent.
What’s your personal vision for Bitget’s next phase?
“For me, it’s all about storytelling,” Nacho says. Since crypto is full of innovation, the need of the hour, according to him, is to communicate that better, through real use cases and human stories. “We want people to feel connected, not intimidated,” he added.
Finally, he concludes with his best advice for beginners in the crypto space: “Take the first step.” He compares it to swimming. One can read 50 books and still fail to swim. It needs to start with experiments, to eventually grow. “The earlier you start, the more confident you become.”
