Gracy Chen, the managing director at leading crypto exchange Bitget, emerged as a true game changer in the once predominantly male-dominated world of cryptocurrencies.
Under her leadership, Bitget has experienced remarkable growth, quadrupling its user base and securing a place among the top four crypto exchanges in terms of derivatives trading volumes.
Gracy’s expertise and unwavering commitment to empowering women have positioned her as a prominent figure in the industry.
As a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, she actively promotes the involvement of women in the crypto space.
Her dedication to empowering women has not only served as an inspiration to countless individuals but has also paved the way for increased representation and equal opportunities within the market.
Gracy’s significant contributions earned her recognition as a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum in 2015.
Partnerships With Messi And Juventus
Among her noteworthy achievements, Gracy spearheaded partnership deals with the legendary footballer Leo Messi before the World Cup. Especially during and after the World Cup Qatar 2022 period, Messi helped Bitget better engage its community and expand its reach in the sports space.
The marketing campaign and various activities done with Messi further escalated the brand to gain considerable visibility and trust thanks to the Championship of Argentina team largely contributed by the team captain, Messi.
The collaboration played a big role in raising awareness about digital technologies among young users in Latin America, contributing to better finance literacy.
Partnership with the Juventus Team is another highlight. Collaborating with Juventus players Moise Kean and Wojciech Szczesny, Bitget initiated a charity project in Los Angeles to raise funds for DIY Girls, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering girls’ interest in STEM education.
This partnership represents a significant milestone in expanding the reach of crypto to a broader female audience and shattering barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields.
Gracy’s dedication to providing women with increased opportunities within the crypto space is evident in Bitget’s workforce composition, where 40% of employees are female. This accomplishment solidifies Bitget’s position as one of the industry’s leading equal-opportunity employers.
Research on Inclusivity and Women’s Engagement
Bitget has been analyzing the women-related market data to find possible gaps and reach better inclusivity.
One of its latest reports delved into the key reasons for the ongoing disparity, identifying that female-led blockchain startup funding is influenced by general investing trends, the overall crypto market situation, and investor bias.
The latter factor is the result of over 90% of the funding going to male-led projects.
Here are some interesting takeaways:
- Female-led blockchain startups secured only 6% of the overall funding.
- The number of female-led blockchain startups has fallen by 45.2% since the beginning of 2022 but is already showing a recovery.
- The share of female-led startups has seen a slight increase from 8.3% in 2022 to 8.6% by Q3 of 2023.
- Female-led blockchain project funding is more sensitive to negative changes but less sensitive to bullish trends.
- There is a strong need for incubators capable of nurturing female startups and fostering a more inclusive and encouraging environment for their development.
Incubator Programs And Women Support Initiatives
During the World Economic Forum 2024, Bitget presented the Blockchain4Her initiative aimed at promoting gender diversity and inclusivity in the blockchain industry, with a $10 million commitment.
Key Initiatives of Blockchain4Her:
— Female Entrepreneur Incubation Programs and Pitch Competitions
These programs provide comprehensive support, mentorship, and resources, empowering women to navigate and succeed in the blockchain industry. Blockchain4Her will host pitch competitions for female-founded startups, offering them a platform to showcase their innovations and secure potential investments.
— Women in Blockchain Summit Awards
Blockchain4Her will feature an exclusive experience called the Women in Blockchain Summit Awards, serving as a platform to celebrate and recognize the outstanding achievements of women in the blockchain space.
— Ambassador program
Bitget also invites industry leaders to join as ambassadors for the Blockchain4Her program, supporting gender diversity in blockchain. At present, the Ambassador Program has already attracted many prominent individuals, including Tess Hau, the founder of Tess Ventures, and Bros Hevan, the CEO of Hacken.
Killer Whales
Beyond her responsibilities at Bitget, Gracy also is known as a judge on the popular TV show “Killer Whales“, a program co-created by Hollywood producers. In the show the judges evaluate Web3 and blockchain projects, deciding whether they are worthy of their support.
Killer Whales is the first TV reality show about crypto inspired by the famous Shark Tank program. The show produced by HELLO Labs and TV-producing veteran and creative director of the MTV VMA awards Paul Caslin, and co-produced by CoinMarketCap features an exciting lineup of judges that include the biggest and the boldest industry leaders like Anthony Scaramucci.
The concept replicates the famous TV show Shark Tank but with a twist of crypto, reaching a billion homes through global prime-time television by the end of 2023.
Shot in Hollywood, Los Angeles, the show is broadcast to over 55 countries across the World‘s biggest streaming platforms.