BTCC, founded in 2011, is one of the oldest cryptocurrency exchanges still operating today. With 14 years of history, it has weathered bull runs, bear markets, regulatory battles, and the rise and fall of several major competitors. As the company approaches its 14th anniversary, Dan Liu steps in as CEO with deep experience in research, risk strategy, and global finance. A veteran in the crypto industry since 2013, Dan previously served as BTCC’s Chief Research Officer.
In this exclusive interview with HackerNoon’s Behind the Exchange series, we sit down with Dan Liu to discuss BTCC’s longevity, user-first innovation, response to FTX-era skepticism, and how the company is preparing for AI, global regulation, and a decade of crypto maturity.
\ Ishan Pandey: Hi Dan, welcome to HackerNoon’s “Behind the Exchange” series. To begin, tell us about your personal journey, from early involvement in finance and crypto to your recent appointment as CEO of BTCC.
\ Dan Liu: My crypto journey began before my graduate studies in finance and investments back in 2013. What drew me to crypto wasn't just the technology, but the potential to democratize financial access globally.
\ I joined BTCC in 2019 as Chief Research Officer during our 8th anniversary. The timing was pivotal - we witnessed explosive growth during the pandemic as millions of new users entered the crypto space. As CRO, my focus was on anticipating market trends and positioning BTCC to serve this expanding user base, particularly through features like copy trading for beginners who wanted exposure to crypto but lacked trading expertise.
\ When I stepped into the CEO role, I inherited more than just a position - I inherited 14 years of history, trust, and responsibility. What convinced me that BTCC could weather any storm was how we navigated the 2018-2019 crypto winter. While many platforms scaled back or failed, we chose to invest counter-cyclically - strengthening our risk management, rebuilding our system architecture, and expanding our global compliance framework. That's when I realized BTCC wasn't just a trading platform, but an institution preparing for the next decade.
\ Ishan Pandey: Having worked closely on product development and research at BTCC, how do you plan to bring a research-driven approach to strategic decision-making as CEO?
\ Dan Liu: Research isn't just about market analysis - it's about understanding our users' evolving needs and staying ahead of industry trends. We maintain continuous dialogue with our community across 100+ countries through regular surveys and feedback. This ground-up intelligence directly informs our strategic roadmap.
\ Our copy trading feature is a perfect example of this approach. Our research revealed that while many users were eager to enter crypto, they felt overwhelmed by complexity. Rather than just adding another trading tool, we created an entire ecosystem that connects experienced traders with beginners, allowing them access to sophisticated trading strategies.
\ Moving forward, we're leveraging data analytics and user behavior insights to anticipate market needs before they become obvious. This research-first approach ensures we're not just reacting to trends, but creating them.
\ Ishan Pandey: Centralized exchanges face rising skepticism post-FTX. From a product and trust standpoint, how does BTCC plan to rebuild and maintain long-term credibility in this climate?
\ Dan Liu: The FTX collapse was a watershed moment for our industry, but it also highlighted why BTCC's approach has always been different. True longevity in crypto comes from trust, transparent processes, and long-term vision - not short-term gains.
\ Our success metric has never been how much we earn during bull markets, but how well we protect our users during bear markets. This counter-cyclical resilience is what defines sustainable operations in crypto.
\ We're implementing comprehensive transparency measures including proof of reserves, regular third-party audits, and clear segregation of user funds. But beyond compliance, we're building institutional-grade security infrastructure while maintaining the accessibility that retail users expect.
\ Trust isn't rebuilt overnight, it's earned through consistent actions over time. With 14 years of operational history, we have the track record to demonstrate our commitment to user protection across multiple market cycles.
\ Ishan Pandey: BTCC has survived multiple market cycles. What operational or governance principles do you believe contributed most to that resilience, and how are they evolving under your leadership?
\ Dan Liu: In an industry filled with new players trying to move fast and break things, BTCC's survival comes from our ability to see beyond the immediate horizon. We don't just follow trends - we anticipate the infrastructure needs of the next decade.
\ Our resilience stems from several core principles: First, we've always maintained conservative risk management, even when it meant slower short-term growth. Second, we've consistently invested in human capital, recruiting elite talent from both traditional finance and Web3. Third, we've proven our ability to pivot and adapt - from operating one of the world's largest Bitcoin mining pools to pioneering copy trading features.
\ Under my leadership, we're evolving these principles for the next phase of crypto adoption. We're not just building for today's crypto natives, but for the billions of users who will enter this space over the next decade. This means creating bridges between traditional finance and DeFi, between institutions and retail users, between complexity and accessibility.
\ Ishan Pandey: How is BTCC preparing for the intersection of AI and crypto trading infrastructure? Do you see automation, prediction models, or AI governance impacting exchange-level innovation?
\ Dan Liu: AI represents a transformative opportunity for the crypto trading experience, and we're approaching it strategically to enhance user value.
\ We're already leveraging AI to deliver personalized content and market analysis to our users based on their interests and trading patterns. This allows us to provide more relevant insights that help users make better-informed decisions.
\ Looking ahead, we see AI's role expanding across multiple dimensions of our platform - from enhancing user experience through intelligent recommendations to improving risk management and operational efficiency. However, our philosophy remains consistent: AI should augment human decision-making, not replace it.
\ Ishan Pandey: Regulatory outlooks in Asia, North America and Europe are diverging. How do you plan to future-proof BTCC’s operations in anticipation of cross-jurisdiction compliance pressure?
\ Dan Liu: Regulation isn't a constraint for BTCC - it's the foundation that enables sustainable growth. We view compliance as a competitive advantage that allows us to build deeper relationships with users and enter new markets with confidence.
\ We are actively pursuing compliance licenses across global jurisdictions and advancing our worldwide regulatory compliance process. Beyond just meeting current requirements, we're building our compliance infrastructure to be adaptable and scalable. This includes implementing proof of reserves, conducting regular third-party audits, and maintaining transparent reporting standards - practices we've consistently maintained throughout our operations.
The regulatory landscape will continue evolving, but our principle remains constant: operate with the highest standards of transparency and user protection.
\ Ishan Pandey: Lastly, as you look ahead to the next chapter of BTCC, what leadership principles or philosophies are guiding your approach to scaling the company and community?
\ Dan Liu: My vision for BTCC is rooted in the belief that cryptocurrency shouldn't exist as an isolated ecosystem, but as a bridge connecting different worlds - traditional finance with DeFi, institutions with retail users, beginners with experts.
\ We're not just building a trading platform; we're creating pathways for mass adoption. This means using technology to reduce complexity, education to increase confidence, and community to foster belonging.
\ Under my leadership, BTCC will focus on three pillars: First, infrastructure that scales globally while remaining locally relevant. Second, education that empowers users to make informed decisions rather than just reactive trades. Third, innovation that serves real user needs rather than chasing the latest trends.
\ The next chapter of crypto adoption won't be driven by those who build the most complex products, but by those who make sophisticated financial tools accessible to everyone. That's the future BTCC is building toward.
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