Interview with Bitget Chief Sales Officer Intae Song

Growing from an individual investor to Bitget’s Global Chief Sales Officer, Intae Song shares his opportunities and challenges entering the crypto industry, reflects on Bitget’s early startup atmosphere and development, details his strategies and experiences during global expansion, and offers insights on the future of the derivatives market, institutional investor roles, and blockchain-AI integration. He particularly emphasizes maintaining weekly face-to-face interactions with two clients, aiding timely market insights and strategic adjustments. He stresses the importance of continuous learning and adaptability, offering advice to industry newcomers.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely the author’s and do not represent the views of Wublockchain.

1. How did you initially enter the crypto industry as an individual investor? What were the key opportunities or inspirations? What was the biggest challenge you encountered, and how did you overcome it?

Entering the crypto industry was not immediate. Initially, as an individual investor, I focused on inefficiencies in traditional finance, particularly issues with settlement cycles and cross-border payments. As I learned more about crypto and blockchain, I recognized its potential not only to solve these problems but also to create entirely new financial interactions. This potential intrigued me, leading me to fully commit to the crypto space.

One significant challenge was handling the high volatility and informational noise in the crypto market. Initially, certain technical details were confusing, making it difficult to extract useful investment insights from the noise. Additionally, market sentiment could sometimes cause irrational decision-making. Gradually, I overcame this challenge by applying traditional investment analysis frameworks, focusing on project fundamentals and practical applications rather than blindly following trends. This approach helped clarify my thoughts, differentiate signals from noise, and strengthen my conviction in the crypto industry.

2. What was Bitget’s team size and atmosphere like when you joined as an early employee? Any memorable entrepreneurial stories?

When I joined, Bitget was a small team with fewer than 50 people. My department had only three people, and due to limited staffing, everyone multitasked. However, we shared a common belief — cryptocurrency could reshape traditional finance. Despite the steep learning curve, we maintained a practical, proactive mindset. Given the rapid pace of the crypto industry, we raced against time, developing market-relevant products and robust infrastructure to handle high transaction volumes, while continually introducing innovative features.

One particularly memorable experience was during the early phase of Bitget’s futures market launch. To resolve a critical issue potentially preventing smooth order execution during extreme market conditions, our team stayed after work hours to debug and ensure a successful launch. The atmosphere was tense yet supportive; teamwork and flexibility were essential. Additionally, without dedicated customer support, I personally handled numerous user feedback instances, which taught me the importance of collaboration and adaptability.

Though the team culture was intense, collaboration was at its best. We shared unified goals and an eagerness for growth, recognizing the industry’s need to earn market trust and recognition. I believe this collaborative approach remains relevant, continually anticipating user needs and proactively shaping the industry we aim to excel in.

3. What were your primary responsibilities and challenges during Bitget’s global expansion? Could you share a particularly memorable case from entering a new market?

Successful exchanges leverage their strengths, and one of my core responsibilities was identifying and enhancing Bitget’s competitive advantage through derivatives trading. Expanding Bitget globally involved more than just launching futures products; understanding regional cultural differences that influence trading behaviors and navigating varied regulatory requirements and licensing issues were crucial. Entering a market prematurely could backfire, but moving too slowly risked missed opportunities. Hence, close collaboration with legal teams and establishing local connections ensured our products met local demands and global standards.

Customizing products specifically to regional needs rather than employing a uniform approach was essential. Although no single event particularly stood out, a key lesson from these experiences was that successful market entry hinges on correct strategies closely aligned with regulatory authorities.

4. How have your roles evolved from Sales Director to Business Partner and now CSO? Could you explain these positions and future priorities?

My core responsibilities haven’t significantly changed, primarily focusing on expanding Bitget’s partnerships and sales opportunities. However, global expansion has added a new dimension to my role.

Future priorities include:

Global Market Expansion: Continuing expansion in emerging markets, particularly Southeast Asia, Latin America, and other underdeveloped regions. We tailor products and strategies according to regional cultural differences, regulatory frameworks, and market demands.

Innovative Products and Services: Keeping abreast of evolving market needs to drive platform innovation, such as recent launches like Bitget Seed and Early Hunter airdrops, enabling users to discover quality early-stage assets.

Deepening Institutional and VIP Business: Developing a diverse user base, offering institutional clients exclusive 24/7 services, API upgrades, customized data backends, lower trading fees, faster transactions, higher trading limits, flexible financing, and tailored wealth management.

Regulatory Compliance and Industry Collaboration: Emphasizing compliance as global crypto regulations mature, ensuring adherence to local laws and strengthening cooperation both within and outside the industry to enhance Bitget’s competitive advantage and brand influence.

5. Bitget is known for its aggressive corporate culture. Is this particularly evident in the sales team? What are the current main goals of the sales team, and how do you view the futures market prospects?

As previously mentioned, Bitget’s core strategy emphasizes differentiation rather than “aggressiveness.” Our culture is pragmatic and results-oriented — individuals delivering results receive full empowerment and rewards, a simple yet efficient approach. For instance, we allocated $70 million in bonuses to reward over 1,700 employees for their work in 2024, consistently providing year-end bonuses regardless of market conditions. Our focus is collaborative achievement toward common goals rather than internal competition. Collaboration remains crucial, supported by an open feedback mechanism.

The sales team’s mission is promoting mainstream cryptocurrency adoption. Despite supportive external conditions, our sales team must constantly monitor market demands and regulatory trends, ensuring Bitget remains investors’ preferred choice.

I believe the futures market will increasingly target professional traders and institutional investors. Similar to traditional financial derivatives used primarily for hedging and leveraging, crypto’s market path will mature with increased institutional involvement, accelerating compliance and structured products. Currently dominated by high-frequency traders and arbitrageurs, growing institutional interest in crypto assets and complex strategies suggests enhanced market liquidity and depth, potentially leading to more sophisticated customized derivatives. We will continuously refine our products, providing richer tools and stable trading environments for both individuals and institutions.

6. I heard you maintain a weekly habit of meeting two clients. How does this habit benefit you?

Yes, this habit has persisted since joining Bitget, and I’m unlikely to discontinue it. It significantly benefits me by directly understanding client needs and feedback, continuously improving our products and services. Face-to-face interactions provide authentic insights into their thoughts and market shifts. Innovations like Bitget Seed emerged directly from client suggestions, which our internal teams developed into actual products.

Such interactions allow me to quickly identify opportunities, resolve client issues promptly, and enhance decision-making confidence through real user demands. Moreover, these conversations build deeper trust and foster stronger, long-term cooperative relationships.

7. What cryptocurrencies do you currently hold? What is your largest holding? What are your largest altcoin and meme coin holdings? How do you view the current cooling of altcoins and the relative popularity of meme coins?

As an individual investor, it’s essential to stay sensitive to market trends and align personal investment strategies with industry developments. Currently, my crypto portfolio includes mainstream assets such as BTC and ETH, as well as some high-quality altcoins and projects in emerging sectors.

BGB holds a particularly special place in my investments. It’s not just an asset, but more like a “partner” that is growing alongside us. Its value appreciation represents the market’s recognition of our work, and this kind of positive feedback also motivates the team to keep moving forward.

Regarding the current market trends, the recent cooling of altcoins is mainly influenced by macroeconomic conditions, capital flows, and overall market sentiment. In contrast, the rise of meme coins reflects a shift in short-term capital preferences. Driven by community culture and market sentiment, meme assets often yield excess returns in specific phases. However, in the long run, high-quality projects will continue to stand out based on technological innovation and real-world application value. In the current market environment, investors must pay attention to short-term sentiment while also managing risks effectively.

8. Which sectors in the crypto space are you currently most focused on? How do you see the market evolving in the future?

I’ve been closely following the structural changes in the crypto market and the long-term growth opportunities. Right now, the areas I focus on most are the derivatives market, institutional trading, and the intersection of AI and blockchain.

In terms of derivatives, the contract trading market is becoming increasingly mature, with more participation from institutions and professional traders. Bitget continues to optimize its product experience to meet these increasingly complex trading needs.

On the institutional trading side, with the launch of BTC spot ETFs, more and more traditional financial institutions are stepping into the crypto space. In the future, compliance, liquidity management, and professional-grade trading tools will become new drivers of growth. As the industry matures, regulatory frameworks will become clearer, providing a more secure entry point for institutional investors.

As for the integration of AI and blockchain, AI applications in intelligent trading, data analysis, and risk control are already reshaping the crypto industry. Looking ahead, the potential of AI in smart contracts, automated trading, and anti-fraud measures is also worth watching closely.

9. How do you balance work and life? What does your daily routine look like? What are your hobbies and interests?

Rather than saying “work-life balance,” I think “work-life integration” better describes my situation. My work doesn’t follow a fixed 9-to-5 schedule; often, work and life are interwoven.

Golf is my favorite sport. Interestingly, almost all of my golf buddies are clients I’ve known for over three years — playing together has turned us into friends. I introduced them to golf, and it brought us closer. In terms of work, we also support each other. That sense of mutual accomplishment is great. In a way, it’s become a very enjoyable part of my “work.”

Besides golf, I also like to cook for my family on weekends and explore new dishes. I think cooking and investing in crypto assets have something in common — you need enough patience and have to find the right “recipe,” then adjust based on your own needs and preferences. Although my skills are average, the satisfaction I get from each meal is real — especially when I get to share it with my family and spend quality time with them.

I also enjoy joking around with my team to maintain a relaxed atmosphere. Work can be busy, but occasionally changing the pace and staying lighthearted is important. I’m very grateful for the understanding and support of my family. My wife and son are my greatest motivation, so I try to make time on weekends or during breaks to be with them and enjoy high-quality family moments.

To me, true efficiency isn’t just about working hard — it’s about knowing when to shift gears and finding your own balance between speed and stillness.

10. As someone who transitioned from an individual investor to a manager, what advice would you give to young people who want to enter the crypto industry or pursue trading-related careers?

The crypto industry is different from traditional finance. It’s not only a new asset class but also a completely new financial paradigm. If you want to establish yourself in this industry, maintaining curiosity is crucial. You need to constantly learn new technologies and models, be willing to challenge existing assumptions, and adapt to rapid market changes.

In terms of trading, hands-on experience is far more important than theory. The market won’t behave like a textbook. Real growth comes from repeated practice. My advice is: start with small trades, build your own strategy, and focus more on data than emotion. Trading is not gambling — long-term success comes from understanding and managing risk.

Additionally, finding the right circle is extremely important. Whether it’s through a mentor, a trading community, or joining an industry company, learning from experienced people can help you grow faster. The industry evolves rapidly, and surrounding yourself with excellent people will help you discover your strengths and direction more quickly.

Most importantly — embrace uncertainty. The crypto market is highly volatile, but every challenge comes with opportunity. Stay patient, keep learning, manage your risks well, and you will find your place in this industry.