Conversation with Intae Song, Chief Sales Officer of Bitget: All results are oriented, and those with results will be fully rewarded

Reprinted from chaincatcher
04/02/2025·1MIntae Song, growing from an individual investor to Bitget’s global chief sales officer, shared his opportunities and challenges in entering the crypto industry in this article, reviewed the team atmosphere and development history of Bitget’s early entrepreneurial business, introduced his strategies and experience in the global expansion process in detail, and expressed his insights on the future of the contract market, the role of institutional investors, and the combination of blockchain and AI. He specifically mentioned that insisting on face-to-face communication with two customers every week is a habit that helps him capture market changes in time and adjust his strategy and product direction more effectively. He also emphasized the importance of continuous learning and adapting to market changes, and provided advice and advice to new entrants.
This article is the author's personal opinion and does not represent Wu Shuo's opinion.
1. How did you first enter the crypto industry as an individual investor? What key opportunities or inspirations were there at that time?
What is the biggest challenge encountered in this process? How to overcome it?
The process of entering the crypto industry at the beginning was not achieved overnight. As an individual investor, what I initially focused on was some inefficiency problems in the traditional financial system, especially the settlement cycle and obstacles to cross-border payments in traditional financial markets. With an in-depth understanding of cryptocurrency technology and blockchain, I realized that it not only solves these problems, but also creates entirely new ways of financial interaction. Only when you become interested in the potential of this technology will you decide to devote yourself to it.
One of the biggest challenges I faced in this process is how to deal with the high volatility of the crypto market and the information noise in it. In the early days, I was also confused about some technical details. How to extract content that is useful for investment decisions from the noise is a relatively big challenge. Sometimes, extreme emotions in the market can make people fall into the dilemma of blindly following the trend. How to stay rational and make long-term and effective judgments is a difficult problem I have gradually overcome.
The ultimate method that helped me clarify my thinking was to look at the crypto industry with a framework that analyses traditional investments. Focus on the fundamentals and practical applications of the project, rather than blindly chasing market hot spots. This way of thinking helped me gradually distinguish which signals are signals and which are noise, and also gave me a firmer belief in the crypto industry.
2. When I joined Bitget as an early employee, what was the team size and company atmosphere at that time? What entrepreneurial stories are there that impressed you?
When he joined, Bitget was still a small team of less than 50 people. My department has only three people, and each has multiple positions due to limited staff, but we share a common belief that cryptocurrencies can reshape traditional finance. Although the industry has a steep learning curve, we always maintain a spirit of hard work and push things forward. As we all know, the speed of change in the crypto industry is comparable to the speed of light. In the early stages of entrepreneurship, we were almost racing against time, not only to create products that meet market demand, but also to build solid infrastructure to support huge transaction volumes, while constantly launching innovative functions.
An impressive experience was in the early stages of the Bitget futures market launch. In order to check a key issue that "may cause users to be unable to open and close positions smoothly under extreme market conditions", our team still stayed at the company for commissioning after get off work to ensure that it can be launched smoothly as planned. During the whole process, the team atmosphere was tense, but everyone supported each other and fought side by side just to deliver on time. In addition to technical issues, customer service has also encountered some challenges. Since there was no full-time customer service at that time, I personally handled a large number of user feedback. These experiences made me deeply realize that teamwork and flexibility are the key to success.
Although the team culture at that time was highly intensified, it was highly collaborative. We have the same goals and are eager to pursue growth and progress, as the entire industry is working hard to win the trust and recognition of the market. I believe that this way of thinking is still applicable to this day - always keeping forward-looking, predicting user needs, and actively shaping the industries we want to deepen our efforts.
3. What work are you mainly responsible for or involved in Bitget 's global expansion? What major challenges have you encountered?
Can you share a case that is most impressive when opening up new markets?
Successful exchanges have their own advantages, and one of my core responsibilities is to explore the advantages of Bitget through contract trading. However, pushing Bitget to different markets is not just about launching contract trading. We also need to truly understand cultural differences across regions, because these differences directly affect trading habits, and regulatory requirements and licensing issues are different in each region. If we rashly enter new markets without understanding these factors, it may backfire; but if we move too slowly, we may miss the opportunity. So, I need to work closely with the legal team and establish local connections to ensure that our products meet local needs and meet global standards.
Through an in-depth understanding of each market, we can tailor-made more suitable products for different regions, rather than simply applying a "unified model". Although nothing particularly stands out during the expansion process, the key lesson I learned from it is that successful market expansion depends on the correct entry strategy, which is inseparable from close cooperation and coordination with relevant regulatory agencies.
4. From sales managers to business partners, and now CSOs, what changes and upgrades are there between different roles? Can you introduce the specific work content of these positions to readers? What are the key tasks in the future?
In fact, my core responsibilities have not changed much, mainly focusing on expanding Bitget's cooperative network and sales opportunities. But now, my scope of work has increased the dimension of globalization expansion.
The next key tasks will focus on several aspects:
Global Market Expansion : Continue to drive Bitget's expansion in emerging markets, especially in Southeast Asia, Latin America and other underdeveloped regions. We tailor different products and strategies based on cultural differences, regulatory requirements and market demands across regions to ensure maximum growth worldwide.
Innovative products and services : With the continuous development of the crypto industry, we will continue to pay attention to market demand and promote platform innovation. For example, the recently launched innovative products Bitget Seed, Early Hunter airdrop, etc., help users discover and capture high-quality assets in the early stages.
Deepen institutional and VIP business : Create a more diversified user structure; institutional users will enjoy 7*24 hours of exclusive services and API interface upgrades, exclusive data backends, enjoy lower transaction fees, faster transaction speeds, higher transaction limits, flexible financing and customized wealth management services.
Regulatory Compliance and Industry Cooperation : With the gradual improvement of crypto supervision around the world, we will pay more attention to compliance and ensure that the company's operations in various markets comply with local laws and regulations. At the same time, we will strengthen cooperation with the industry and outside the industry, establish a stronger network of ecological partners, and enhance Bitget's market competitiveness and brand influence.
5. Bitget is known for its wolf-like corporate culture. Is this more obvious in the sales team? What are the main goals of the current sales team? How do you view the prospects of the contract market?
As I mentioned before, Bitget’s core strategy is to create differentiated advantages. "Wolf nature" is better to say that Bitget's corporate culture is to implement pragmatism. Everything is result-oriented. People with results will be fully authorized and rewarded, simple and efficient. For example, last year, we gave out US$70 million to reward more than 1,700 employees, and no matter whether the market is a bull or a bear market, the year-end bonus is never late. We work together more for common goals than internal consumption. Collaboration is an important guideline for us, and we also maintain an open feedback mechanism. The mission of the sales team is to drive cryptocurrencies to the mainstream. While the external environment does contribute to the development of the industry, sales teams must always pay attention to changes in market demand and regulatory trends to ensure that Bitget is always among investors' priority.
I think the contract market will be more aimed at professional traders and institutional investors in the future. Derivatives in the traditional financial industry are mainly used for hedging and leverage strategies. The development path of the crypto market is similar. With the entry of institutional funds, the trend of compliance and structure will accelerate. At present, the core users of the contract market are still high-frequency traders and arbitrage workers, but more and more institutions are beginning to allocate crypto assets and explore more complex trading strategies. With the improvement of the regulatory environment, market liquidity and depth will be further improved, and even more complex customized derivatives will appear. We will continue to optimize our products to provide individuals and institutions with richer trading tools and a stable trading environment.
6. I heard that you still maintain the habit of meeting 2 customers a week. How can this habit help you?
Yes, this is a habit I have maintained since I joined the company and will not stop in the future. This habit has helped me very much. You can directly understand their needs and feedback and help us continuously improve our products and services. I think face-to-face communication with customers is one of the most direct and effective ways to capture their ideas and market changes more realistically. Innovative features like Bitget Seed are actually some of the ideas proposed by customers. Our internal team transforms these ideas into actual products for development and launch.
This kind of communication not only allows me to discover new opportunities faster, but also help customers solve problems in a timely manner, giving me more confidence when making decisions, because I can adjust our strategies according to customers’ actual needs. Moreover, such communication deepens mutual trust and allows us to establish longer-term and more stable cooperative relationships.
7. What cryptocurrencies are you currently holding? What is the biggest position? What are the largest counterfeit and Meme positions? How do you view the current situation of coupons and the relative popularity of Meme?
As an individual investor, you need to maintain a sharp mind towards the market and configure it in your personal investment strategy in combination with industry trends. Currently, my crypto portfolio covers mainstream assets such as BTC and ETH, as well as some high-quality altcoins and projects in emerging tracks.
BGB has a special position in my investment. It is not just an investment product, but more like a partner who "grows up" with us. Its value growth also represents the market’s recognition of us, and this positive feedback can also inspire the team to keep moving forward.
Regarding the current market trend, the recent cooling of altcoins is mainly affected by the macro environment, capital flows and market sentiment. In contrast, the popularity of Meme coins reflects changes in short-term fund preferences, especially driven by community culture and market sentiment, Meme assets are often able to obtain excess returns at specific stages. But in the long run, high-quality projects will still be produced by relying on technological innovation and practical application value. In the current market environment, investors should pay attention to short-term market sentiment and do a good job in risk management.
8. What is the track that is most concerned about in the field of encryption at present? How do you view the subsequent market trends?
I have been paying attention to structural changes and long-term growth opportunities in the crypto market. At present, several of my most focused directions include derivatives markets, institutional transactions, and the combination of AI and blockchain.
In terms of derivatives market, the contract trading market is becoming more and more mature, and the participation of institutions and professional traders is also increasing. Bitget has been optimizing product experience to meet increasingly complex transaction needs.
In terms of institutional trading, with the launch of BTC spot ETFs, more and more traditional financial institutions have begun to enter the crypto market. In the future, compliance, liquidity management and professional-level trading tools will become new growth points. As the industry gradually matures, the regulatory framework will become clearer, which provides more institutional investors with a safer environment for entering the market.
As for the combination of AI and blockchain, AI’s applications in intelligent transactions, data analysis and secure risk control are changing the crypto industry. In the future, AI's potential in smart contracts, automated transactions and anti-fraud is also worth paying attention to.
9. How to balance the relationship between life and work? What is the daily schedule? What are your interests and hobbies?
Rather than saying that it is a "work and life balance", it is better to say that the "integration of work and life" is more in line with my state. My job is not fixed from 9 to 6, and many times work and life are intertwined.
Golf is my favorite sport. Interestingly, almost all my golf friends have known customers for more than three years, and they become friends as they play. I took them into the golf trick and brought our relationship one step closer. At work, we will support each other and it feels great to achieve each other. In a sense, this is also part of the "work" I enjoy very much.
In addition to golf, every weekend, I also cook for my family and study some new dishes. I think there are similarities between studying new cuisines and investing in crypto assets, such as requiring enough patience, and finding a "recipe" that suits you and adjust it according to your needs and taste. Although the level is average, the meal you make always brings a sense of accomplishment to yourself, especially to share it with your family and brings them high-quality companionship.
I like to joke with my teammates and keep a relaxed atmosphere. Although I am busy with work, I occasionally switch the rhythm and maintain a relaxed attitude. I am also very grateful to my family for their understanding and support. My wife and son are my greatest motivation, so I will try to make time with them on weekends or in my spare time and enjoy high-quality family time.
I think that true efficiency is not only about putting in the work, but also about knowing how to switch paces and finding one's own balance between fast and slow.
10. As a "experienced person" from individual investors to managers, if a young person wants to join the crypto industry or engage in transaction-related work, do you have any suggestions or advice?
The crypto industry is different from traditional finance. It is not only an emerging asset class, but also a brand new financial paradigm. If you want to gain a foothold in this industry, it is crucial to maintain a curiosity. We need to constantly learn new technologies and new models, be willing to break our inherent cognition and adapt to the rapid changes in the market.
In terms of trading, practice is definitely more important than theory. The market will not follow the rules in the textbook, and real growth is accumulated through repeated practical operations. My advice is: Start with small transactions, build your own strategy, and focus more on data than emotions. Trading is not gambling, long-term success depends on understanding and control of risks.
In addition, finding the right circle is also very important. Whether through mentors, trading communities, or joining industry companies, communicating with experienced people can help you grow faster. This industry is developing very fast, and walking with excellent people can help you find your strengths and directions faster.
The most important point - embrace uncertainty. The crypto market is volatile, but every challenge is accompanied by opportunities. Stay patient, continue to learn, and do a good job in risk control, and you will find your own position in this industry.