Source: Cointelegraph
Original text: (Gate.io Founder’s 12th Anniversary Open Letter - Twelve Years of the Gate, Opening the Future of Cryptocurrency)
Dear users and partners of Gate.io:
I still remember twelve years ago, with curiosity and love for the crypto world, I took the first step of Gate.io. Today, I am very honored to announce - Gate.io has completed its twelfth year and has undergone a brand upgrade, officially adopting the new Chinese name 'Gate'.
Looking back at the stormy twelve years, this growth journey would not have been possible without the strong support and unwavering trust of users and partners. As the saying goes, 'Twelve cycles', we will step into a new cycle with a more open attitude and a more determined belief, opening the next era belonging to the Web3 world.
Twelve years ago, we opened a door.
That was a door to financial freedom, a door belonging to innovators, explorers, and builders in the cryptocurrency industry. In 2013, the cryptocurrency industry was still in its wilderness era. We, with faith in blockchain technology and expectations for a decentralized future, decided to create a secure, transparent, and fair digital asset trading platform. Now, twelve years have passed, and Gate.io has become one of the leading cryptocurrency ecological platforms in the world.
Looking back on this journey, we have witnessed the rise and fall of the industry and experienced countless trials of rain and wind. We have grown rapidly in bull markets and remained true to our original intentions in bear markets; continuously expanding our business territory, from centralized trading to decentralized ecology, from infrastructure construction to venture capital, every step has been firm and solid. Gate.io is not just an exchange; it is a 'safe haven' trusted by global crypto users and a thriving blockchain ecosystem.
What have we done right in these twelve years?
Innovation-driven, daring to take the lead
Twelve years ago, I quietly launched BitEr in a small studio, which was the predecessor of Gate.io.
I have loved exploring technology since I was a child and have strong hands-on skills. My father's educational approach was very open-minded; he often encouraged me to explore new knowledge. During my childhood weekends, I often spent time in bookstores. When I was young, I almost took apart all the appliances at home; my father not only did not stop me but encouraged me to explore boldly. When I graduated from junior high, I had my first computer, and that was when I started to self-study various computer knowledge and began programming. It was a joy to scour through various computer books and magazines at the book stall. By college, I had already mastered several programming languages and embarked on my innovative journey, writing multiple websites and software, and fortunately, these websites and software achieved good traffic and users.
When I first read the Bitcoin white paper, I was deeply shocked and immediately developed a strong interest in this brand new blockchain world. My first Bitcoin transaction was done through a forum, and unfortunately, I was scammed. It was this 'unfortunate experience' that made me realize how important it is to provide a fair and transparent trading platform for users.
With a passion for blockchain, I founded BitEr during my postdoctoral period. My original intention was simple - to bring a fair, secure, and trustworthy blockchain world to the public. For me, technology was not a problem; in the early days, I was the only one supporting the entire platform, shouldering all the work myself. From platform development to operations, marketing, and even customer service, I was responsible for everything. Looking back at that time, it seems that there was joy amid the busyness. I spent almost every day in the community, continuously absorbing innovative ideas and user needs from the industry. My first reaction was to actively and quickly follow up on industry innovations and trends; I think this is my initial understanding of 'blockchain speed', a good habit I have maintained for 12 years. I still remember in 2013, we were the first platform to launch Dogecoin, handling huge traffic, with 90% of the global trading volume and half of the circulating tokens on our platform. At that time, many platforms were wary of these 'novel' coins, but I insisted on innovation and on launching new products. Looking back now, I am very glad about my decisions at that time.
The awareness of innovation has always run through Gate.io's development over the past twelve years, and in terms of various latest products and trends, Gate.io has always been the first to try. From the earliest one-stop wallet Wallet.io, live broadcasts, plazas, chat rooms, to later quantitative trading bots, innovative zones, etc., Gate.io has always been at the forefront of the industry. As early as 2014, I applied for a patent for a fingerprint hardware wallet and brought this wallet into production. Today, Gate.io has hundreds of such innovative products and technologies. I have always encouraged the team to have a spirit of innovation and have never been stingy in investing in product development and innovative growth.
For me, innovation is not a concept to be flaunted but a habitual behavior developed since childhood, as simple and natural as breathing. It has not only shaped me but also made Gate.io. The spirit of innovation has always been the driving force for Gate.io's continuous progress.
Safety as the foundation, steady progress
This industry is never short of innovation and opportunities, but it also comes with risks that cannot be ignored. Recently, there have been frequent security incidents in the industry, whether it is the theft of assets on centralized platforms or vulnerabilities in DeFi protocols, security issues have once again become the focus of the entire cryptocurrency industry. I often tell the team that we are in an industry full of opportunities and the greatest potential for development, but we are also facing unprecedented severe tests; opportunities and risks are always inseparable. Protecting user asset security and ensuring a stable and reliable trading experience is Gate.io's unchanging core mission. This is not only a responsibility but also a principle and bottom line that we have adhered to for many years.
In 2020, we proposed the method of using Merkle Trees for reserve proof and made it open source, advocating that industry platforms use this method to publish reserve proofs for user safety until the end of 2022 when the FTX incident drew attention and this method was rapidly and widely adopted to this day.
Gate.io always adheres to the concept of 'safety first, user-centric', continuously investing resources to build a multi-layered security system covering cold wallet management, multi-signature, real-time risk control alerts, and a global security team that monitors 24/7. We believe that the establishment of true long-term value begins with each dedication to safety and steady operation.
Crossing development, steady growth
Looking back at the past twelve years, Gate.io has come a long way, experiencing the 'great wilderness era' of blockchain, and witnessing the prosperity of DeFi Summer. During this period, the decentralized financial ecosystem experienced explosive growth, and Gate.io ranked among the top three globally, becoming an important player in leading the rapid development of the industry.
With the continuous development of the industry, we have experienced the traffic dividends of the 'startup phase', the technology-driven 'innovation phase', and now the market expansion and strategic layout of the 'steady phase', crossing three important cycles, gradually growing into a leading global cryptocurrency exchange.
During this development process, Gate.io has always adhered to steady operation and achieved remarkable results: the number of ecosystem users has reached tens of millions, continuously expanding our global user base. The number of cryptocurrencies available on the platform has exceeded 3,800, providing diverse trading options for global users, making it the CEX exchange with the most supported cryptocurrencies globally. By 2025, our comprehensive strength will have firmly placed us in the global first tier. We publish our total reserve data on time, and now the total reserves have surpassed $10.328 billion, ranking among the top four globally, reflecting strong financial stability. The platform token GT also reached a historical high of $25.96 this year, a nearly 70% increase since the beginning of the year, with its market value ranking jumping into the top 40 globally, further solidifying our market position. Gate.io's popular Launchpool/HODLer continues to bring continuous benefits to customers, with the total value of Launchpool airdrops exceeding $20.36 million, and more than 140 projects launched on the platform.
Comprehensive upgrade of the Gate ecosystem, creating a diverse one-stop cryptocurrency experience
In the past year, the Gate ecosystem has continuously expanded and upgraded, fully covering major sectors of Web3, accelerating the construction of a diverse and integrated platform. Gate Web3 has supported nearly 200 mainstream public chains; in the TON ecosystem, we took the lead in collaborating with over a hundred projects to launch Gate Mini App and Gate Wallet Mini App, with over a million monthly active users, continuously leading the same track. We launched the innovative MemeBox 2.0, allowing users to easily connect on-chain popular Meme tokens to their exchange accounts, merging the efficiency and convenience of CEX with the diversity of assets in DEX, providing a convenient and secure Web3 trading experience. At the same time, we continue to optimize our global payment network, constantly expanding deposit and withdrawal channels. The Gate Card now supports multiple fiat currencies, with user numbers surging by 327% and recharge amounts increasing nearly 22 times. Gate.io is building a more open, efficient, and convenient cryptocurrency world, allowing every user to easily embark on their own on-chain journey.
At the same time, Gate Ventures continues to increase strategic investments globally, focusing on high-quality Web3 projects and other cutting-edge tracks, having laid out multiple high-quality projects with long-term potential. Currently, Gate Ventures manages assets exceeding $300 million, supporting more than 100 projects, providing not only capital support for startups but also empowering projects and promoting industry development through ecological empowerment and resource collaboration, driving the prosperous co-construction of the Web3 innovative ecosystem.
Promoting global layout, implementing forward-looking strategies
Gate.io has always upheld a global vision, promoting long-term layout with strategic height and overall thinking. We are not only a sponsor of Inter Milan but also became the official sponsor of the F1 Red Bull Racing Team this February, these cross-border collaborations are bold and interesting. Through strategic cooperation with top global brands, we continuously enhance our international influence. Gate Group's layout and investment in compliance rank among the top globally, achieving compliance in major regions such as the Americas, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, with positive progress. In addition, this year we also completed the acquisition of the licensed Japanese exchange Coin Master through our subsidiary.
Over the years, we have promoted the construction of compliant sites, ensuring the platform meets regulatory requirements globally, providing users with a safe and reliable trading environment. Only by being compliant can every step we take be more solid and sustainable. In recent years, Gate.io has continuously attracted outstanding talents from around the world to drive technological innovation, product optimization, and market expansion, allowing the company to maintain a leading position in the fiercely competitive cryptocurrency industry. These forward-looking strategic decisions have laid a solid foundation for Gate.io's global expansion and provide strong support for continuous innovation and industry leadership in the future.
Twelve years is a milestone, but also a new starting point.
Gate.io looks forward to opening a new era's 'door' for global users, welcoming a more open and intelligent cryptocurrency future. We are upgrading our brand comprehensively, redefining Gate.io's future direction - not just trading, but a 'super entry point' that connects the real world and the blockchain world.
In the future, Gate.io will:
In twelve years of shared trials and tribulations, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to all Gate.io users, partners, and team members for their unwavering support. Twelve years ago, we knocked on the door to the crypto world; twelve years later, we stand in front of the door, looking at a broader future. In the next twelve years, we will not only 'open the door' but also walk together into a true new era of cryptocurrency. The door is open, the future is here, and Gate.io looks forward to continuing to build and writing this great journey together with you!
Gate.io Founder and CEO Dr. Han