Dan Liu is the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of BTCC, one of the world's longest-operating cryptocurrency exchanges. Since joining BTCC in 2019 as Chief Research Officer, Dan has played a key role in driving the exchange’s growth, product innovation, and market resilience. He brings deep expertise across both traditional finance and digital asset markets, positioning him to lead BTCC through its next chapter.
What made this the right moment for you to step into the CEO role after serving as Chief Research Officer since 2019?
After witnessing the downfall of several major industry players, it became clear that sustainability is far more important than chasing short-term gains or market exposure. BTCC is an exchange that has been operating for more than a decade, which is remarkably rare in this industry.
As crypto gains increasing attention worldwide, I believe it’s essential for a decade-long exchange like ours to help shape the industry’s future. Having served as CRO and seen us withstand multiple market cycles, I felt ready to take on this broader responsibility.
The timing just felt right. The industry needs exchanges focused on long-term value creation, not short-term speculation. I wanted to help lead that shift.
How has your academic background in traditional markets influenced your approach to leading BTCC?
Traditional markets have earned public trust over decades, while crypto is still in its infancy. My background taught me that creating awareness and education are essential for mass adoption.
BTCC’s mission goes beyond leading in technology; we want to lead understanding. We want to help every user, no matter their experience level, cross the bridge we’re building into the new global crypto financial era.
That traditional finance perspective shapes how we build. Instead of creating overly complex tools for crypto natives, we focus on intuitive interfaces that traditional traders will find familiar, while still harnessing the power of blockchain.
It’s about meeting users where they are, not forcing them to conform to us.
What standout moments from your crypto journey since 2013 have influenced your leadership strategy?
Two moments in particular stand out. The first was the 2018-2019 crypto winter. While many platforms scaled back or failed, we chose to invest counter-cyclically: strengthening risk management, rebuilding our system architecture, and expanding our global compliance framework. That experience taught me that true leadership means preparing for the next cycle, not just surviving the current one.
The second was the launch of our copy trading feature in 2023. The overwhelmingly positive user response reinforced my belief that user-centric improvements always pay off. It showed me the power of constant communication with our users and our team to identify real needs rather than assumed ones.
These experiences shaped my leadership philosophy: invest in platform strength during downturns and always be listening to your community.
As BTCC turns 14 this year, what are your top priorities for the next chapter?
Our priorities center on three key areas.
First, regulatory compliance. We’re actively pursuing licenses across multiple jurisdictions and prioritising transparency, which is why we now publish regular Proof of Reserves reports.
Second, product expansion. We’re developing new features and offerings based on user feedback and market trends to serve a diverse user base.
Third, deeper AI integration. As one of the industry’s longest-operating crypto exchanges, we see AI as central to delivering long-term value.
We’ve already implemented AI in app push notifications and operations, and we’re exploring its potential across the platform.
That said, our philosophy is clear: AI should enhance human decision-making, not replace it.
What’s your view on the CEX vs DEX dynamic, and how is BTCC adapting
BTCC’s mission is to bridge these two worlds.
We don’t cling to legacy models, nor do we jump at every decentralised trend without due diligence. Longevity requires balancing efficiency, transparency, and user autonomy.
The future lies in hybrid platforms that give users asset custody options, fast and reliable trading, and processes that are verifiable and auditable. That’s exactly what we’re building: combining bank-level compliance and security with the freedoms that define crypto.
While we don’t yet offer decentralised features, we’re not ruling them out. Our vision is to create a model that maximises both compliance and user freedom.
Is BTCC exploring emerging narratives like AI tokens, prediction markets, or other new asset classes?
Absolutely. We run regular user surveys to stay connected with our community’s interests and preferences.
We’re actively researching new features and asset classes — loans, wealth products, strategy trading tools, token listings, and more. But we don’t chase trends for their own sake. Each idea goes through a rigorous process grounded in user demand and implementation feasibility.
AI tokens and prediction markets are among the narratives we’re evaluating. As always, our priority is sustainable innovation by delivering products that are both forward-thinking and reliable.