Crypto exchanges have become known for their impressive statistics, but few match the scale of Bitget’s 2025 scorecard. Claiming the title of the world’s largest “Universal Exchange,” Bitget reported a staggering $8.17 trillion in annual derivatives trading volume last year. This achievement places Bitget firmly among the elite tier of centralized crypto platforms. The exchange also recorded an average monthly derivatives turnover of $680 billion, with daily trading volumes approaching $18 billion by December, indicating sustained activity even amid market fluctuations.
What truly distinguishes Bitget is the composition of its growth, particularly the increasing role of institutional participation. This long-anticipated shift appears to be transitioning from rhetoric to reality, with institutional trading volume in spot markets skyrocketing from 39% at the beginning of the year to 82% by December. Futures trading also experienced a notable increase, where institutional activity rose from a mere 3% to 60% over the same timeframe. Such dramatic growth in institutional involvement typically leads to deeper liquidity and tighter spreads—conditions essential for crypto platforms to be perceived as credible alternatives to traditional exchanges.
Bitget has also managed to sustain its global user base, retaining over 120 million users throughout the year. This achievement is particularly significant in an industry where user engagement often diminishes during quieter market periods. Moreover, confidence in the platform was bolstered by its impressive financial safeguards, including a comprehensive 100% proof-of-reserves framework and a protection fund that reached a peak of $741 million in October. These visible safety nets are crucial in an industry still plagued by the failures of other exchanges.
Beyond standard crypto trading, Bitget has been expanding its offerings to include a range of financial products. Much of 2025 was dedicated to promoting its “Universal Exchange” vision, which integrates centralized crypto, decentralized finance, and traditional financial assets on one platform. The launch of its on-chain trading layer in April generated a cumulative trading volume of $2.4 billion by the end of the year, signaling its commitment to this vision, though it remains modest compared to its core derivatives activities.
The launch of tokenized finance offerings yielded even more impressive results. Trading in tokenized stock futures surpassed $17 billion for the year, with popular U.S. equities like Apple, Tesla, and Nvidia making up more than $5 billion of that total. The advent of Bitget TradFi, which enables users to trade equities, commodities, indices, and foreign exchange using USDT, rapidly pushed daily volumes beyond $2 billion. Notably, in December, Bitget captured an impressive 73% of the market for tokenized equities issued by its partner, Ondo Finance, trading $88 million in just one week.
This blending of crypto and traditional finance markets is not limited to Bitget, but the rapid pace of development is noteworthy. Many users are starting to view tokenized assets not just as novel products but as legitimate trading instruments. If this trend continues, exchanges offering credible pathways to both types of markets could gain a significant long-term advantage.
Bitget’s strategy is supported by substantial infrastructure investments. The introduction of its AI assistant, GetAgent, has proven successful, attracting over half a million users and managing more than 2 million interactions to provide portfolio insights and strategy suggestions across various asset classes. Additionally, the Bitget Wallet has expanded to include everyday payment functions, with card spending surging 28-fold year on year across more than 50 markets. These additional services are essential in transforming a simple trading platform into a comprehensive financial ecosystem.
However, skeptics caution that crypto volumes are cyclical and that regulatory oversight remains inconsistent. Strong performance in a bullish market does not guarantee the same resilience in bearish conditions. Despite these challenges, Bitget’s 2025 achievements indicate a transition from a speculative environment toward a more structured multi-asset exchange model.
Looking ahead to 2026, the focus for Bitget will involve sustainable growth rather than merely outpacing competitors. If the platform can responsibly scale while keeping institutional investors engaged and navigating regulatory landscapes effectively, its ambitions may evolve from ambitious marketing slogans into a viable operational model. While some traders may still harbor doubts, the trajectory of Bitget appears clear and promising.
