Eight years ago, Bitget operated primarily as a crypto derivatives exchange. Today, the company says it serves more than 125 million users and is expanding into crypto, tokenized equities, commodities and other global markets through its Universal Exchange (UEX) strategy.
For Bitget Chief Legal Officer Hon Ng, the expansion also increases the company's responsibilities. A broader range of markets requires infrastructure that can support stronger transparency, security and compliance standards as the platform grows.
One of Bitget's main transparency measures is its Proof of Reserves system, which the exchange introduced in December 2022.
Bitget says it has published reserve data every month since then, maintaining a minimum 1:1 reserve ratio for user assets and using Merkle Tree technology to allow users to independently verify their inclusion in reserve snapshots.
In September 2026, Bitget's 46th consecutive Proof of Reserves report showed a total reserve ratio of 135%, according to the company, while its average reserve ratio has remained above 120%.
The exchange has also expanded the number of assets covered by its PoR system from four to 19. The move is intended to extend independent verification as Bitget adds more assets and markets to its platform.
Proof of Reserves addresses whether user assets are backed, but Ng argues that user protection also depends on account security, market integrity and the financial safeguards surrounding the platform.
Bitget established its Protection Fund in 2022 with an initial commitment of $300 million. The exchange said the fund had an average valuation of approximately $382 million in August 2026, providing an additional financial safeguard alongside measures designed to prevent security incidents.
Protection across security, markets and regulation
Bitget's security framework includes user-facing measures such as two-factor authentication, FIDO2 and WebAuthn passkeys, Anti-Phishing Codes and device controls. Behind those tools, the exchange says it uses withdrawal safeguards, transaction monitoring, anomaly detection and fraud-prevention systems.
Market integrity is another component of the framework. Earlier in 2026, Bitget introduced its Market Integrity and Token Accountability Framework, which is designed to monitor listed assets, project teams and market makers after tokens are listed.
According to Bitget, the framework examines indicators including unusual wallet activity, potential market manipulation, insufficient liquidity and other suspicious trading patterns. Depending on the circumstances, measures can include additional risk warnings, trading restrictions, account freezes, suspensions or delisting.
The same layered approach applies to regulatory compliance. Bitget says its regulatory footprint includes registrations, licenses and approvals in jurisdictions including Argentina, Australia, El Salvador, Georgia's Tbilisi Free Zone, Mauritius, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland and the UK.
Because regulatory requirements differ between jurisdictions and asset classes, the exchange says its compliance infrastructure includes KYC and KYB procedures, AML and CFT controls, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring and engagement with regulators.
The UEX model adds another layer of complexity by bringing crypto, tokenized stocks, commodities and other assets into a common trading environment. Bitget says it is working with BlockSec on a UEX Security Standard addressing areas including verifiable solvency, multi-asset risk isolation, data and privacy protection, dynamic monitoring and application and infrastructure security.
For Ng, the central lesson from Bitget's first eight years is that these standards cannot remain static. As the platform expands, transparency needs to cover more assets, security measures need to adapt to new threats and compliance systems need to account for changing markets and regulations.
The company's anniversary therefore marks not only the expansion of its product offering but also the broader obligations that come with operating across multiple markets. As Bitget enters its ninth year, Ng frames asset protection, operational controls and transparency as continuing requirements rather than milestones that can be treated as complete.
Dan Burgin
U.Today Editorial Team
