10 years of service to our clients: reflecting on the journey

When we embarked on this journey in 2013, our objective was straightforward: to offer Australians a safe, secure, and dependable platform for buying and selling Bitcoin. Throughout the years, we have been deeply grateful for the trust our clients have bestowed upon us, and we appreciate every one of them as invaluable members of our community.

Our clients are our focus.

At the heart of everything we do, are our clients. Their success is our success, and we strive every day to provide them with the best possible experience on our platform. We know that trading cryptocurrencies can be daunting, which is why we have always put transparency and client support at the forefront of our business.

“BTC Markets is a truly amazing company. The support and customer service are the best I have received in many years. The support staff go out of their way to assist you with any issue you may have, large or small. I am so happy to have found such a trustworthy, security conscious and thoroughly professional team/company for my crypto needs. I could not speak more highly of every single aspect of BTC Markets. Absolutely brilliant.” 5-star Google review

Australia’s first crypto exchange to list Bitcoin.

As we reflect on the past decade, we are proud of the milestones we have achieved alongside the growth of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and XRP.

In 2013, we were the first Australian exchange to list Bitcoin, which was trading around AU$150. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading in the AU$40,000 range, which is an eye watering 27,000% increase. We also listed Litecoin alongside Bitcoin, which at the time was trading at AU$4.00. It is currently trading at AU$130 which is a staggering 3,150% increase.

It didn't stop there. In 2016, we made history once again by becoming the first Australian exchange to list Ethereum.

The year 2017 brought even more success to BTC Markets, as we reached AU$1 billion in trading volume, servicing 66,000 Australian crypto traders and introduced XRP to the Australian market.

Three years later we became a Ripple ODL-Liquidity provider, further reinforcing our presence as a market leader in the cryptocurrency landscape.

Staying true to who we are.

In the past 12 months, the cryptocurrency industry has faced intense regulatory scrutiny and widespread public attention. Throughout this period, we have consistently positioned ourselves as the exchange that prioritises our clients' peace of mind above all else. To deliver a robust and secure trading experience and ensure the long-term sustainability of our business, we have consciously made efforts to minimise risk within our operations.

We have established a robust project listing requirement process and consciously steered clear of the risk exposure inherent in some asset listings. Our commitment remains unwavering: conducting business without any debt, while strictly adhering to the principles of not trading against our clients or maintaining a proprietary trading desk.

We take a very conservative approach to managing our business and client assets. This includes our commitment to not lending client assets and maintaining complete segregation between client and corporate holdings, ensuring no co-mingling occurs.

Regulations and industry reforms.

To sustain our long-term business model, it is imperative that we collaborate with government agencies and industry bodies on developing regulatory reforms for our industry. Read our response to the 'Treasury's Token Mapping Consultation Paper'.

“BTC Markets has been advocating for these regulatory requirements for some time and are based on the same framework applied to traditional finance industry" - @CaroBowler, CEO of @BTCMarkets

Trust and transparency in crypto.

We believe in building long-term relationships based on trust, transparency, and communication. Our clients are not just numbers to us - they are individuals with their own unique goals and aspirations, and we are honoured to be a part of their crypto journey.

“Been with BTCM since 2019 with no problems to date. Transparency is key to having a creditable crypto exchange especially with what is going on in the world today and that is not only other exchanges it is the banking institutions even more. Just do the right thing by humanity and humanity will look after BTCM. Keep up the good work.” 5-star Trust Pilot Review

Australian certifications, accreditations, and trading milestones.

The year 2018 brought further recognition as we became the first Australian cryptocurrency exchange to achieve gold certification from Blockchain Australia.

Our commitment to excellence didn't go unnoticed. In June 2022, our sister company was granted an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) for non-cash payments and general advice.

The year 2022 marked a significant turning point for BTC Markets. In March, we formed a groundbreaking partnership with Mastercard. Additionally, we launched a user-friendly mobile trading app, making it even more convenient for traders to access the market on the go.

BTC Markets' achievements extended beyond our services. In April 2022, our CEO, Caroline Bowler, was honoured with the prestigious title of Female Fintech Leader of the Year. This recognition highlighted her outstanding leadership and contributions to the fintech industry.

In November 2022, we upgraded our platform to incorporate one of the world's fastest trading engines, enhancing the trading experience for our ever-growing user base.

To cap off our remarkable journey, in December 2022, BTC Markets was named Digital Currency Exchange of the Year by Blockchain Australia. Whilst our CEO, Caroline Bowler, was honoured as the Blockchain Leader of the Year, recognising her significant contributions to the blockchain industry.

Closing our list of achievements, our exchange surpassed AU$23 billion in trade volume whilst servicing 325,000 Australian crypto traders. The growing demand for cryptocurrencies and our dedication to delivering an exceptional trading experience are clearly paying off.

Where to from here?

As we celebrate 10 years in crypto, we look back at the incredible milestones our clients have achieved through trading crypto. Over the years, clients have reached out to us to share their success stories from paying off their mortgages to providing for their families to around the world trips they could only dream about before crypto. They have thanked us for providing them with a trusted and secure platform to transact in the crypto space.

From humble beginnings as the first Australian exchange to list Bitcoin, to becoming a leader in the cryptocurrency market and fostering innovation, we have undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the world of digital finance. The future holds endless possibilities for all of us and we remain steadfast in our unwavering commitment to revolutionising how our clients engage with cryptocurrencies.

As we look ahead to the next 10 years and beyond, we are excited about the future of the digital asset ecosystem and the role we all have in shaping it. No matter how much we grow, our clients will always be at the heart of everything we do.

Thank you for 10 incredible years, and we look forward to sharing many more.

Regards,

The BTC Markets Team