Launching a crypto trade in 2024 is a problem by way of each section evolution and dominant market sentiment. On the one hand, the crypto sphere appears to be like greater than saturated with CEXes of assorted varieties. However, blockchain markets are nonetheless scuffling with the aftermath of the 2020-2022 bear recession.
All that being mentioned, the crew of Darkex determined to kickstart the grand opening in Q3, 2024. In an unique interview with U.As we speak, tech veteran Samet Eray Gündoğan, COO of the brand new trade, shared the small print of its technique, motivation and even some killing options of Darkex.
U.As we speak: Hey, Samet, welcome to U.As we speak, and thanks for coming. Please inform us slightly bit about your background in tech and crypto and, if potential, why you determined to launch the crypto trade?
Samet Eray Gündoğan: Whats up. I’ve been immersed within the cryptocurrency house for over 9 years, working in main roles at numerous centralized exchanges (CEXs). My background is rooted in each tech and finance, with a ardour for blockchain expertise from early on. I witnessed the evolution of the crypto panorama, and whereas CEXs turned important gateways to digital belongings, I noticed limitations in scalability, safety, and consumer expertise that weren’t being addressed effectively.
Launching Darkex stems from a want to construct a next-generation platform that’s sooner, safer, and really user-centric. I wished to create a CEX that meets the wants of each institutional merchants and on a regular basis customers, making digital asset buying and selling extra accessible with out compromising on belief, transparency, or pace. My ambition is making Darkex a pioneer for International Mass Adoption.
U.As we speak: Clarify, please, what the title Darkex means.
Samet Eray Gündoğan: The title Darkex carries a twin that means. First, “Darkish” displays the start of the crypto and superior privateness options we’re implementing. Whereas we prioritize transparency in operations, we additionally need to shield the privateness of our customers, which is important within the cryptocurrency house. The time period “Darkish” is usually utilized in crypto to indicate safe, off-the-radar transactions, however we’re making it a part of an above-board, totally compliant trade expertise.
“Ex” stands for Change, but in addition signifies excellence in execution, innovation, and expertise. Darkex in the end combines safe, superior crypto buying and selling with a seamless consumer expertise, whether or not you are a retail investor or an establishment. Constructed by crypto natives for crypto natives.
U.As we speak: When do you intend to have your grand launch?
Samet Eray Gündoğan: Our grand launch has been made in Q3 2024. We’re presently within the closing levels of the primary part. We’re nonetheless testing and enhancing on a regular basis, ensuring the platform is bulletproof by way of safety, scalability, and compliance with international regulatory frameworks.
U.As we speak: Which campaigns do you intend to launch forward of Darkex’s public launch?
Samet Eray Gündoğan: Forward of our grand launch, we will likely be rolling out a sequence of campaigns to construct anticipation and reward early customers. As an example, in our referral program, customers can invite others and earn USDT rewards primarily based on sign-ups and buying and selling quantity.
We’re about to launch a leaderboard competitors the place prime merchants will likely be rewarded with high-value prizes like Apple merchandise and substantial USDT bonuses.
For early adopters and testers, a choose airdrop will incentivize these serving to us fine-tune the platform in the course of the beta part.
Focused content material campaigns on Twitter, Instagram, and crypto-specific boards like Reddit and Telegram to construct a neighborhood of early supporters.
U.As we speak: Point out 5 of probably the most annoying disadvantages of contemporary CEXes.
Samet Eray Gündoğan: Excessive charges, poor consumer expertise, lack of self-control, sluggish transaction instances, lack of transparency.
U.As we speak: What will likely be particular about Darkex? Which “killing options” would you like our viewers to see?
Samet Eray Gündoğan: Darkex has made an bold entry into the business. We’re launching at a time when demand for safe, environment friendly, and user-friendly crypto exchanges is at an all-time excessive. On this context, we leverage United Chain Tech’s international presence to announce partnerships with worldwide crypto and blockchain giants.
For instance, now we have partnered with Sumsub, the G2 chief for 2023, for identification verification and KYC processes. To reinforce our customers’ buying and selling expertise, we’ve built-in MoonPay and Alchemy Pay’s distinctive fee infrastructures into our system. We’re additionally increasing our international collaborations with companions like ChainUP, and these partnerships will proceed to develop. Furthermore, Darkex is dedicated to providing funding and custody companies to institutional traders, as allowed by rules within the markets the place we function.
We’re extremely enthusiastic about Darkex, and we imagine our method brings one thing distinctive to the desk. It’s not nearly having one of the best instruments or the bottom charges—it’s about making a buying and selling expertise that’s clean, intuitive, and tailor-made to what crypto customers really want.
Listed here are a number of of the options that can set Darkex aside. First, it’s lightning-fast transaction pace. Velocity is essential, particularly in a unstable market like crypto. Our low-latency buying and selling engine is designed to make sure that your trades are executed in close to real-time, even during times of excessive market exercise. Whether or not you are buying and selling Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any of our different supported belongings, you will not miss out as a consequence of platform lag. That is particularly essential for day merchants and establishments who want dependable efficiency with out delays.
Then, we established a clear and low charges system. Whether or not you are depositing, withdrawing, or making a commerce, what you see is what you get—no surprises once you transfer your funds. We imagine in flat, predictable charges.
We enabled a variety of built-in privateness options. Darkex gives superior privateness options for individuals who need enhanced transaction anonymity. We respect your want for confidentiality whereas staying totally compliant with international rules. This implies you get to commerce with the privateness you need with out worrying about compromising on safety or compliance.
We wager huge on seamless cellular expertise. Whereas many exchanges give attention to their desktop variations, cellular buying and selling is rising quickly. With Darkex, we’ve prioritized our cellular app to offer the identical highly effective buying and selling instruments and expertise as our desktop model. Whether or not you’re on the go or at dwelling, you possibly can seamlessly handle your trades, monitor markets, and work together together with your belongings.
Final however not the least, we’re working real-time help and consumer education schemes.
We all know that crypto will be complicated, and customers typically have questions—whether or not it is about market tendencies, utilizing the platform, or basic buying and selling methods. Darkex will present 24/7 buyer help with actual people who find themselves educated to unravel points shortly and successfully. As well as, we’ll supply a wealthy library of academic content material, together with newbie tutorials and superior technique guides to assist customers of all ranges develop their crypto information.
Our purpose at Darkex is to make buying and selling as simple as potential with out sacrificing any of the highly effective options merchants anticipate. We’re dedicated to making a platform that’s quick, safe, clear, and accessible to all ranges of customers.
U.As we speak: What are some key factors of the Darkex 2024-2025 roadmap?
Samet Eray Gündoğan: Our roadmap for 2024-2025 is designed to make sure sustainable development and steady innovation at Darkex. Listed here are the principle highlights. In 2024, we’re laser-focused on public launch.
After months of arduous work, this marked the full-scale launch of the Darkex platform with help for a number of cryptocurrencies, fiat on-ramps, and key buying and selling options like staking and liquidity buying and selling. Our preliminary campaigns will give attention to community-building by means of referral packages, giveaways, and buying and selling competitions. We introduced one thing new to the desk and we’re serving 360 levels of the crypto.
In 2025, we plan to broaden into extra superior buying and selling merchandise, together with margin and futures buying and selling enhancements, in addition to introducing our institutional API help for institutional merchants. We’re additionally exploring partnerships with liquidity suppliers to make sure our customers at all times have the deepest, and probably the most dependable liquidity.
All through 2024-2025, regulatory compliance will likely be a prime precedence. We’re actively working with regulators in numerous jurisdictions to make sure that Darkex operates in a completely compliant method throughout main areas. We’re prepared for international mass adoption.
Darkex adopts international safety requirements, together with biometric safety modes, educating customers about blockchain and crypto tradition by means of ‘Darkex Academy’, units a brand new customary for buying and selling expertise, and helps a number of fiat currencies to cater to the worldwide crypto neighborhood. As a part of our efforts to function as a crypto asset service supplier in Turkey, we could also be taking the mandatory steps to conform. Our purpose is to supply a safe, dependable, and feature-rich platform that adapts to the ever-evolving wants of the crypto market. Darkex is prepared for international mass adoption.
U.As we speak: Let’s proceed to the broader context. Relating to the crypto section, what are you able to say about 2024?
Samet Eray Gündoğan: 2024 is shaping as much as be a monumental 12 months for the cryptocurrency business, and we anticipate important modifications each from a retail and institutional perspective.
On the institutional facet, we’re seeing extra curiosity than ever earlier than. Giant monetary establishments are more and more warming as much as crypto, and with the approval of spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs in main markets, there’s a surge in institutional participation. These ETFs will present conventional traders a gateway into the crypto house, with out them having to immediately maintain belongings. Because of this, we anticipate liquidity and market stability to extend. And SOL ETF: why not?
One other key pattern would be the maturation of crypto rules. As regulatory frameworks turn into clearer, particularly in markets just like the U.S. and Europe, we’ll see extra institutional gamers feeling assured about coming into the house. Hedge funds, household places of work, and even conventional asset managers will possible improve their crypto publicity, driving each adoption and innovation.
On the retail facet, the Bitcoin halving in 2024 was thrilling. Traditionally, halvings have been adopted by bull runs, and we anticipate this to be no completely different. DeFi and NFT sectors will proceed to develop, however with extra refined use instances and platforms that cater to mass adoption. Layer 2 options will even play a big function, making blockchain transactions sooner and extra scalable, enhancing total consumer expertise for on a regular basis functions.
U.As we speak: What will likely be subsequent for the crypto ETFs sphere?
Samet Eray Gündoğan: Regulatory approval in main markets just like the U.S. and Europe is getting nearer. This can deliver extra institutional capital into crypto and considerably enhance liquidity. After BTC and ETH, we’ll possible see a wave of altcoin-based ETFs, specializing in main initiatives in DeFi, NFTs, and the metaverse.
U.As we speak: What’s your principal purpose for the following bull run?
Samet Eray Gündoğan: We’re targeted on constructing a safe, user-friendly ecosystem that empowers traders at each stage of their journey. We goal to offer new and skilled traders with the instruments, academic sources and help they want whereas placing safety on the core of the whole lot we do. As we speak, Darkex operates with a 250-person crew unfold throughout South Asia, Latin America, the Commonwealth of Unbiased States (CIS), and MENA, all devoted to prioritizing consumer expertise. Now we have greater than 100 workers working in our Georgia and Albania places of work and are energetic in our European places. Quickly, we’ll centralize all groups in Dubai, from the place we’ll handle our international companies.
Our principal purpose for the following bull run is to ascertain Darkex as a prime 10 international cryptocurrency trade. We goal to onboard 1,000,000+ energetic customers throughout the first 12 months post-launch, obtain deep liquidity for main buying and selling pairs, and turn into a go-to platform for institutional merchants. We’ll additionally give attention to launching Darkex Institutional Crypto Providers, modern staking and yield merchandise, maximizing consumer engagement and capitalizing on bullish market sentiment.
