“Crypto’s First Live Trading Cup Is Just the Beginning”: Interview with WhiteBit’s CEO

During the International Crypto Trading Cup 2025 (ICTC), the first-ever livestreamed crypto trading competition, our staff spoke with the WhiteBit CEO, Volodymyr Nosov, and their CMO, Maryna Kholod, to gain insight into the event, its origins, purpose, and the value it attempts to provide to the crypto community. This is what they told us.

Paradigm Shift: Crypto Trading As The Ultimate E-Sport?

Interviewer: Thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us. We’re excited to hear more about WhiteBit. To start, could you tell us a bit about the early days of the platform? How much has it grown since then, and where do you see it heading in the next year?

Volodymyr Nosov: Thank you. First, it’s important to note that WhiteBit is just one of many products within the larger WhiteBIT Group. Our group specializes in blockchain development, and today, we manage over 12 active projects. We now have a team of more than 1,300 people, including over 240 in-house developers.

All of our products are built entirely in-house. That’s critical to us. Many players in this industry rely on outsourced development or white-label solutions, which often leads to technical vulnerabilities. You constantly hear about hacks and data leaks—and that’s often why. In contrast, during our seven years of operation, we’ve never had a single hack or data breach. That’s something I’m truly proud of.

And it’s not just about crypto. Yes, the crypto space has many exchanges and companies, but the truth is, about 98% of them are essentially just marketing shells—often run by one person with a front-end and no infrastructure. At WhiteBit, our core focus has always been on development. That’s why we continue to grow year after year.

In terms of the exchange itself, last year alone, WhiteBit facilitated over $2.7 billion in trading volume—without a single technical issue. That tells you something about the resilience of the platform.

Interviewer: Can you speak more about WhiteBit’s broader strategy and future vision?

Volodymyr Nosov: Our vision is to bridge traditional finance and crypto. We’re developing features that replicate the functionality of classic financial systems but reimagined for blockchain. The idea is that you’ll be able to do everything you need—from trading to managing your finances—within one integrated application.

We’re also investing heavily in infrastructure that supports institutional clients and professional traders. Beyond crypto, our team has been building blockchain-based solutions for traditional industries—banking, telecommunications, and even esports. These products live “under the hood” of Web2 companies, giving them seamless access to Web3 functionality.

Here’s the reality: big Web2 companies aren’t going away, but they lack the developers and experience to integrate blockchain properly. One day, they’ll realize they need crypto-native infrastructure. When that moment comes, we’ll be ready. We’ve spent the last four years building systems that are easy to integrate into their existing stacks.

Interviewer: Are you already seeing institutions adopt these solutions?

Volodymyr Nosov: Yes, it’s already happening—quietly but steadily. Right now, it’s hundreds of companies. In a year, it’ll be thousands. In three years, it’ll be millions. The wave is here.

Interviewer: Let’s talk about today’s event. What inspired WhiteBit to host a trading competition?

Volodymyr Nosov: Good question. This isn’t our first event—we’ve partnered with football clubs, esports organizations, and other industry leaders. But we noticed that no one had ever organized something truly meaningful just for crypto traders.

In the entire 14–15 year history of crypto, no one has done this. So we decided to create something special for our community—something that celebrates traders as professionals. This tournament is our first major step, and we plan to host it annually. It’s a learning experience, and we’re collecting feedback so the next one will be even bigger and better.

Interviewer: I also noticed there’s a strong educational component. Would you say this event is geared toward helping people become better traders?

Volodymyr Nosov: Absolutely. It reminds me of how esports began. I remember 15 years ago, sitting in a computer lab with friends playing Counter-Strike. Back then, our families told us it was a waste of time. Today, esports is a billion-dollar industry.

We’re trying to build the same kind of infrastructure for trading. Imagine you’re a 25-year-old sitting at your computer all day studying charts, and your parents don’t understand what you’re doing. Now, suddenly, you’re competing on an international stage. That changes the narrative. This event legitimizes trading as a serious discipline, not just a hobby.

Interviewer: So it’s not just about trading—it’s about elevating the entire culture around it.

Volodymyr Nosov: Exactly. This is about more than just markets. It’s about friendship, community, and access. Traders can meet each other, exchange ideas, and get inspired by others at the top of their game. We’re building an ecosystem that goes far beyond numbers on a screen.

Bitcoin price trends to the upside on the daily chart. Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview

A Chat With WhiteBit’s CMO, The Origins of the ICTC 2025, And A Look Into Its Future

In a different conversation with multiple crypto news outlets, including Cripto Noticias, Crypto Insiders, and Bitcoinist, WhiteBit’s CMO, Maryna Kholod, spoke about the idea that gave form to the ICTC 2025, and how the team behind the event was able to pull it off, sorting out many challenges.

Maryna Kholod: (…) It was a highly complex project. We tried to combine everything we’ve learned as a team and do something that had never been done before: the world’s first offline crypto trading tournament. I told my team, if we’re going to do something, it needs to be extraordinary—a true “first ever” moment.

Interviewer: So, anyone, even a beginner or a fan, could compete against top traders?

Maryna Kholod: Exactly. That was the magic of it. This is the first event where anyone could test their skills in real-time, against seasoned professionals. In traditional esports, you can’t just show up and play with the pros. But in our tournament, everyone starts at the same time, on the same data feed—it’s a level playing field.

Interviewer: That makes it more interactive and immersive than just watching a game.

Maryna Kholod: Yes! Imagine if you’re a fan of FC Barcelona, and instead of watching El Clásico, you could play in it. That’s the emotional hook. Here, fans of trading don’t just watch—they participate. They test themselves against the best.

Interviewer: And how was the response from the community and influencers?

Maryna Kholod: It was mixed at first. When we reached out, maybe 80–85% didn’t respond. Some didn’t understand the concept. Others were skeptical. But those who did engage told us, “This is the dream. This is what we’ve been waiting for.”

We were fully transparent—no hidden tricks, no fake numbers. Some participants even told us, “If I don’t win this thing, my followers won’t buy my course!” It added pressure, but also made it more real. Traders had the chance to showcase their skill, strategy, and style live on stage. It’s a dream scenario for them.

Interviewer: That’s a bold way to turn trading into a spectator sport.

Maryna Kholod: It is. We designed this as a professional showcase—a place where traders can demonstrate their ideas, their decision-making, their aggression, their experience. It’s about showing the world that trading is more than numbers—it’s a craft.

Interviewer: Was this a difficult project to execute?

Maryna Kholod: Extremely. Every week, we had meetings with 40–50 team members. Everything—from partnerships to stage design—was carefully planned. One funny example: we had to coordinate LED approval with La Liga for part of the broadcast. That normally takes two weeks; we had 12 days.

Our original venue didn’t have enough electricity to power all the equipment. We had to move the entire event to a new location and completely recalibrate everything. But it was worth it. I told my team, “We’re launching a rocket here.” And somehow, we did.

Interviewer: What was the most challenging part for you personally?

Maryna Kholod: The people. Managing the team’s energy and motivation was harder than anything else. We had to push the event from February to May, and that delay was tough. But now, seeing 99% of the idea executed exactly how I imagined it—that’s the most rewarding feeling. Even in some areas, it exceeded my expectations.

I’m proud of what we achieved. This event is more than marketing—it’s a movement. And if this is just the beginning, I can’t wait to show you what we do next.

Chart from Tradingview

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