Sheldon Xia
Sheldon Xia is the founder of cryptocurrency exchange BitMartBitMartBitMart is a cryptocurrency trading platform founded by Sheldon Xia in 2017 and launched in 2018. Its services included spot trading, derivatives and asset management. In July 2026 it announced a phased wind-down, followed by consultations on a potential restructuring.Open the full entry and its former CEO, appointed Group President in 2025. He has also been involved with Cipholio Ventures and WOO X’s strategy committee. After BitMart announced its 2026 wind-down, he continued communicating about restructuring and asset recovery.
Contents17 sections
Key facts
2011–2017Computer Science Education
Xia studied computer science at Hangzhou Dianzi University and subsequently pursued a computer science master’s at Stevens Institute of Technology. His public career profile lists the periods as 2011–2015 and 2015–2017.[1]
2013Bitcoin and Early Development
He recalled discovering BitcoinBitcoinBitcoin (common symbol BTC) is an open peer-to-peer electronic cash protocol, network, and native digital asset. Full nodes independently verify transactions and blocks according to the consensus rules; transactions are recorded as UTXOs, and blocks are organized into a public ledger through proof of work. Bitcoin is not issued or managed by any single institution, but using, holding in custody, and trading it still involve key, privacy, market, and legal risks.Open the full entry through mining-chip coverage while running a technical-content aggregation page at university, trying computer mining, and joining the community at a 2013 Hangzhou Bitcoin gathering.[2]
2016–2017From Trading Software to an Exchange
While studying in the United States, he explored algorithmic trading and Ethereum applications with classmates. After graduating in 2017, he chose to build an exchange and began preparing BitMart.[2]
2017–2018Founding BitMart
BitMart’s 2018 Chinese-language event notice identified him as CEO and gave his Chinese name, romanized Xia Erte.[3]
The early exchange centered on spot trading. He promoted Mission X, connecting projects and users through BMX community backing and trading-fee distribution.[4]
2019Bringing in Strategic Investors
Following investment from Fenbushi Capital and Bitrise Capital, Xia emphasized capital formation and asset-project development, with Bo Shen among the strategic advisers.[5]
2021Founding Partner at Cipholio Ventures
His public career profile lists him as a founding partner of Cipholio Ventures from August 2021, extending his work into early-stage blockchain investing and startup support.[1]
December 2021Response to the BitMart Hack
After the hot-wallet breach, Xia disclosed a stolen private key and pledged to compensate users with company funds. The commitment became important context for later disputes over assets and repayment.[6]
March 2023Investment and Custody Strategy
In BitMart’s fifth-anniversary address, he connected Cipholio to the former BitMart Labs and discussed investment, incubation and education. He also advocated separating trading settlement from custody, naming partners including Copper and Cobo.[7]
February 2024BMX 2.0 and Web3 Plans
Xia participated in the BMX 2.0 public AMA, outlining expansion from exchange-token benefits toward wallets, decentralized trading and Layer 2 cooperation.[8]
April 23, 2025Appointment as Group President
BitMart appointed him Group President and Nenter Chow Global CEO. The new division placed Xia’s emphasis on strategy, products and security while Chow led global operations.[9]
October 15, 2025WOO X Strategy Committee
WOO X announced a transfer to FusionX Digital and a Global Strategy Committee including Xia. He said its focus would include globally compliant development. The announcement established his committee role, not personal or BitMart ownership of WOO X.[10]
July 2026BitMart Wind-Down
After BitMart announced its phased wind-down, Nenter Chow said he had been dismissed on July 24 and had not been consulted on the decision.[11]
August 17, 2026Response to Chinese-Account Allegations
BitMart’s Chinese X account demanded an explanation of user funds and repayment plans. Xia denied its allegations and said employees had no priority over other customers. The post’s authorship and control of the account were unconfirmed.[12]
October 2026Stepping Back from Daily Operations
He wrote on X that he had stepped back from the exchange’s daily work and, alongside restructuring, was revisiting the 2021 hack trail with AI-assisted analysis and preparing renewed bounty efforts. He did not announce a completed recovery.[13]
November 3, 2026Restructuring Consultation Update
Xia said the financial and legal advisers had met the top 50 users retaining funds on the platform and anticipated further discussions. His update did not establish a final recovery percentage or completed payments.[14]
Related Organizations and Public Accounts
His affiliations include BitMart, Cipholio Ventures and WOO X. His X account is https://x.com/sheldonbitmart (opens in a new window); its biography states that his Bitcoin involvement dates to 2013.[15][1][10]
LinkedInLinkedInLinkedIn is a social networking platform for professionals. It was founded in 2002 by Reid Hoffman and others, launched in 2003, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2011; after Microsoft acquired it for approximately $26.2 billion in 2016, it became a wholly owned Microsoft subsidiary. Its revenue comes from membership subscriptions, advertising, and recruitment solutions.Open the full entry professional profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheldonxia/ (opens in a new window).[16]
Sources
- Sheldon Xia - Founder & President @ BitMart - Crunchbase Person Profile (opens in a new window)
- WuBlockchain Talks with BitMart Founder Sheldon: From Bitcoin in College to 7 Years of Entrepreneurship and U.S. Regulations (opens in a new window)
- BitMart CEO邀您双十一看直播 [BitMart CEO Invites You to a Singles’ Day Livestream] (opens in a new window) (in Chinese)
- BitMart Founder & CEO Sheldon Xia: Community Listing Markets Are The Future Of Cryptocurrency Exchanges (opens in a new window)
- BitMart Received Millions of Strategic Investment From Fenbushi Capital (opens in a new window)
- BitMart CEO Says Stolen Private Key Behind $196M Hack (opens in a new window)
- “The Bullish Case For BitMart: With Special Keynote by Founder & CEO Sheldon Xia” BitMart Off-the-Chain AMA #6 Recap (opens in a new window)
- BitMart Celebrates BMX 2.0 with Exclusive Ask-Me-Anything Session (opens in a new window)
- BitMart Announces Leadership Transition: Sheldon Xia to Group President, Nenter Chow Appointed Global CEO (opens in a new window)
- Web 3 Private Equity fund FusionX Digital to become the new operator of WOO X, plans to scale centralized exchange while growing token utility (opens in a new window)
- BitMart to wind down trading platform as global CEO says he was not consulted (opens in a new window)
- BitMart account demands founder explain funds status, Xia calls claims ‘fabricated’ (opens in a new window)
- Sheldon on X (October 30, 2026) (opens in a new window)
- Sheldon on X (November 3, 2026) (opens in a new window)
- Sheldon (@sheldonbitmart) / X (opens in a new window)
- Sheldon X. | LinkedIn (opens in a new window)