From XRP to RWA and AI: Bitrue's 8-Year Journey Through Crypto

Eight years is a lifetime in crypto. Most exchanges that launched in 2018 no longer exist. The Bitrue anniversary in 2026 tells a different story, one built on a single conviction that grew into a global trading ecosystem serving over 40 million users. 

From XRP base pairs to tokenised stocks and AI powered trading strategies, every chapter in Bitrue's history mirrors a major shift the crypto industry itself was about to undergo.

Key Takeaways

• Bitrue was the first exchange to list XRP as a base trading pair in 2018, a structural decision that shaped the platform's identity and product roadmap for eight years.
• The platform expanded through Power Piggy, BTR token, XRPL validator operations, copy trading, Bitrue Ventures, Launchpools, and tokenised RWA products across successive market cycles.
• Bitrue AI, launched in 2026, introduced explainable AI powered trading strategies with real time market adaptation across three risk profiles.

2018: The First Exchange to List XRP as a Base Pair

Most exchanges treated XRP as just another altcoin listing when Bitrue launched in July 2018. Bitrue took the opposite approach.

By listing XRP as a base trading pair, the exchange made a structural commitment that determined its entire trajectory. 

This was not a marketing move. It was an infrastructure decision that shaped liquidity allocation, which projects received listings, and which user community the platform attracted from day one.

That early bet proved correct. XRP evolved from a controversial digital asset into one of the most actively traded cryptocurrencies globally. 

The XRP Ledger matured into a settlement layer attracting institutional interest, from cross-border payments to government-level asset registration. 

Bitrue now supports over 100 XRP trading pairs across spot and futures markets, making it one of the most comprehensive XRP trading environments in the ecosystem.

The lesson from 2018 is direct. Platforms that make structural bets early tend to end up at the centre of the shifts they anticipated.

2019: Power Piggy, BTR Token, and a Growing Ecosystem

Two milestones arrived in 2019 that transformed Bitrue from a spot trading platform into a broader financial ecosystem.

The first was the launch of Bitrue Earn, built around the flagship Power Piggy product. Power Piggy allows users to deposit select tokens and earn daily rewards without lock-up periods, unlike traditional staking programmes. 

The flexible model meant users could earn passive yield without sacrificing liquidity, a major advantage during volatile market conditions. It quickly became one of the most popular features on the platform.

The second was the introduction of BTR, Bitrue's native platform token. BTR powers core services across the exchange, offering holders reduced trading fees, bonus interest rates on earning products, governance voting rights on new listings, and access to exclusive investment opportunities. 

The token generation event in mid-2019 laid the groundwork for a utility-driven economy that now serves over 40 million registered users.

Together, these two launches signalled that Bitrue was building a complete financial ecosystem, not just a spot exchange. Users could trade, earn, and participate in governance, all within a single platform.

2021: Securing the XRP Ledger as a Validator

Bitrue deepened its commitment to the XRP ecosystem in 2021 by launching a Unique Node List (UNL) validator on the XRP Ledger.

Validators on the XRPL are responsible for reaching consensus on transaction sets and ensuring the integrity of every ledger close. By operating a UNL validator, Bitrue contributes directly to the network's decentralisation and security. 

The XRPL processes transactions in three to five seconds with near-zero fees, and the validator network is what makes that performance possible. Running a validator requires dedicated infrastructure, consistent uptime, and active participation in the consensus process.

This same year also marked the launch of Bitrue's futures trading products in September 2021, starting with USDT-margined perpetual contracts. 

The addition of derivatives gave traders tools for both hedging and directional exposure, expanding the platform well beyond its spot trading origins. 

Futures offerings later grew to include COIN-M and USDC-margined contracts with leverage up to 125x.

Bitrue does not just list assets. It participates in the infrastructure that supports them. Bitrue's eight-year evolution shows a platform that consistently builds ahead of market demand, so create a free account today to explore the full product suite.

2023: Copy Trading Lowers the Barrier to Entry

Copy trading arrived on Bitrue in 2023, directly addressing one of the biggest challenges in crypto: the experience gap between professional traders and newcomers.

The feature allows users to follow skilled traders on the platform and automatically replicate their futures positions in real time. 

Followers select a trader based on performance metrics, set their risk parameters, and let the system synchronise trades with low-slippage, low-latency execution. Copied positions closely mirror the lead trader's activity, reducing the need for constant market monitoring.

For experienced traders, the system offers a profit-sharing model. Lead traders earn a percentage of profits generated by their followers, creating a financial incentive to maintain consistent performance. 

Beginners gain exposure to proven strategies, and veterans monetise their expertise.

By 2023, Bitrue's derivatives infrastructure included USDT, COIN-M, and USDC perpetual contracts. 

The combination of deep futures liquidity and copy trading accessibility represented a meaningful step toward making advanced trading strategies available to a wider audience, regardless of skill level.

2024: Bitrue Ventures and Launchpools Expand the Ecosystem

Bitrue made two major expansion moves in 2024.

The first was Bitrue Ventures, a $40 million investment fund focused on early-stage blockchain startups in AI, Web3, real world asset tokenisation, GameFi, DePIN, and DeFi sectors. 

The fund offers up to $200,000 per project, providing capital alongside exchange-level distribution support for promising teams. 

A pilot investment round had already funded Cardano-based projects WingRiders and Liqwid Finance before the official launch in July 2024. This was a strategic shift from passive listing venue to active participant in shaping the next generation of crypto projects.

The second was the introduction of Launchpools. This feature allows users to stake BTR or other supported tokens to earn allocations of newly launched projects. It provides avenues to receive high-potential coins at no additional cost. 

Launchpools operate on a flexible staking model, meaning participants can withdraw their staked assets without rigid lock-up penalties. The first Launchpool went live in May 2024, and the programme has continued to onboard new projects consistently since.

The combination of venture funding and Launchpool distribution creates a pipeline from startup investment to user access, all within the Bitrue ecosystem.

2025: Bitrue Alpha and Tokenised Real World Assets

Two launches in 2025 positioned Bitrue at the intersection of AI-driven discovery and institutional-grade asset access.

Bitrue Alpha introduced an AI-powered coin discovery service designed for users seeking high-risk, high-reward opportunities. 

The tool uses machine learning and real-time blockchain analytics to scan markets, track smart-money wallet movements, filter out potential scams, and surface emerging tokens before they gain mainstream attention. 

It gives traders a structured, data-backed approach to early-stage discovery that previously required hours of manual research.

The bigger development was Bitrue RWA. Tokenised real world assets expanded the platform's offering beyond native crypto into traditional financial instruments. 

Users can now trade tokenised versions of US stocks like Tesla, NVIDIA, Apple, and Microsoft, along with commodities such as gold and silver. 

These are settled in USDT and available 24/7 through the TradFi trading page, eliminating the restrictions of traditional market hours and brokerage accounts.

Bitrue also introduced 3x leveraged tokenised stock tokens and RWA futures contracts with up to 100x leverage. 

Active RWA trading users grew by 492% from Q1 to Q2 2026, with trading volume increasing 114% over the same period. 

The tokenised asset market globally expanded from roughly $5.4 billion at the start of 2025 to around $34 billion by mid-2026, and Bitrue's infrastructure positions it at the centre of that growth.

2026: Bitrue AI Redefines Automated Trading

Bitrue's 8th anniversary milestone is its most ambitious product yet. Bitrue AI is a no-code, AI-powered trading copilot designed to make automated strategies accessible to every user, regardless of experience level.

Most trading bots on the market operate as black boxes. They generate recommendations without explaining the reasoning behind them. Bitrue AI takes the opposite approach. 

Every strategy includes a plain-language explanation of the market conditions it identified, the signals it acted on, and the logic behind each parameter. 

This explainable AI approach is unique among major exchanges, based on a comparative analysis published by the Bitrue Research Institute in July 2026.

The platform offers eight real-time strategies across three risk profiles: Aggressive, Growth, and Stable. 

Strategies refresh every few minutes based on live market data and support key futures markets including BTC, ETH, SOL, and XRP. 

Automated take-profit and stop-loss execution runs 24/7, removing the need for manual oversight. The system runs on a multi-model architecture spanning several large language models.

Bitrue AI is free to use during the Early Access period. Futures volume tied to AI-related assets on Bitrue rose 333% over a recent two-week period, with the number of users trading those products increasing 118% in the same timeframe.

How to Trade on Bitrue

Bitrue supports over 700 cryptocurrencies across spot, futures, tokenised stocks, and AI-powered trading tools.

Here is how to get started in five steps:

1. Create an account on Bitrue and complete the KYC verification process to unlock full trading features across all products.
2. Fund your account by depositing cryptocurrency or purchasing crypto directly through supported payment methods on the platform.
3. Browse the available markets, including spot pairs, futures contracts, tokenised US stocks, commodities, and RWA products on the TradFi page.
4. Place a market or limit order on your chosen asset, or explore copy trading and Bitrue AI for automated strategy options across multiple risk profiles.
5. Decide on self-custody by withdrawing your assets to a personal wallet for long-term storage, or keep them on Bitrue to access Power Piggy yields and staking rewards.

BTR token holders receive an additional 20% discount on trading fees across the platform. All products, from spot trading to Bitrue AI, are accessible from a single account.

Conclusion

Eight years in crypto is enough time to see entire ecosystems rise and collapse. Bitrue not only survived every cycle since 2018, it evolved at each inflection point the industry presented. 

From the original XRP base pair to Power Piggy, BTR, XRPL validation, copy trading, Bitrue Ventures, Launchpools, tokenised real world assets, and now AI-powered trading, the pattern is consistent: build the infrastructure before the demand arrives. 

With over 40 million users and a product suite spanning spot, futures, RWA, and AI, Bitrue enters its ninth year positioned for whatever the market delivers next.

FAQ

What Year Was Bitrue Founded?

Bitrue was founded and launched in July 2018 as the first cryptocurrency exchange to list XRP as a base trading pair.

What Is the BTR Token Used for on Bitrue?

BTR is Bitrue's native platform token, providing reduced trading fees, bonus yields on earning products, governance voting rights, and access to exclusive investment features.

Does Bitrue Offer Tokenised Stock Trading?

Bitrue offers tokenised versions of US stocks, ETFs, and commodities through its TradFi trading page, with 24/7 access and USDT settlement.

What Is Bitrue AI?

Bitrue AI is a free, no-code trading copilot that generates explainable AI-powered strategies across three risk profiles with automated execution.

How Many Users Does Bitrue Have?

Bitrue serves over 40 million registered users globally as of its 8th anniversary in 2026.

Disclaimer: The views expressed belong exclusively to the author and do not reflect the views of this platform. This platform and its affiliates disclaim any responsibility for the accuracy or suitability of the information provided. It is for informational purposes only and not intended as financial or investment advice.