In the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrency trading, centralized exchanges (CEXs) remain the backbone of market liquidity, providing essential infrastructure for both institutional and retail participants.

However, as the industry matures, a growing challenge has emerged—global exchanges, despite their scale, often struggle to address the specific needs of local markets. The future of CEXs lies in localized platforms that understand regional user behavior, regulatory landscapes, and economic conditions.

Enter Zoomex, a rising player in the exchange space that is redefining sustainable growth by focusing on localized strategies.

In this exclusive interview, CryptoNinjas speaks with Fernando, Director of Zoomex, to explore how the exchange differentiates itself from industry giants by prioritizing tailored campaigns, community-driven initiatives, and affiliate programs designed to empower local users.

By fostering engagement at the grassroots level, Zoomex aims to create a self-sustaining ecosystem where traders, content creators, and affiliates drive organic adoption within their respective regions.

With a hybrid model that integrates both centralized and decentralized trading solutions, Zoomex is positioning itself as the next-generation exchange built for the future of crypto accessibility.

Zoomex Exchange and CryptoNinjas Interview

Zoomex’s Fernando Introduction

CryptoNinjas’ Daley: Tell us who you are, your experiences with crypto and your journey leading up to Zoomex

Zoomex’s Fernando: My name is Fernando, and I’m the Head of Market for South America, Latin America, and Turkey at Zoomex. Although these regions are diverse, they share many common market dynamics.

I started my journey in the crypto industry in 2019 with my brother. We bought our first Ethereum together, which sparked my interest in blockchain. As a sports enthusiast, I began investing in Sorare, a platform where users create soccer teams and earn rewards based on player performance.

By mid-2021, I joined Bybit, where I spent a year and a half developing the French-speaking market with a small but dedicated team. After that, I moved through various centralized exchanges and blockchain projects, always focusing on marketing and communication.

For the past year and a half, I’ve been at Zoomex, working alongside a team of experienced professionals from top-tier exchanges. Our team brings deep expertise in blockchain and fintech, and I’m excited about our growth. We’re evolving organically and making strong strides in the industry.

Zoomex Overview

CNJD: What is Zoomex? What’s your history and why build a CEX when it’s heavily competitive?

ZF: Currently, there are over 300 centralized exchanges in the industry, making it a highly competitive space. Zoomex was founded in 2021, and we recently celebrated our third anniversary with a major campaign, including a snooker sponsorship with Suan.

We launched Zoomex because we saw opportunities for improvement in various local markets. By identifying gaps and acting quickly, we’ve been able to establish a strong presence, particularly in Asia and Europe, and are now expanding into South America and other regions.

Operating a centralized exchange is challenging—competition is fierce, with major players like Binance, Bybit, and OKX constantly vying for market share. To succeed, we need to stay positive, patient, and creative. While many exchanges follow similar strategies, Zoomex focuses on a differentiated approach while still adapting to industry trends.

Our goal isn’t necessarily to compete with the biggest names but to establish a strong and profitable Tier 2 position. We aim to serve both retail and institutional players by offering meaningful improvements to the trading experience. So far, this strategy has worked well for us, and we’re committed to continued growth.

Zoomex’s Local-market Strategies

CNJD: Can you elaborate on what Zoomex can do better for local markets that top exchanges currently can’t? Where are your targeted users? Are you reaching out to the US market too?

ZF: That’s a crucial question for any centralized exchange without a U.S. license looking to enter that market. Right now, we’re closely watching regulatory developments, and we’re optimistic about potential opportunities in the U.S. in the coming months.

Regarding our approach to local markets, we recognize that different regions have unique needs. For example, in South Korea, traders are highly experienced and engage in crypto for speculation and profit. In contrast, in Argentina, many users see crypto as a safe haven due to economic instability. Their priority isn’t active trading but rather securing their savings in stable assets like USDT or USDC.

At Zoomex, we tailor our products to fit these local demands. While this requires additional resources, product development, and a competitive edge against established platforms, our experienced team—composed of professionals from top-tier exchanges—helps us stay ahead. Our ability to anticipate market needs allows us to move quickly and adapt effectively.

Zoomex’s Incentives for Users & Affiliates

CNJD: What can Zoomex do that’s better or different from other exchanges for normal users and affiliates?

ZF: That’s an important question. Let me start with the affiliate side.

Most centralized exchanges acquire new users through various channels, and for many, the affiliate program is a key driver. Some exchanges focus solely on brokers or institutional clients, but at Zoomex, affiliates are a crucial part of our growth strategy. Since our launch in 2021, we’ve partnered with top-tier content creators (KOLs) and designed a highly flexible affiliate program.

Unlike some platforms that demand exclusivity, we understand that content creators receive numerous partnership offers. Instead of restricting them, we offer high rebates—sometimes up to 50%—and exclusive campaigns to stay competitive. Our goal is to convert their organic audience effectively, which is increasingly challenging in a market flooded with aggressive promotions.

One thing that sets Zoomex apart is our commitment to transparency. Many exchanges launch promotional campaigns but fail to distribute rewards. We ensure that rewards go directly to organic users—not random accounts or employees.

Lastly, we value long-term partnerships. When we see strong performance from a content creator, we invest in the relationship by organizing in-person meetings and exclusive trips to locations like Hong Kong, Shanghai, or Singapore. By adapting to their brand and needs, we create a mutually beneficial partnership where they promote us authentically, leading to better results for both sides.

Zoomex’s Rebates Offering

CNJD: What types of rebates do you offer for affiliates currently? I think you’re going to give about 50% to 70% of rebates to the Affiliates, is that correct?

ZF: Yes, we start at 40%, but reaching 50% is no problem. In fact, Zoomex offers some of the highest direct rebates in the industry.

We do this because we understand that when content creators are motivated and earning well, they naturally drive more users to our platform. It’s a win-win—if they generate income, we grow alongside them.

Zoomex’s Balanced Fees & Rebates

CNJD: Is Zoomex charging low user fees and high rates to the Affiliates or you charge High user fees and low rebates to affiliates?

ZF: To be transparent, we position ourselves in the middle. We’re not like MEXC, which offers the lowest fees in the market, but we also don’t charge the highest fees among centralized exchanges.

Our fee structure is similar to Binance, Bybit, and OKX. Currently, we charge 0.01% for spot trading and 0.02% maker / 0.06% taker fees for futures trading (if I’m not mistaken).

We aim for this balanced approach because historically, exchanges that have seen significant growth tend to follow a similar fee model. By adopting this strategy and refining it, we believe we can offer a competitive and sustainable experience for our users.

Zoomex Nations Cup

CNJD: Let’s talk about the Zoomex Nations Cup. Explain everything about the event: How to join? Eligibility?…

ZF: The Zoomex Nations Cup 2024 is a global trading competition designed to test users’ skills, strategy, and teamwork. The goal is for traders to represent their country and compete for exclusive rewards.

How It Works:

Users join national teams, formed by communities and content creators from their respective countries. Teams from various regions—such as Spain, France, Belgium, and the UK—will go head-to-head in a trading challenge. To participate, users must sign up on the landing page and have at least 200 USDT in their contract account. The competition runs from January 23rd for approximately two to three weeks.

Competition Format & Prize Pool:

Trading is team-based, with rankings determined by the overall profit and loss (P&L) of each squad. As teams achieve higher P&L, they unlock bigger rewards. The total prize pool is $240,000 USDT, making this one of our largest competitions to date.

How It’s Different:

Unlike our ZC trading competition, where content creators lead individual squads, the Nations Cup is structured by country, uniting communities under one team. We’ll also host live AMAs and events with content creators to engage participants, educate users, and foster a competitive yet collaborative atmosphere. It’s an exciting way to compete, learn, and earn rewards while representing your country on a global stage! Zoomex’s Non-traders Events

CNJD: Are there other events for non-traders?

ZF: Yes, we also have exciting events for non-traders. One example is our Co-Influencer Contest campaign, which originated from our South Korean team. It’s a fun and unique initiative where users can become influencers and earn rewards by creating content for Zoomex.

Participants upload content—such as short videos or posts on Twitter or Telegram—and earn likes. Based on the engagement, they can receive USDT rewards. This campaign is different from what many of our competitors are offering and is designed to motivate the next generation of influencers to work with us.

Additionally, we regularly launch new challenges and campaigns through our Reward Hub, so users can keep an eye on our Twitter account or their Zoomex account to stay updated on the latest opportunities.

Extravagant Events for the Future:

Last year, we organized some standout events, including appearances at Token 2049 in Singapore and Dubai. In Dubai, we had our own stand, while in Singapore, we rented a boat and invited content creators for an exclusive experience. These types of events help us create unique and engaging atmospheres for our community.

Looking ahead, our focus will be on product launches and sponsorships. We’re working on major activation plans that will drive awareness and visibility, including special campaigns to support new sponsorships. While I can’t share specific details yet, our future campaigns will be focused on these key areas.

Zoomex’s Upcoming Features

CNJD: What features are going to be released next on Zoomex? Will there be launchpad or launchpool products?

ZF: This quarter, we’re focusing on launching our Staking Center, which will offer both fixed and flexible staking options as part of our Earn Center.

We’re also planning to introduce a Launchpad and Listing Service. We began token listings a month ago and have received numerous requests from projects wanting to list on Zoomex. To increase user activity, we’re considering launching a Launchpad or Launchpool to attract more users, particularly those who are more risk-averse.

One challenge we’re addressing is whether to introduce a native token to support these initiatives and reward users. Unlike many competitors, we didn’t launch with a native token. Instead, we chose a different strategy, with the idea that if we create one in the future, it will have a unique purpose and goals.

While the Launchpad is not one of our top priorities right now, we believe this year will be exciting for our community. We have plenty of important updates in store!

Zoomex’s DEX

CNJD: Talk about your Decentralized Exchange, why did you have it and its importance to users

ZF: Our Decentralized Exchange (DEX) allows users who prefer to trade on the DeFi side to connect their wallets—like MetaMask, Trust Wallet, and others—and start trading. Essentially, our DEX functions as an aggregator or connector, linking users to a seamless trading experience.

We acknowledge that our DEX is still a work in progress and not yet as competitive as some platforms like ApeX or others in the market. However, we’re actively working on its development to improve its functionality and competitiveness.

When it comes to fees, we offer some of the lowest fees in the market, making it an appealing option for users looking for cost-efficient trading in the DeFi space.

Zoomex’s Asset Security

CNJD: How does Zoomex ensure users’ assets are safe? 

ZF: At Zoomex, we prioritize the security of user assets by implementing cold wallet management technology, which combines both cold and hot wallets to ensure fund safety.

We’ve been working with reputable security and audit firms like Hacken since 2024 to continuously test and strengthen our security measures. Our goal is to proactively identify any vulnerabilities and prevent future risks.

Security is critical, especially after incidents like the BX hack last year, where they lost around $45 million. To avoid such risks, we maintain a dedicated IT team, with about 50-60% of our employees focused on security. We understand that any security breach could significantly damage the platform and brand, so we take this seriously.

Ultimately, our aim is to build a secure, long-lasting platform that thrives through the next bull market, and we’re committed to ensuring user funds remain safe at all times.

The post Redefining CEX Growth with a Local-First Strategy – Interview with Zoomex Fernando appeared first on CryptoNinjas.