ALI NIKNESHAN · CTO AT BITMAX
I build the multi-chain infrastructure and security crypto and fintech partners integrate with.
CTO at BITMAX, a crypto exchange in Tehran. Engineering manager before that, telecom and security engineer before that.
About
Supporting a new blockchain is an engineering task. Keeping user funds safe on it is an operating discipline.
I lead engineering at BITMAX, where I have extended the exchange's infrastructure to Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Tron and Binance Smart Chain. I started there as Blockchain Advisor in September 2021, became Blockchain Director in 2023 and CTO in March 2024.
Before BITMAX I ran software development at Ertebatat Baregheh Pardis for nearly six years, and spent earlier years in telecom, building data and security systems for large operators.
If you are a crypto or fintech partner and want to integrate with us, talk to me directly.
Experience
Crypto exchange, Tehran
- Own engineering and security for the exchange's multi-chain platform, from node infrastructure to the services partners integrate with.
- 13 chains live, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Tron and Binance Smart Chain.
- Keep AI agents in reviewable layers and out of the transaction path.
- Led the blockchain engineering team and the rollout of multi-chain support.
- Extended the exchange's infrastructure to Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Tron and Binance Smart Chain.
- Ran three concurrent products and reported to the CEO.
- Delivered about 300K lines of code in 18 months.
Telecom and security engagements
Earlier
Engineer and consultant
MTN, Parstasmim, Huawei, NAK, Chista
- MTN: CDR storage and analyzer handling 400 TB.
- Parstasmim: SIEM integration with QRadar and Qualys.
- Work for Huawei, NAK and Chista.
Selected work
Custody and security
- Decision
- Keep AI agents out of the transaction path. Money movement stays in deterministic code that can be tested, audited and rolled back.
- Proof
- By rule, AI does not merge, deploy or force-push.
Multi-chain integration
- Decision
- Treat each chain as an operated service, with the same checks, monitoring and review as any money path.
- Proof
- 13 chains live, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Tron and Binance Smart Chain. 2 partners integrated.
BitcoinEthereumDogecoinTronBSC
Visit BITMAX ↗
AI reviewer with human gates
- Decision
- The reviewer retrieves knowledge by exact repository key, not by semantic search. Its knowledge cards are stamped with their source commit.
- Proof
- In a 30-run sample, 91% of semantic-search chunks were stale or redundant, and no finding used a retrieved rule.
How I work with AI
I keep AI agents in reviewable layers and out of the transaction path. They draft, analyse and propose, and people decide.
- The reviewer is review-only.
- After 5 bot rounds, a judge posts a MERGE / DO NOT MERGE comment. It does not merge.
- The bug fixer opens a PR, or only a plan when the evidence is thin.
- By rule, AI does not merge, deploy or force-push. 3 failures in a row raise an alert.
Talks & writing
I speak at TechTalk events and write posts in Persian about engineering, security and AI.
- TechTalk
- 3 talks on agentic programming and soft skills
- Posts in Persian
- On LinkedIn and X