The criminal syndicate known as the Exchange flourished from approximately 4000 BBY to at least 3627 BBY, and was arguably the most influential of its time, engaging in activities such as the processing of spice, smuggling, extortion rackets, arms dealing, the slave trade, and bounty hunting. This organization maintained operations across numerous planets, employing notorious bounty hunters like Calo Nord. During the First Jedi Purge, it offered an immense reward for captured Jedi, sufficient to purchase an entire planet. Three centuries later, amidst the Cold War, the Exchange was embroiled in a widespread conflict against the Hutt Cartel, primarily focused on Nar Shaddaa.
The Exchange was a remarkably powerful crime syndicate with operations spanning a significant portion of the Outer Rim Territories. This secretive group was governed by an even more enigmatic figure known as the Compeer, with a hierarchical structure featuring individual crime bosses controlling lucrative territories. Admission into this exclusive circle required nomination from multiple existing crime lords.
It maintained structured cells on various planets of strategic importance; each planetary cell was overseen by a single boss who managed Exchange interests on that specific world. These bosses reported to sector chiefs, who operated without their own cells and lived under assumed identities, maintaining ordinary lives. Even the bosses were unaware of the chiefs' true identities, as communication primarily occurred through secure, encrypted channels. These chiefs, in turn, reported to the Exchange's leader, who was also one of the sector chiefs. The Exchange often presented itself through legitimate fronts, such as the Bumani Exchange Corporation on Citadel Station.
Notable Exchange leaders during this period included Davik Kang, the crime lord controlling Taris, Loppak Slusk of Telos IV, and Goto ruling Nar Shaddaa. Around the time of the Jedi Civil War, the Exchange was briefly, yet significantly, impacted by the actions of Revan and the Jedi Exile, Meetra Surik.
In 3956 BBY, Revan infiltrated the Exchange headquarters located on Taris, assassinating Davik Kang. Five years later, Surik arrived on Nar Shaddaa, the largest moon of Nal Hutta. She disrupted the Exchange's operations on the moon by eliminating the crime lords Saquesh and Visquis, and subsequently destroying the Visionary.
Around 3951 BBY, the Exchange boss of Nar Shaddaa was known as Goto. Never physically present and appearing only via hologram, Goto was not a living being but rather a droid, G0-T0. Using a holographic projection to create the illusion of a living being, G0-T0 remotely managed and directed the Exchange. He eventually joined Meetra Surik on her travels.
G0-T0 manipulated the Exchange's illicit activities to achieve his primary objective of stabilizing the Galactic Republic. The smuggling operations resulted in the deaths of disruptive individuals and organizations, generated unofficial revenue for entire sectors, and bolstered Republic worlds that would otherwise have been impoverished and neglected. Believing that the Jedi Civil War was the root cause of the Republic's problems, he placed bounties on both Jedi and Sith. While many bounty hunters simply killed Jedi and Sith instead of capturing them, the overall effect was a reduction in conflict due to fewer Jedi and Sith engaging in combat. G0-T0's programming prioritized maintaining order within the Republic and preserving its infrastructure, given the devastation caused by the Jedi Civil War.
The droid accompanied the Exile, hoping to bring stability to the galaxy. He was ultimately destroyed on Malachor V when the Mass Shadow Generator was reactivated, causing the planet's destruction.
According to predictions made by Kreia before her demise on Malachor V, the Exchange's power grew until it became intolerable to the Hutt Cartel.
The Exchange continued its operations in subsequent years, remaining active by 3653 BBY during the Cold War between the Galactic Republic and the resurgent reconstituted Sith Empire. During this era, one of their crime lords provided sponsorship to Jewl'a Nightbringer for participation in the Great Hunt. By this time, the Exchange had become a major rival to the Hutt Cartel, with each organization launching numerous operations against the other.
During the Cold War, the Exchange amassed considerable wealth through investments in various advanced technology companies.
Ukabi served as the Exchange boss on Nar Shaddaa during this period. Maro Vizhen, an Imperial diplomat, attempted to recruit him into the Shadow Syndicate, a criminal alliance aligned with the Empire. However, Ukabi refused, leading to a full-scale war between the Shadow Syndicate and the Exchange, culminating in Ukabi's defeat and death at the hands of an Imperial enforcer.
The Shadow Syndicate subsequently pursued the remaining Exchange forces, driving them out of the Corellian Sector.
Following the incident on Nar Shaddaa, the Sith Empire officially outlawed the Exchange and began actively hunting down its members within their sphere of influence, including on planets like Tatooine, where the Syndicate supported and supplied local resistance against the Empire.
By 3627 BBY, the Exchange had established a presence on Mek-Sha and was involved in a conspiracy with the Hutt Cartel to dismantle the Harido Wald. The Alliance Commander thwarted this scheme, ensuring Mek-Sha's independence from the Hutts.