Ethereum News Today: Gemini Seizes EU Crypto Future with Staking, Derivatives, and a Single License

Gemini, the cryptocurrency exchange founded by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, has expanded its services in the European Economic Area (EEA) by launching Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) staking with no minimum staking requirements and introducing USDC-denominated perpetual futures contracts with up to 100x leverage. This expansion follows Gemini’s recent compliance with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which became fully effective in late 2024. Gemini’s move underscores the growing regulatory maturity of the EU’s crypto ecosystem and reflects the platform’s strategic focus on European markets as a key growth avenue. The new services are now accessible via Gemini’s MiFID II license and are marketed as a "single interface" for spot, staking, and derivatives trading.

Ethereum staking rewards are variable, with no minimum required to participate, while Solana staking offers up to 6% annualized returns. The new derivatives product, Gemini Perpetuals, allows traders to take leveraged positions on crypto assets using USDC as the settlement currency. These contracts, which do not have an expiry date, are positioned as a risk-managed alternative to traditional spot trading. The introduction of such products aligns with a broader industry shift toward derivatives, which have seen explosive growth in recent months. According to TokenInsight, global crypto derivatives trading volumes reached $20.2 trillion in the first half of 2025, significantly outpacing spot trading volumes of $3.6 trillion during the same period.

The timing of Gemini’s expansion into the EU coincides with a notable surge in institutional staking activity in the region. According to a June 2025 study by CoinLaw, Ethereum staking deposits in the EU increased by 28% compared to 2024, with total staked ETH reaching $90 billion. This trend reflects the EU’s favorable regulatory environment under MiCA, which has spurred institutional adoption of staking services. Gemini's offering is available to both retail and institutional investors, with a particular emphasis on sophisticated retail users seeking to generate passive income from their crypto holdings. The exchange’s head of Europe, Mark Jennings, highlighted that the expansion reflects Gemini's ambition to become one of the major exchanges in the EU, given its comprehensive product suite and secure, user-friendly platform.

In addition to its EU staking and derivatives launch, Gemini recently expanded its staking services in the United Kingdom, allowing all customers to earn rewards on ETH and SOL. This move reflects a broader strategy to solidify Gemini’s presence across key European markets. The exchange has also filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States, aiming to raise up to $317 million by selling 16.67 million shares priced between $17 and $19 per share. The IPO filing underscores Gemini’s financial ambitions and its transition from a private crypto exchange to a publicly traded entity.

The regulatory landscape in the EU has played a pivotal role in enabling such expansions. MiCA requires centralized exchanges to segregate client assets, undergo regular audits, and adhere to strict transparency and anti-money laundering (AML) requirements. These rules have contributed to a more stable and secure environment for crypto trading and staking. Gemini’s recent approval under MiCA in Malta, coupled with its MiFID II authorization, positions the firm as one of the few European exchanges offering a diverse range of products under a single license. This regulatory alignment is critical as the EU seeks to maintain its leadership in crypto innovation while ensuring consumer protection and financial stability.

The expansion of Gemini’s offerings in the EEA also aligns with broader trends in the crypto industry. As spot trading volumes decline relative to derivatives activity, exchanges are increasingly focusing on offering sophisticated financial instruments to cater to a more diverse investor base. Gemini's entry into the EU derivatives market with USDC-perpetuals contracts highlights this shift, providing traders with the tools to execute complex long and short strategies on crypto assets. With MiCA now fully operational, the EU is emerging as a key regulatory and innovation hub for the global crypto industry, with European exchanges like Gemini playing a central role in shaping its future.

Source:

[1] Crypto Exchange Gemini Expands EU Offering with Staking, Perpetuals (https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/09/05/crypto-exchange-gemini-expands-eu-offering-with-staking-perpetuals)

[2] Gemini launches derivatives and ETH, SOL staking in Europe (https://cointelegraph.com/news/gemini-crypto-derivatives-europe-launch)