Gemini Secures MiFID II License for EU Crypto Derivatives Trading

Gemini, the cryptocurrency exchange founded by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, has received regulatory approval to expand crypto derivatives trading across Europe. The exchange has secured a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) license from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), allowing it to offer crypto derivatives in the European Union. This license enables Gemini to provide regulated derivatives throughout the EU and EEA under MiFID II, marking a significant milestone in the exchange's European expansion.

Gemini’s head of Europe, Mark Jennings, highlighted the importance of this license, stating that it brings the exchange one step closer to offering derivatives to both retail and institutional users. The upcoming derivatives offering in the EU and EEA will include perpetual futures and other derivatives, which will be available to advanced users of Gemini. Jennings noted that over the coming months, Gemini will be working towards meeting the required conditions to launch these products across Europe.

Gemini’s Maltese entity, Gemini Intergalactic EU Artemis, saw its license issued on May 8, 2025. This latest license builds on the growing regulatory progress of the US-based exchange in Europe. In January, Gemini officially announced choosing Malta as its hub for compliance with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. The move came shortly after Gemini received its sixth European virtual asset service provider (VASP) registration from the MFSA in December 2024. However, the exchange has not yet obtained full MiCA licensing as of May 2025.

Gemini’s upcoming crypto derivatives launch in Europe is part of a growing trend for derivatives in the crypto industry globally. This trend is evident in recent acquisitions and expansions by other major players in the industry. For instance, Coinbase, the biggest crypto exchange in the US by trading volume, announced the $2.9 billion acquisition of Deribit, one of the world’s largest crypto derivatives platforms. This deal came just a few days after rival exchange Kraken confirmed plans to purchase the derivatives trading platform NinjaTrader to offer futures trading. The firm previously said it agreed to acquire NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion.