Winklevoss Twins’ Gemini Lands Prediction Markets Approval

  • Gemini Space Station, the brothers’ cryptocurrency exchange, wins prediction markets approval from CFTC
  • Company’s event contracts push was revealed last month
  • Approval brings another crypto-centric player to the fast-growing industry

Gemini Space Station (NASDAQ: GEMI), the digital currency exchange controlled by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, said today its Gemini Titan unit won a Designated Contract Market (DCM) license from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), paving the way for the company to enter the rapidly growing prediction markets arena.

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The Winklevoss twins. Their company Gemini Space Station will soon enter the prediction markets space. (Image: Gemini)

It’s been more than five and a half years since Gemini applied for DCM licensing — a designation that is essential to being able to offer event contracts in the US.

Gemini Titan plans to enter into the prediction markets space by offering event contracts that are simple yes or no questions on future events,” said the company in a statement. For example, ‘Will 1 bitcoin end this year higher than $200k?’ Yes or no. Or, ‘Will Elon Musk’s X end up paying the full $140 million fine to the European Commission in 2026?’ Yes or no.”

That’s comparable to the form of event contracts featured on rival platforms such as Crypto.com, Kalshi, and Polymarket, among others. Gemini didn’t mention a specific date or timeframe in which its prediction markets platform will launch though it did use the word “soon.”

Gemini Doesn’t Mention Sports Prediction Markets

Perhaps smartly, Gemini didn’t mention plans for sports derivatives as part of its broader prediction market ambitions.

“In the future, Gemini Titan will explore expanding its derivatives offering for US customers to include crypto futures, options, and perpetual contracts or perps,” according to the statement. “Perps are the most widely traded derivatives contracts in the crypto industry, having gained huge popularity and traction in Asia and other non-US jurisdictions over the last decade. Gemini Titan looks forward to exploring bringing these innovative and highly liquid contracts to America.”

Some other aspiring prediction market participants, including Cboe Global Markets (BATS: CBOE), have also unveiled their plans without mentioning sports. It’s a potentially smart move because while sports derivatives account for massive percentages on platforms such as Crypto.com, Kalshi, and Robinhood, those contracts have also invited legal challenges.

For companies such as Gemini that count retail investors among their client bases, steering clear of spots event contracts could also be prudent because it potentially reduces criticism those firms are “gamifying” investing and exposing unwitting investors to undue risk.

Cyrpto, Prediction Markets Union on the Rise

Gemini’s prediction markets entry fortifies the already growing intersection of cryptocurrency and event contracts — the foundation of which was poured by the likes of Crypto.com and Polymarket. The former is a direct rival to Gemini and the latter is rumored to be considering offering its own digital currency.

The Winklevoss are well-known crypto backers and are said to own 70,000 Bitcoin, which they acquired with proceedings from their settlement with Facebook.

“We thank President Trump for ending the Biden Administration’s War on Crypto and Acting Chairman Pham for her hard work and dedication to help realize President Trump’s vision for making America the crypto capital of the world,” said CEO Tyler Winklevoss in the press release. “It’s incredibly refreshing and invigorating to have a President and a financial regulator who are pro crypto, pro innovation, and pro America.”

Todd Shriber
Todd Shriber Financial Reporter

Todd Shriber is a senior news reporter covering gaming financials, casino business, stocks, and mergers and acquisitions for Casino.org.

Todd got his start in financial markets as a reporter with Bloomberg News. Later, he became a trader at a Southern California-based long/short hedge fund, where he specialized in the trading sector and international ETFs leading up to and during the financial crisis. He joined Casino.org in 2019.

Currently, Todd analyzes, researches, and writes on ETFs for various web-based publications and financial services firms. Shriber has been featured and quoted in Barron's, CNBC.com, and The Wall Street Journal. His work can also be found on Benzinga, ETF Daily News, ETF Trends, MarketWatch, Fox Business, and Nasdaq.com.

He currently resides in Las Vegas, where he enjoys golf and taking his black lab to the dog park. He's also an avid sports fan and likes to wager on college football and the NBA. You can also find him at the three-card poker and roulette table, even though he knows better.

Contact Todd at todd.shriber@casino.org.

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