We are excited to announce that individuals and institutions in Greece and Bulgaria can now open a Gemini account to deposit, trade, and custody over 100 cryptocurrencies. 

Consumers in these additional two markets can securely access Gemini’s website or mobile app to buy cryptocurrencies with Euros (EUR) and Pound Sterling (GBP), using a debit card, bank transfer, or through Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Offering Gemini’s secure crypto services to customers in Greece comes on the heels of our [registration](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-secures-regulatory-approvals-to-operate-in-italy-and-greece) with Greece’s Hellenic Capital Markets Commission (HCMC) as a custodial wallet provider and provider of exchange services between virtual and fiat currencies. 

### Bringing Secure Crypto Services to European Markets

Advanced traders in these countries can use [ActiveTrader](https://www.gemini.com/activetrader), our high-performance crypto trading interface that delivers a professional-level experience, featuring advanced charting, and multiple order types.

Gemini’s institutional-grade, crypto-native platform is available to financial institutions, fintechs, and corporations, with custody, clearing, trade execution, price discovery, and portfolio management services all in one place. 

We are now operational in more than 65 countries, [having recently](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-now-live-in-croatia-cyprus-hungary-romania-and-slovenia) announced [our launches](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-launches-in-denmark-sweden-portugal-czechia-latvia-and-liechtenstein) in Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Hungary, [Ireland](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-launches-services-to-customers-and-institutions-in-ireland), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, and Sweden, with more countries on the roadmap.

Onward and Upward!

Gillian Lynch  
Head of Ireland and Europe

Gemini Launches in Greece and Bulgaria

Some Gemini customers have recently been the target of phishing campaigns that we believe are the result of an incident at a third-party vendor. This incident led to the collection of Gemini customer email addresses and partial phone numbers. __No Gemini account information or systems were impacted__ as a result of this third-party incident, and all funds and customer accounts remain secure.

In light of these increased phishing campaigns, we are sharing security best practices with our customers.

### At Gemini, the security of customer funds and accounts is our top priority. 

We do not recommend that you rely on the secrecy of an email address as a substitute for strong authentication methods. However, if you would like to [reset the email](https://support.gemini.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005755526-How-do-I-change-my-email-address-) associated with your Gemini account, here are instructions on how to do so:

1. Login to your account via the web browser (currently not available on the mobile app) and go to [https://exchange.gemini.com/settings/security](https://exchange.gemini.com/settings/security);
2. Click "Security Options" on the right-hand corner (next to your current email address);
3. Select "Change Email" from the drop-down menu; and
4. When prompted, enter your new email and current Gemini password.

[Online scams are common](https://www.gemini.com/blog/common-online-scams-and-how-to-avoid-them), particularly in the crypto industry, and we highly recommend using two-factor authentication (2FA) and/or hardware security keys to protect your Gemini account. 

We invite you to visit the links below to learn more about how you can keep your account safe:

- [How to use 2FA](https://support.gemini.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005755506-How-do-I-use-2FA-with-my-new-phone-device-number-) 
- [How to set up a hardware security key](https://www.gemini.com/blog/keep-yourself-and-your-cryptos-secure-with-one-simple-step) | [YubiKey](https://www.yubico.com/products/) | [Google Titan Key](https://cloud.google.com/titan-security-key)

Online scammers have become increasingly sophisticated. Remaining vigilant so you can quickly catch phishing warning signs is crucial for your overall online security.  

Gemini Product Security Team

Protecting Our Customers From Phishing Campaigns

Now more than ever, leading brands are exploring new ways to harness the power of Web3. We are thrilled that Gemini-owned [Nifty Gateway](https://www.niftygateway.com/) has been tapped to power the new Starbucks Odyssey market, a web3 and NFT-based extension of the Starbucks loyalty program, [which launched in beta last week](https://medium.com/nifty-gateway/nifty-gateway-tapped-to-power-starbucks-odyssey-market-a-web3-experience-e357818ebc65) to the first Starbucks Rewards members and partners (employees) in the U.S.

In September 2022, [Starbucks announced](https://stories.starbucks.com/press/2022/starbucks-brewing-revolutionary-web3-experience-for-its-starbucks-rewards-members/) their plans for the Starbucks Odyssey experience. Shortly after beta launch, Starbucks Odyssey members can purchase or sell NFTs, called Stamps, through the Starbucks Odyssey market powered by Nifty Gateway. Early next year, members will be able to purchase limited-edition stamps directly with a credit card. No crypto wallet or cryptocurrency will be required.

With this news, Nifty Gateway continues to be a pioneer in the NFT space, making available a full suite of tools to support the development of unique, creative, and scalable branded NFT experiences. These tools allow brands like Starbucks to expand into Web3 and offer the accessibility, ease, and convenience that customers have come to expect when making online purchases.

“Nifty Gateway’s custody options make it the preferred NFT marketplace for the next generation of Web3-powered brands and their customers,” said Duncan Cock Foster, Co-Founder of Nifty Gateway. “Starbucks is building one of the largest ever on-ramps to Web3 and we’re so excited to be enhancing their customers’ experience through NFTs.”

We are delighted that an iconic global brand like Starbucks has decided to capitalize on the immense potential of Web3 and NFTs, and believe that projects like Starbucks Odyssey will play a central role in the continued adoption of crypto and blockchain on a global scale. 

From individuals to global brands, Nifty Gateway is reimagining what is possible with NFTs, and they’re just getting started.

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Nifty Gateway Tapped to Power Starbucks Odyssey Market, a Web3 Experience

We are thrilled to announce that Gemini has registered as a Virtual Currency Operator with Italy’s payments services regulator, the Organismo Agenti E Mediatori (OAM), and as a custodial wallet provider and provider of exchange services between virtual and fiat currencies with Greece’s Hellenic Capital Markets Commission (HCMC).

These registrations, combined with our electronic money institution authorisation from the Central Bank of Ireland, allow Gemini to offer our secure crypto services to customers in Italy and Greece. 

Gemini’s registrations with the OAM and HCMC demonstrate our compliance with applicable Italian and Greek Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing regulations.

As we expand across Europe, we continue to work in tandem with national and international regulators and policymakers to ensure that we are meeting the necessary regulatory requirements in all new markets. 

Strong regulatory compliance has always been a core tenet of Gemini’s ethos; we believe that the long-term success and integrity of crypto markets and companies in the space depends on it. Most importantly, by working proactively with regulatory bodies throughout the world, we can ensure that we are continuing to place regulatory compliance at the heart of our products.

We’re excited about the momentum in our European roll out, which is in line with our goal to bring accessible, secure cryptocurrency services to consumers, corporations, and institutions around the world. 

Gemini is now operational in more than 65 countries, [having recently](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-now-live-in-croatia-cyprus-hungary-romania-and-slovenia) announced [our launches](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-launches-in-denmark-sweden-portugal-czechia-latvia-and-liechtenstein) in Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Hungary, [Ireland](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-launches-services-to-customers-and-institutions-in-ireland), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, and Sweden, with more countries on the roadmap.

Onward and Upward!

Gillian Lynch  
Head of Ireland and Europe

Gemini Secures Regulatory Approvals to Operate in Italy and Greece

We are pleased to announce the launch of the [Gemini Trust Center](https://www.gemini.com/trust-center), a dashboard of metrics for the funds we hold on the Gemini platform and on your behalf, as well as other important data and information. 

The events of the past few weeks have reinforced the fundamental need for trust in our industry. The [Gemini Trust Center](https://www.gemini.com/trust-center) is building trust through transparency with the following metrics:

- __Total Crypto on our Platform__
- __Total Fiat held on your behalf__
- __Gemini dollar (GUSD) Float__
- __Fiat Net Flows__ (24hrs)
- __Crypto Net Flows__ (24hs)

We also display other relevant information about our security controls and regulatory registrations, including:

- __SOC 1 and SOC 2 exam dates__
- __Licenses and registrations we’ve obtained__
- __Gemini Corporate Governance Information__

From day one, [we’ve prioritized the security of our customers’ assets](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-is-built-on-trust-safety-and-compliance). We never have and never will compromise on that. We are more confident than ever that *__asking for permission, not for forgiveness__* — is the right way to build trust with you and a lasting business.

We will continue to iterate on and enhance our [Trust Center](https://www.gemini.com/trust-center) to ensure we provide more real-time and salient data points to you as we continue on our mission to unlock the next era of financial, creative, and personal freedom.

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Announcing the Gemini Trust Center: Building Trust Through Transparency

We are aware that Genesis Global Capital, LLC (Genesis) — the lending partner of the Earn program — has paused withdrawals and will not be able to meet customer redemptions within the service-level agreement (SLA) of 5 business days. We are working with the Genesis team to help customers redeem their funds from the Earn program as quickly as possible. We will provide more information in the coming days.

The past week has been an incredibly challenging and stressful time for our industry. We are disappointed that the Earn program SLA will not be met, but we are encouraged by Genesis’ and its parent company Digital Currency Group’s commitment to doing everything in their power to fulfill their obligations to customers under the Earn program. We will continue to work with them on behalf of all Earn customers. This is our highest priority. We greatly appreciate your patience. 

__This does not impact any other Gemini products and services.__ Gemini Staking, which is part of our Grow offering and separate from the Earn product, continues to operate as usual. Gemini is a full-reserve exchange and custodian. All customer funds held on the Gemini exchange are held 1:1 and available for withdrawal at any time. [You can read more here](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-is-built-on-trust-safety-and-compliance).

Team Gemini

An Important Message Regarding Gemini Earn

From day one, Gemini has prioritized the security of our customers’ assets. We never have and never will compromise on that point. As the crypto ecosystem emerges from infancy into adolescence we are more confident than ever that *__asking for permission, not for forgiveness__* will continue to be the central pillar of how we run our business. 

It has been a tough couple of days for our industry. Our hearts go out to all those impacted by recent events at FTX. We are all working together to build a brighter future and moments like these are painful.

For the avoidance of doubt, __Gemini has no exposure to FTT tokens or Alameda and no material exposure to FTX__.

### Gemini is a Full-Reserve Exchange and Custodian

Gemini is a full-reserve exchange and custodian. This means that __all customer funds held on Gemini are held 1:1 and available for withdrawal at any time.__ 

Gemini holds customer fiat currency in accounts that are segregated from our business, operating, and reserve bank accounts established specifically for the benefit of Gemini customers. __We do not do anything with your fiat funds unless explicitly authorized and directed to do so by you.__

Gemini holds customer digital assets in accounts that are segregated from our assets. __We do not do anything with your digital assets unless explicitly authorized and directed to do so by you.__

In addition to being a full-reserve platform, Gemini Trust Company, LLC is a fiduciary and qualified custodian under New York Banking Law and is licensed by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). NYDFS imposes certain excess capital requirements and compliance standards for all assets held on Gemini. __At any given time, Gemini is required to hold capital in excess of customer deposits and must report any material changes in this capital to its regulator.__

### Gemini is Highly Regulated

Since its inception eight years ago, Gemini has worked with regulatory stakeholders and lawmakers to help shape thoughtful regulation that fosters both consumer protection and innovation. We will continue to do this work. We have spent considerable time applying for and becoming licensed and regulated in various jurisdictions across the world. This is not the easier path (it is expensive and time consuming) but we believe it is the right one.

Gemini holds many licenses globally, including a New York trust license, state money transmitter licenses (or the statutory equivalent), an E-Money License from the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, an E-Money License from the Central Bank of Ireland, and more.

Related to our licenses, Gemini must undergo annual audits of our financial statements and is subject to bank examinations conducted by NYDFS. We are also [SOC 1 and SOC 2 compliant](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-completes-soc-1-type-2-and-soc-2-type-2-examinations-leading-crypto).

Ten years ago, we bought our first bitcoin on Mt. Gox. Those Wild West days informed us with regard to what needed to change. We built Gemini to be this change. We look forward to working with everyone in our industry to continue to build trust in this new magical frontier and unlock its ultimate promise.

Onward and Upward.

Cameron and Tyler

Gemini Is Built on Trust, Safety, and Compliance: Ask For Permission, Not For Forgiveness

Today, we are thrilled to announce that Gemini will expand its Greater Seattle Area presence in 2023, with plans to increase the number of employees based in our Bellevue downtown office from 28 to over 125. There are currently 100+ [open roles](https://www.gemini.com/careers) in the region spanning product and engineering. 

“The Pacific Northwest has long been established as a home base for best-in-class innovative tech companies, and we are inspired by the opportunity to tap into talent in the region. Gemini is a destination for top talent that wants to build the future of digital assets and web3,” said Cameron Winklevoss, President of Gemini. 

Our Seattle expansion comes as a number of senior leaders in the area have joined Gemini over the past year, including [Pravjit Tiwana](https://www.gemini.com/blog/we-welcome-pravjit-tiwana-as-our-chief-technology-officer) as Chief Technology Officer, [Jorge Vasquez](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgevasquez/) as VP of Engineering, and [Ajay Jaganathan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagannathanajay/) as VP of Talent & People Operations. 

We founded Gemini in 2014 to create a simple, reliable, and elegant way for individuals and institutions to buy [bitcoin](https://www.gemini.com/prices/bitcoin). Over the past eight years our platform has grown to encompass web3 products, including [Nifty Gateway](https://www.gemini.com/nifty-gateway) — the world’s premiere NFT marketplace, the [Gemini Credit Card](https://www.gemini.com/credit-card)1 — which provides real-time crypto rewards every time you swipe2, [Gemini Staking](https://www.gemini.com/staking), and the [Gemini dollar](https://www.gemini.com/dollar) stablecoin. 

We continue to invest heavily in building scalable infrastructure for web3, including modernizing archaic banking systems in the fields of know-your-customer (KYC), identity, fraud, analytics, security, and payments. We are also building a variety of new pragmatic web3 and Neobanking products that we will launch in 2023.

Our expansion in Seattle is another decisive step on our mission to unlock the next era of financial, creative and personal freedom. If you are interested in joining our mission, please contact us at [careers@gemini.com](mailto:careers@gemini.com)! 

Onward and Upward!

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss

1 A Gemini Mastercard® issued by WebBank. 
2 Some exclusions apply in which rewards are deposited when the transaction posts. Subject to [Rewards Program Terms](https://www.gemini.com/legal/credit-card-rewards-agreement#section-welcome-to-the-gemini-credit-card-crypto-rewards-program-the-rewards-program).

Gemini Announces Seattle Area Expansion Plans for 2023

The rise of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) has spurred exponential growth in the number of projects harnessing this dynamic application of blockchain technology. Through the [Gemini Frontier Fund (GFF)](https://www.gemini.com/frontier-fund), we’ve invested in several teams that use NFT technology in various ways across their products. 

Last month, we brought together five founders of GFF-funded projects to discuss how they use NFTs today and how they expect use cases to evolve. Here, we highlight some of the most interesting takeaways from that discussion.

Panelists included: Sohrob Farudi of [Fan Controlled Sports + Entertainment](https://www.fcf.io/), Amir Sarhangi of [Supermojo](https://supermojo.com/), Nick Vale from [reNFT](https://www.renft.io/), David Beiner of [Hume](https://www.wearehume.com/), and Arif Khan of [Alethea AI](https://m.alethea.ai/). For the full panel discussion check out the [Twitter Spaces recording here](https://twitter.com/Gemini/status/1582770028633391115?s=20&t=ihs7SIOVp2Pq4APmi2-kqA). 

### Where NFTs Started and Where They Are Going

Many panelists first entered the world of NFTs by breeding CryptoKitties and purchasing Wizards, among the first popular NFT projects that notoriously clogged up the Ethereum blockchain in 2017. While these early projects showed the ability to transfer unique value on-chain (a core benefit of NFTs), other innovations have since been applied to NFTs that create wholly new immersive experiences. 

Arif Khan is the founder and CEO of Alethea AI which aims to create an intelligent Metaverse inhabited by interactive NFTs (iNFTs). He elaborated on this point: 

__*“With NFTs, the value of an on-chain asset is certainly there. The moment you can transfer it, buy it, sell it, you can unlock a lot of value from that aspect alone, which is a very important revolution. Another revolution that's occurring right now … is being termed as a generative AI.”*__

We’ve started to __*“really see the power of the value that can come from combining AI and interactive characters. And when I started looking at NFTs as a static image, it was really just an insight that came from looking at what a static image is and how it can evolve over time.”*__

### Redefining Online Communities

Community has become central to the NFT experience. From social clubs to artist fan groups, there is unlimited opportunity for building NFT-based communities. 

Sohrob Farudi, co-founder and CEO of Fan Controlled Sports + Entertainment, spoke of his experience using NFTs to build an interactive sports entertainment platform:

__*“Community is really powerful [in sports], and so I think that's where we're gonna see really a lot of innovation come from — the players themselves — over the next couple of years as they want to get closer to the fans.”*__

__*“[Players] want to stay relevant. They want to build communities and their own personal brands and I think these different versions of NFT communities and experiences are going to allow them to do that and I think that's where fans are going.”*__

### Disrupting Traditional Entertainment Models

As virtual worlds become more accessible and interactive, NFTs are beginning to play an important role in the development of the metaverse. Instead of waiting in long lines to see a favorite artist, shows may increasingly be held in virtual immersive environments, and eventually redefine the entertainment world.

David Beiner, founder and CEO of Hume, a web3 entertainment and music company, explained how the entertainment industry may be on the cusp of a dynamic revolution as NFTs and meta-experiences are integrated into traditional shows: 

__*“I think there will be hologram concerts at some point in the future. But we've actually seen more success with concerts that have a giant screen and effects on the stage. We can really build a world within that screen so that you'll feel like you're watching a full on experience versus just seeing a hologram.”*__

Sohrob is working on integrating similar interactive experiences in sports, having built a real-life football league where NFT holders can call plays in real time. 

__*“It's like playing a real life video game, a real life version of Madden where fans are choosing the play and then real players are running it on the field.”*__

### Unlocking New Doors with Open Intellectual Property Rights

Intellectual property (IP) rights are central to the entertainment business. This has often come in the form of preventing the unauthorized third-party use of music, videos, likeness, and more. 

Combining NFTs and the idea of open intellectual property can be a significant boon to NFT adoption in the coming years, David explained: 

__*“Real communities are forming around these projects and the fact that you can buy an NFT and do whatever you want with the IP is just, it's a whole new way of getting those early adopters.”*__

As an example, Hume leverages the intellectual property of the Flufworld NFT collection. And, by purchasing a Fluf NFT, Hume created AngelBaby, a metastar complete with a team of artists writing music and tweaking its online identity and personality. 

### Increasing NFT Accessibility

Given the often prohibitive cost of blue chip NFTs, projects like Supermojo and reNFT have stepped in to provide new ways for collectors to access NFTs that fit their financial profiles. 

Supermojo has borrowed from traditional retail practices with the creation of layaway for NFTs, allowing collectors to buy now and pay later. reNFT allows people to rent NFTs for a variety of use cases, including for use within play-to-earn games.

We are in the earliest stages of NFT innovation, and the discussion with these visionaries provided an encouraging glimpse of what we might expect in the years to come!

Onward and Upward!

Gemini Frontier Fund Team

Gemini Frontier Fund Roundtable: How NFTs Are Redefining the Intersection of the Digital and Physical Worlds

We are pleased to announce that users in Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Romania, and Slovenia can buy, sell, and store over 100 cryptocurrencies through Gemini’s website and mobile app.

__Consumers__ can open a Gemini account to trade and custody cryptocurrencies like [bitcoin](https://www.gemini.com/prices/bitcoin), [ether](https://www.gemini.com/prices/ether), and dozens of DeFi tokens. They can easily deposit Euros (EUR) and Pound Sterling (GBP) via a debit card, bank transfer, and buy crypto using Apple Pay or Google Pay.

__Advanced traders__ can use [ActiveTrader](https://www.gemini.com/activetrader), our high-performance crypto trading interface that delivers a professional-level experience, featuring advanced charting functionality, and multiple order types.

__Financial institutions__, fintechs, and corporations can access our [institutional-grade crypto-native platform](https://www.gemini.com/institutions) with custody, clearing, trade execution, price discovery, and portfolio management services.

### Expanding Access to Crypto Across Europe

Gemini is so far available in 12 countries in the European market. Just last week, we went live in [Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, Czechia, Latvia, and Liechtenstein](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-launches-in-denmark-sweden-portugal-czechia-latvia-and-liechtenstein), building on [our recent launch in Ireland](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-launches-services-to-customers-and-institutions-in-ireland). We continue to develop the strong foundations we’ve been laying in the region since [opening in the UK in 2020](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-live-in-the-uk). 

As we grow in Europe, we remain committed to engaging proactively with regulators and policymakers. Gemini was the [first company to register with the Central Bank of Ireland as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP)](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-becomes-first-company-to-register-as-virtual-asset-service-provider), and is authorized as an electronic money institution. 

With the development of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework poised to harmonize regulation of the crypto space in the European Union, we see huge promise here for companies offering products and services like ours with consumer protection at their core.

Onward and Upward!

Gillian Lynch  
Head of Ireland and Europe


Gemini Now Live in Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Romania, and Slovenia

We are thrilled to announce that individuals and institutions in Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, Czechia, Latvia, and Liechtenstein can now open a Gemini account to deposit, trade, and custody over 100 cryptocurrencies. 

Consumers can securely access Gemini’s website or mobile app to buy cryptocurrencies with Euros (EUR) and Pound Sterling (GBP) with a debit card, bank transfer, or using Apple Pay or Google Pay.

More advanced traders can use ActiveTrader, our high-performance crypto trading interface that delivers a professional-level experience, featuring advanced charting, and multiple order types.

Gemini’s institutional-grade, crypto-native platform is now available to financial institutions, fintechs, and corporations, with custody, clearing, trade execution, price discovery, and portfolio management services all in one place. 

### Another Step in Gemini’s European Journey

Launching in these six countries represents further progress in Gemini’s continued roll out across Europe, which is built on a foundation of positive engagement with regulators and policymakers to obtain relevant authorizations and registrations.

Going live in these jurisdictions follows our [recent launch in Ireland](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-launches-services-to-customers-and-institutions-in-ireland), where Gemini was the first company to register with the Central Bank of Ireland as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP), and is authorized as an electronic money institution. 

Onward and Upward,

Gillian Lynch  
Head of Ireland and Europe

Gemini Launches in Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, Czechia, Latvia, and Liechtenstein

We are thrilled to announce that Spanish-speaking Gemini customers can now buy, sell, and store cryptocurrencies across Gemini’s web and mobile platforms in their native language.

This launch illustrates Gemini’s continued commitment to providing secure and innovative crypto products to Spanish-speaking audiences around the globe. Gemini is currently available in 13 Spanish-speaking countries.

To change the language on the mobile or web app, select “Account” on the top right of your screen. Under the "Account" section, click "Language" and then select "Spanish."

The launch of Gemini’s Spanish language option comes on the heels of our recent expansion into Latin America. In December 2021, [we announced a partnership](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-to-offer-crypto-trading-to-bancolombia-customers-with-latin-american) with Bancolombia, a leading Colombian bank, as part of a one-year pilot program run by Colombia’s financial regulator, the Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia (SFC). Through the program, select Bancolombia customers are offered seamless and secure access to crypto.

There is immense potential in Spanish-speaking markets, and they represent an opportunity to realize the promise of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. According to our [2022 State of Crypto report](https://www.gemini.com/state-of-crypto):

- More than one in five (22%) of people in Mexico own cryptocurrency, compared to 20% for the U.S.
- More than one in three (37%) of those who don’t own crypto in Latin America indicated they plan to become investors in the next year.
- More than half of respondents in Mexico (55%) and Colombia (56%) indicated that cryptocurrency is “the future of money.”

We are excited about the promise for crypto to play a central role in improving access to financial services across the globe, and we believe that providing the Gemini experience in Spanish will help turn promise into reality. 

Onward and Upward!

Cynthia Del Pozo García  
Director, Strategy

---

## Gemini ahora disponible en español

Estamos encantados de anunciar que los clientes de Gemini que hablan español ahora pueden comprar, vender y almacenar sus criptomonedas en su idioma nativo. Este lanzamiento demuestra el compromiso de Gemini de proveer productos seguros e innovadores a personas que hablan español.

Si deseas cambiar el idioma de la aplicación, selecciona "Cuenta" en la parte superior derecha. En la sección "Cuenta", haz clic en "Idioma" y luego selecciona "Español".

Este lanzamiento se produce después de nuestra decisión de expandir nuestras operaciones a Latinoamérica. En diciembre de 2021, [anunciamos nuestra alianza con Bancolombia](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-to-offer-crypto-trading-to-bancolombia-customers-with-latin-american), al formar parte del programa piloto de laArenera de la Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia (SFC). A través del programa, los clientes de Bancolombia seleccionados por el banco experimentaron un acceso fácil y seguro al mundo de cripto.

Seguimos confiados en el potencial y la oportunidad de cripto y blockchain en Latinoamérica. Latinoamérica sigue siendo uno de los mercados internacionales más prometedores para la aceptación de cripto. Según nuestro informe sobre el [estado de las criptomonedas en el 2022](https://www.gemini.com/state-of-crypto):

- Más de uno de cada cinco (22 %) de las personas en México posee criptomonedas, en comparación con el 20 % en EE.UU.
- Más de uno de cada tres (37%) de los que no poseen criptomonedas en Latinoamérica indicaron que piensan convertirse en inversionistas el próximo año.
- Más de la mitad de los encuestados en México (55 %) y Colombia (56 %) indicaron que la criptomoneda es “el futuro del dinero”.

Un factor importante de la inclusión financiera es el acceso a los productos financieros, y la accesibilidad de estos productos en tu idioma nativo siempre será una parte clave de la inclusión. Mundialmente, existen más de quinientos millones de personas que consideran al español su idioma nativo. Actualmente, estas personas tienen opciones limitadas para acceder al mundo de cripto de una manera segura y regulada y que fue construída para ellos. Gemini quiere cambiar eso.

Creemos fielmente en que cripto tendrá un rol importante en la mejora del acceso a los servicios financieros mundialmente, y sabemos que ofrecer la experiencia de Gemini en español es uno de los pasos que debemos de tomar para convertir esa promesa en realidad.

¡Hacia Adelante!

Cynthia Del Pozo García   
Directora de Estrategia

Gemini Is Now Available in Spanish

Customers and institutions in Ireland can now open a Gemini account to deposit, trade, and custody around 100 cryptocurrencies. 

Irish customers can access the Gemini website or mobile app to securely [buy cryptocurrencies](https://www.gemini.com/prices) with Euros (EUR) and Pound Sterling (GBP) with a debit card, bank transfer, or using Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Financial institutions, fintechs, and other corporations in Ireland now have access to [Gemini’s institutional-grade, crypto-native platform](https://www.gemini.com/institutions) through which they can access custody, clearing, trade execution, price discovery, and portfolio management services, all in one place. 

[ActiveTrader](https://www.gemini.com/activetrader), a high-performance crypto trading platform that delivers professional-level experience, is available for use by more advanced traders.

### A Springboard for European Expansion

Going live in Ireland is the latest step in our European growth strategy. This expansion is built on proactive and positive engagement with regulators and policymakers to obtain robust levels of licensing and approvals.

Ireland is an internationally recognised finance and technology hub that serves as a gateway to the wider European fintech market. We are excited to service the strong demand for accessible and secure crypto services among the highly educated and tech literate consumer base here.

Onward and Upward,

Gillian Lynch  
Head of Ireland and Europe

Gemini Launches Services to Customers and Institutions in Ireland, Bolstering European Expansion

Since launching regulated and secure BTC trading in 2015, Gemini has been a passionate supporter of Bitcoin and the blockchain ecosystem. Importantly, we’ve provided grants and sponsorships [through the Gemini Opportunity Fund](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-opportunity-fund-investing-in-the-future-of-bitcoin) to various groups supporting the Bitcoin Network, including Bitcoin Developers. 

In May, [we announced the launch of Superlunar](https://www.gemini.com/blog/introducing-superlunar-exploring-the-future-of-web3), a multi-disciplinary web3 research and design studio. Overseeing the Gemini Opportunity Fund, [Superlunar](https://www.superlunar.com/) has continued to sponsor Bitcoin Developers, and has expanded sponsorships over the past months. 

__Superlunar now sponsors nine full-time Bitcoin Developers on year-long contracts across North America, Africa, Asia, and Europe__, supporting the continued sustainability, scalability, and security of the Bitcoin Network. We are thrilled about the work they are doing, and are excited to highlight their projects in this blog!

## Sponsoring the Future of Bitcoin

__Dhruv Mehta__ — we’ve been sponsoring Dhruv’s work on Bitcoin Core since early 2021. His work focuses on the security of Bitcoin Network nodes, with a specific interest in BIP324, which proposes an updated P2P protocol for the Bitcoin Network. [Read more about Dhruv’s journey here](https://www.superlunar.com/post/raising-the-free-and-rebellious-with-dhruv-mehta), and [learn about his work on BIP324 here](https://bip324.com/). 

__Jarol Rodriguez__ — like Dhruv, Jarol has been sponsored by the Gemini Opportunity Fund since early 2021. His focus has been on building out a more intuitive Bitcoin Core Graphical User Interface (GUI), which is based on the QT Modeling Language (QML). [Read more about Jarol’s path to becoming a Bitcoin Core Dev here](https://www.superlunar.com/post/beautifying-bitcoin-with-jarol-rodriguez). 

__Amiti Uttarwar__ — Amiti was [previously sponsored by Gemini Opportunity Fund](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-to-sponsor-bitcoin-core-developer-amiti-uttarwar) and will resume her work with us this November. She plans to continue work on the P2P network, with a focus on security and privacy. She is also passionate about helping others with their Bitcoin journeys, especially bringing more diversity into the ecosystem. 

__Collin Rukundo__ — Collin has been focused on the usability of the Bitcoin Network, building the EttaWallet, which aims to improve accessibility and the user experience, particularly for users in Africa who are encountering Bitcoin for the first time and may be mobile-first users. As a Ugandan activist, Collin is also passionate about privacy and custody, ensuring that users keep their funds safe when interacting with the Bitcoin Network. [Read more about Collin’s journey to becoming a Bitcoin Core Developer here](https://www.superlunar.com/post/bringing-bitcoin-to-uganda), and [learn about Qala here](https://www.superlunar.com/post/africas-new-generation-of-bitcoin-developers), a program of which he is an alumni. 

__Duncan Dean__ — with a focus on decentralization and resilience, Duncan has been working on enabling "asmap" in Bitcoin Core by default, ensuring the continued security of the Bitcoin Network by diversifying the peers with which Bitcoin miners share connections. He has also worked on the Lightning Developer Kit (LDK), building tools and libraries that facilitate the integration of Lightning into any Bitcoin wallet. [Read more about Duncan’s experience and journey to becoming a Bitcoin Core Dev here](https://www.superlunar.com/post/freely-trade-at-any-age). 

__Josie__ — Josie is currently curating data sets and assisting with data analysis for research related to the Bitcoin Mempool as well as diving into a statistical analysis of Bitcoin transactions and fees. He also plans to focus on Cross Input Signature Aggregation as a soft-fork for Bitcoin. Josie is passionate about mentorship and dedicating time to reviewing and testing open PRs in Core.

__Ruben Somsen__ — working closely with other Bitcoin Developers, Ruben has honed his work on spacechains, which seek to improve the Bitcoin ecosystem by using a permissionless method to create trustless blockchains. [Read more about Ruben’s experience becoming a Bitcoin Developer here](https://www.superlunar.com/post/creating-new-chains-for-bitcoin). 

__Shashwat Vangani__ — an alumni of the [Summer of Bitcoin initiative](https://www.superlunar.com/post/superlunar-is-proud-to-sponsor-summer-of-bitcoin-2022), Shashwat has a unique interest in the Bitcoin Core GUI and helping in its development. Recently, he implemented its onboarding view and is now focused on implementing a Bitcoin block clock for the new version of the GUI. 

__Stratospher__ — also an alumni of Summer of Bitcoin, Stratospher is focused on implementing the cryptography for BIP324’s integration testing framework, and has written illustrated blog posts about techniques to securely transmit public keys.

We are grateful for the work the Bitcoin Developers sponsored by Superlunar have accomplished, and we are dedicated to furthering our support for the Bitcoin community as we continue on our mission to unlock the next era of financial, creative, and personal freedom.

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Gemini’s Superlunar Expands Support for Bitcoin Developers With Sponsorships Across Four Continents

As Gemini continues its mission to provide safe, secure, and innovative crypto products and services to our customers, we look to demonstrated leaders to help us on this journey. To that end, we are thrilled to announce that Maria Filipakis and Matthew Homer have been appointed to the company’s Board of Managers. 

With experiences spanning state financial regulatory agencies, fintech, and cybersecurity, Maria and Matthew will provide expert perspectives on our business and strategy as we continue to navigate the dynamic world of crypto. 

“Maria and Matt’s significant experience working to ensure the safety and soundness of the crypto markets will be incredibly additive to our current outstanding Board of Managers,” said Noah Perlman, Chief Operating Officer at Gemini. “Gemini has an eight-year track record of doing the right thing for our customers. Adding Maria and Matt to the Board demonstrates our continued dedication to growing the crypto ecosystem in a compliant and regulated way.” 

## Meet Maria Filipakis

Maria brings with her vast experience across the fields of fintech, cybersecurity, and insurance, having held leadership roles in both the public and private sectors. She is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Topside Group, a full-service consulting firm specializing in financial services and regulatory issues.

Maria was also the first Executive Deputy Superintendent of the Capital Markets Division at the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). In that role, she oversaw various teams consisting of lawyers, risk, and investment specialists, and examiners providing expertise in enterprise risk management, anti-money laundering controls, cybersecurity, and financial analysis for over 3,000 financial institutions regulated by the NYDFS.  

Among Maria’s many notable accomplishments at the NYDFS, she led the agency’s cybersecurity initiatives, from conducting industry-wide cybersecurity surveys and assessments, to revising the cyber examinations, and to drafting the critical cybersecurity regulation (Part 500), which has served as a blueprint for other federal and state regulators. 

Outside her work as a leading state financial regulator, Maria held various influential roles serving on the New York Governor’s Cyber Security Advisory Board, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors Emerging Payments Task Force, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Cybersecurity Task Force. 

## Meet Matthew Homer

Matthew also brings outstanding experience to the Gemini Trust Company board, having held public and private leadership roles across the fintech, crypto, and policy spheres. Following various roles in federal and state government, Matthew is currently Executive in Residence at Nyca Partners, a fintech venture capital firm. 

Prior to entering the venture capital space, Matthew was the first ever Executive Deputy Superintendent for the Research and Innovation Division at the New York Department of Financial Services. In this leadership role, he oversaw the agency’s strategic and policy efforts related to fintech broadly, including the Department’s crypto responsibilities. He also chaired the Conference of State Bank Supervisor’s FinTech Steering Group. 

Before joining NYDFS, Matthew led policy and research at Quovo, a New York company providing open banking functionality for the financial services ecosystem, leading up to the company’s acquisition by Plaid. He also worked across the federal government, including as a senior policy advisor for digital finance at U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and as a policy official at the FDIC where he focused on emerging technology and consumer protection. He has served in advisory roles to the United Nations, World Bank, Aspen Institute, and Cambridge Center for Alternative Finance. 

We are pleased to welcome Maria and Matthew to the Gemini Trust Company Board of Managers. Their wealth of experience across industries and regulatory agencies will undoubtedly provide our company with unparalleled insight into the ever-changing world of crypto as we continue on our mission to unlock the next era of financial, creative, and personal freedom.

Onward and Upward!

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss

Gemini Trust Company Welcomes Former NYDFS Regulators Maria Filipakis and Matthew Homer to Board of Managers

This week, internationally-acclaimed fashion designer Vivienne Tam debuted a dress printed with NFTs from Gemini-owned Nifty Gateway’s [Awkward Astronaut collection](https://www.niftygateway.com/awkward-astronauts) during her New York Fashion Week (NYFW) 2022 show. The show, featuring collaborations with multiple NFT collections, was designed to inspire women and girls to explore the world of crypto. 

The partnership between Nifty Gateway and Vivienne Tam is one of several recent initiatives from Gemini designed to usher in the next billion crypto users through NFTs. These include the [launch of Nifty Gateway Publishers](https://www.gemini.com/blog/nifty-gateway-now-empowers-curators-to-build-their-own-nft-storefronts) and the news that Nifty Gateway will be [powering Starbucks Odyssey](https://twitter.com/niftygateway/status/1569333882578784257?s=20&t=ocwS1L857fpfRwVInkHPqw), a Web3 and NFT-based evolution of the Starbucks loyalty program.

By showcasing the Awkward Astronaut NFT collection through fashion, Vivienne Tam will be exposing the more than 200,000 people who travel from all over the world to attend NYFW to the promise and creative potential of crypto and blockchain technology. 

“We're really excited about the convergence of NFTs and fashion. The more use cases we can create between crypto and creatives the more positive outcomes we’re going to see,” said Cameron Winklevoss, President of Gemini.

Vivienne Tam is an international designer known for her East-meets-West approach to design and for merging fashion with technology. She is the author of the award-winning book China Chic and pieces from her collections are housed in the permanent archives of the world’s most prestigious museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. 

This unique crossover between fashion and crypto is a powerful representation of our mission to unlock the next era of financial, creative, and personal freedom.

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Gemini and Vivienne Tam Partner to Inspire Crypto Awareness Through Fashion at NYFW 2022

*__Update: September 13, 2022__*

The event much of the crypto ecosystem has been eagerly anticipating is nearly here! The Ethereum Merge is expected to begin the evening of Wednesday, September 14, 2022, Eastern Time. As highlighted in the blog below, no action is required by Gemini users to upgrade, and your funds will remain safe throughout the Merge. 

Here are some other details to keep in mind:

- __Deposits of ETH and ERC-20 tokens are expected to be disabled around 9pm EST on Wednesday, September 14, 2022.__ Once the Merge has been completed and we have independently verified the stability of the network, deposits will be turned back on. We expect deposits to be enabled early Thursday, September 15, 2022. During this period, please refrain from sending ETH or ERC-20 tokens to Gemini, as they may not be recoverable. Note: [follow our status page for specific timing updates](https://status.gemini.com/). 
- __A snapshot of all ETH and ERC-20 wallet balances will be taken about one hour before the Merge is set to take place.__ This snapshot will serve as a source of truth for funds held by users on Gemini prior to the Merge. 

---

Likely the most consequential Ethereum network upgrade yet, termed “[The Merge](https://ethereum.org/en/upgrades/merge/),” is planned for mid-September. The upgrade will codify Ethereum’s long-awaited move to [Proof-of-Stake (PoS)](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/search?query=Proof%20of%20Stake%20(PoS)) from its existing [Proof-of-Work (PoW)](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/search?query=Proof%20of%20Work%20(PoW)) consensus mechanism. 

Following years of planning, and numerous test merges, Ethereum is on track to merge its existing execution layer (Mainnet) with the Beacon Chain, its parallel PoS system. The Merge is expected to make Ethereum more scalable, secure, and sustainable, with a projected 99.95% reduction in energy consumption. 

## What to Expect as a Gemini User

There are three main points to keep in mind:

1. __Gemini will support Ethereum’s PoS chain__ — Following the Merge, we will support the Ethereum PoS chain. We expect all Ethereum (ETH) and ERC-20 assets held at Gemini to be available on the PoS chain following the Merge. 
2. __No action is needed to upgrade__ — As a Gemini user, you do not need to take any action in order to shift your assets to the new PoS chain. 
3. __All funds held at Gemini will remain secure throughout the Merge__ — The Gemini team is actively planning for Merge-related disruptions to our operations, which are normal and expected when blockchains undergo significant updates. While there may be some short-term impacts to Gemini’s operations, all Gemini funds will remain secure throughout the Merge. 

## Anticipated Impact on Gemini Operations

Around the time of the Merge, there is potential for some short-term disruptions as validators, developers, applications, and users move over to the PoS Beacon chain. We expect some Gemini systems to be impacted by these disruptions, including:

- __Deposits and Withdrawals__ — We are expecting to pause Ethereum (ETH) and ERC-20 deposits and withdrawals for a short period of time before and after the Merge as we assess network stability. 
- __Wallet Balances__ — To ensure parity between ETH and ERC-20 assets held on Gemini prior to and after the Merge, we will take a snapshot of all balances before the Merge  and make sure that assets are correctly reflected post-Merge.
- __Gemini dollar (GUSD)__ — Following the Merge, GUSD assets will be shifted to Ethereum’s PoS chain, after which they will be redeemable.

__All Gemini trading systems will remain active throughout the Merge.__ 

At Gemini, we believe this milestone for the Ethereum ecosystem will drive increased adoption, security, and sustainability of blockchain networks. 

As we get closer to the Merge, we will continue to communicate short-term changes to our systems as we prepare for the transition to Ethereum’s PoS blockchain. Please refer back to this blog for updates as additional information becomes available. 

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

The Ethereum Merge: What Gemini Users Need to Know

Our users in the UK can now use Plaid to link their bank account and transfer British Pounds (GBP) into their Gemini account to seamlessly purchase crypto, without leaving our app.

With our Plaid integration, we continue to build bridges between traditional finance and the crypto ecosystem, enabling users to make secure deposits into their Gemini accounts without manually entering their bank details, and with no extra fees. In the U.S., our customers can already use Plaid to verify their identity, link their bank, and fund their accounts. 

Plaid is an open banking data network and payments platform that is used by over 6,000 apps and connects to 12,000 financial institutions across the world. Offering the ability to fund accounts through Plaid also simplifies the onboarding experience for our users, further reducing barriers to entry into the crypto ecosystem. 

__Use Plaid to fund your Gemini account and buy crypto in minutes.__ 

To get started with Plaid, open your Gemini app and go to Account > Manage Payment Methods > Add another method > Bank account instantly via Plaid. Then continue through the flow on the screen to enter your bank login credentials via Plaid.

If you have already connected your bank account to Gemini using Plaid, you may first need to remove that bank account from your Gemini account and then start the linking process again.

Gemini users in the UK can also buy crypto instantly with a debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay, and can fund their Gemini accounts using bank transfers and crypto transfers.

We will continue to work together to create faster, simpler ways to buy crypto for Gemini users globally, including launching Plaid functionality as we expand our presence in countries across Europe.

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Gemini UK Customers Can Now Use Plaid to Connect Their Bank Accounts and Buy Crypto

Today, we are thrilled to announce that Gemini is the first company to be registered as a [Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP)](https://www.centralbank.ie/regulation/anti-money-laundering-and-countering-the-financing-of-terrorism/virtual-asset-service-providers/vasp-registration-information) by the Central Bank of Ireland. Our VASP registration comes on the heels of our Electronic Money Institution (EMI) authorisation in February of 2022, also from the Central Bank of Ireland.

Gemini was founded on the ethos of asking for *permission*, not forgiveness. Since day one, Gemini has engaged with regulators around the world to help shape thoughtful regulation that both protects consumers and fosters innovation. 

We are excited to offer our products and services to individuals and institutions in Ireland and countries in Europe. Gemini’s exchange and custody services allow investors to buy, sell, and store over 100 cryptos with EUR and GBP. 

We opened our EU headquarters in Dublin in 2021, adding an important hub to Gemini’s global footprint. As a thriving center of technology and financial innovation, we are excited to keep growing our presence in Ireland to serve its citizens as well as others in Europe. 

Onward and Upward!

Gillian Lynch  
Head of Ireland and EU

Irish investors will be able to access Gemini’s exchange and custody services to buy, sell, and store over 100 cryptos with EUR and GBP.

Gemini Becomes First Company to Be Registered as Virtual Asset Service Provider in Ireland

Gemini Becomes First Company to Be Registered as Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in Ireland

Today, we are pleased to announce Gemini’s upcoming partnership with the Pyth network to bring accurate and trusted on-chain market data to users across the globe. 

As a data publisher to [Pyth](https://pyth.network/), we are delighted to continue contributing to the growth of the DeFi ecosystem by providing our real-time price information to protocols and projects on-chain, courtesy of [Superlunar](https://superlunar.com/) — a Gemini web3 research & design studio — which automated the extraction of the pricing data. At Gemini, we provide customers with accurate, real-time data on crypto prices, and we are delighted to integrate with Pyth to expand access to critical market data. 

The Pyth network is a specialized oracle solution for latency-sensitive financial data that is typically kept within the “walled gardens’’ of centralized institutions. It operates one of the largest and most reliable oracle networks, deriving price data from more than 65 leading institutions, both in crypto and traditional finance.

Our forthcoming partnership with the Pyth network to bring valuable financial market data to DeFi applications and the general public directly aligns with our mission to unlock the next era of financial, creative, and personal freedom.

Stephen Kaminsky from Special Projects at Jump Crypto, one of the leading organizations helping to build the oracle, stated, “Gemini is a well-respected and top incumbent player in the crypto space. Their leadership amongst the institutional community, in particular, makes them strong partners for the Pyth network, which is bringing together the top global trading firms, exchanges, and other institutions into the crypto and web3 ecosystem. The data, and experience, they bring will be invaluable for the Pyth community.”

Onward and Upward!

Marshall Beard  
Chief Strategy Officer

Gemini Partners with Pyth Network to Provide Trusted Crypto Market Price Data On-Chain 

Today, we are excited to announce a two-year renewal of our participation in the [Digital Currency Innovation Lab (DCIL)](https://www.htdc.org/digital-currency-innovation-lab/), a program designed to provide regulated crypto access to Hawaii residents. 

Although the original DCIL program was scheduled to end for all participants later this year, the Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions (DFI) and Hawaii Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) extended the program through 2024. Over the past two years, [Gemini has served as a leading participant in the DCIL](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-joins-hawaiis-digital-currency-innovation-lab), and we are thrilled to continue providing seamless crypto access to customers in Hawaii. 

The HTDC, in partnership with the Hawaii DFI, launched DCIL to create opportunities for economic development and position Hawaii as a leader in fintech innovation. The program aims to spur economic opportunity through early crypto adoption, offer consumer protection through guidance provided to crypto issuers, and gather data to shape crypto legislation. 

With our participation in this program, Gemini continues to provide a safe and regulated onramp to the crypto ecosystem to customers in all 50 U.S. states.

We're encouraged by the response and enthusiasm we've seen from our customers in Hawaii and are grateful we can continue to serve them. Providing crypto access to our customers in Hawaii is a further step in our mission to unlock the next era of financial, creative, and personal freedom around the world.

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Buy Crypto in Hawaii with Gemini, as we Renew Our Participation in Hawaii’s Digital Currency Innovation Sandbox

Gemini Renews Participation in Hawaii’s Digital Currency Innovation Sandbox

Gemini Announces Continued Participation in Hawaii’s Digital Currency Innovation Sandbox

Welcome back to our Token Spotlight series! This week we are taking a look at [Index Cooperative (INDEX)](https://www.gemini.com/prices/index-cooperative), a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) that offers structured DeFi products based on different sectors of the crypto ecosystem. 

For a deep dive on INDEX, check out [this article on Cryptopedia](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/what-is-index-coop), or, read on for a high-level overview!

__Index Cooperative (INDEX) Basics__

- __Governance Token__: INDEX
- __Underlying Blockchain__: Ethereum
- [Index Cooperative Website](https://indexcoop.com/)
- [Index Cooperative Technical Docs](https://docs.indexcoop.com/)

__Index Cooperative Use Cases__

The Index Cooperative is a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) that creates and maintains structured DeFi products. These products are based on tokenized strategies that provide diversified exposure to different cryptocurrency and DeFi themes. For example, the [DeFi Pulse Index (DPI)](https://www.gemini.com/prices/defi-pulse-index) provides broad diversified exposure to DeFi protocols via the fourteen tokens that are included within the single DPI token. 

Index Cooperative offers several different thematic index products that focus on a specific subset of the digital asset market. These indices provide passive exposure to digital assets, making them potential tools for both retail and institutional investors. They include, for example, DeFi Pulse Index (DPI), Metaverse Index (MVI), Data Economy Index (DATA), Bankless BED Index (BED), and more.

__INDEX Token and Governance Overview__

INDEX is an ERC-20 governance token built on [Ethereum](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/ethereum-blockchain-smart-contracts-dapps). As DAO participants, INDEX holders can vote on various decisions within the Index Cooperative ecosystem, including fees, new products, team composition, and treasury management. INDEX also allows users to a) mint and redeem products at will, b) provide input on the composition of indices, and c) have insight into the composition of different products.

Individuals can earn INDEX as a reward by contributing to the growth and sustainability of Index Cooperative.

We are excited about what the future holds for Index Cooperative and for the broader DeFi ecosystem. Check back here for more token spotlights as we continue on our mission to unlock the next era of financial, creative, and personal freedom.

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Token Spotlight: Index Cooperative (INDEX)

The following message was shared with Gemini employees this morning. 

Fellow Astronauts — we are writing to update you on a difficult decision that will impact a number of you and the overall size of our team. But first, we want to start by reiterating what we’ve said many times before and can’t be said enough — our people are our greatest asset. Without you, Gemini simply wouldn’t be here today. 

Your hard work and dedication has propelled Gemini to heights that would have been hard to imagine when we first started building eight years ago, in the Fall of 2014. You shape our culture, drive our innovation, and breathe life and energy into our products that have brought greater choice, independence, and opportunity to millions of people around the world.

The crypto revolution is well underway and its impact will continue to be profound. But its trajectory has been anything but gradual or predictable. Its path can best be described as punctuated equilibrium — periods of equilibrium or stasis that are punctuated by dramatic moments of hypergrowth, followed by sharp contractions that settle down to a new equilibrium that is higher than the one before. This is where we are now, in the contraction phase that is settling into a period of stasis — what our industry refers to as “crypto winter.” This has all been further compounded by the current macroeconomic and geopolitical turmoil. We are not alone.

To that end, we have asked team leaders to ensure that they are focused only on products that are critical to our mission and assess whether their teams are right-sized for the current, turbulent market conditions that are likely to persist for some time. After much thought and consideration, we have made the difficult but necessary decision to part ways with approximately 10% of our workforce.

Next Steps

Impacted Astronauts will receive a calendar invite today for an individual conversation to provide information on the separation package and healthcare benefits we are providing. We have closed all of our physical offices today so that these conversations will be held remotely to protect the privacy of each impacted individual. Our highest priority throughout will be to treat everyone affected with compassion and respect.

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow, we will hold a company-wide standup with all remaining Astronauts to talk about the future ahead.

Today is a tough day, but one that will make Gemini better over the long run. Constraint is the mother of innovation and difficult times are a forcing function for focus, which is critical to the success of any startup. Every great company throughout history has faced similar challenges along the way and Gemini is no different. And as painful as this moment is, we ultimately see it as an opportunity to double-down on our strongest ideas and customer-centric products so that we may be the catalyst of innovation coming out of these leaner times that will help fuel the next cycle of crypto growth and adoption. We have never had more conviction in our people, our products, and our mission — to unlock the next era of financial, creative, and personal freedom for our customers. Amazing awaits. 

Onward and Upward,

Cameron + Tyler


A Message from Cameron & Tyler

The crypto ecosystem is a diverse tapestry of tokens, protocols, projects, and applications. At Gemini, we believe in making crypto more accessible and easier to understand as the industry continues to develop ever more quickly. Knowledge and education are central to that effort, and today we want to highlight a mainstay in the crypto landscape: stablecoins. 

Volatility is nothing new in the crypto universe, or indeed in the financial world as a whole. Recently, however, volatility in the crypto markets has brought more attention to stablecoins, which are intended to avoid significant price swings. Simply stated, stablecoins are cryptos that aim to remain, well, stable. 

__What Are the Different Types of Stablecoins?__

Whether the purpose is to retain a peg to the price of a fiat currency, a commodity, or some other asset, stablecoins are meant to maintain a predictable value. There are four main ways stablecoin issuers do this. Stablecoin collateral structures can be [fiat-backed](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/glossary#fiat-backed-stablecoin), [crypto-backed](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/glossary#crypto-backed-stablecoin), [commodity-backed](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/glossary#commodity-backed-stablecoin), or [algorithmic](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/glossary#algorithmic-stablecoin).

Some stablecoins, like [Gemini dollar (GUSD)](https://www.gemini.com/dollar), are pegged to a fiat currency and are backed 1:1 by fiat and cash equivalents. In these cases, one stablecoin can always be redeemed for fiat, like U.S. dollars in the case of GUSD. Illustrating our deep focus on compliance and security, we believe in being transparent with how we back GUSD. All reserves backing GUSD are held in accounts with State Street Bank and Trust, Signature Bank, and Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Every month, the reserve balance is examined by BPM LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, to verify GUSD’s 1:1 backing, with BPM’s monthly attestations [readily posted](https://www.gemini.com/dollar#reports) for review on our website.

Algorithmic stablecoins, for example, maintain their peg differently. Rather than being backed 1:1 by a specific asset, their price stability is maintained by the use of algorithms and smart contracts that manage the supply of tokens in circulation. In this model, the stablecoin’s algorithm may automatically expand or contract the number of tokens in circulation in order to meet a specific price target for the stablecoin.

__Evaluating Stablecoins__

Stablecoins can act as important conduits between the legacy financial system and the burgeoning world of crypto. The immediately apparent advantage of stablecoins is their utility as a medium of exchange, effectively bridging the gap between fiat and crypto. By minimizing price volatility, stablecoins can achieve a utility wholly separate from the ownership of other, better-known cryptos like bitcoin and ether.

It’s crucial to understand the risks associated with stablecoins that are not fiat-backed. The different types of collateral structures offer varying risk profiles, and it's vital to be aware of those differences before investing in any stablecoin. 

At Gemini, we’re on a mission to unlock the next era of financial, creative, and personal freedom. We want to provide you with resources to make the ecosystem more accessible. Education is central to that effort.

We invite you to dive deeper into stablecoins with our [What Are Stablecoins?](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/what-are-stablecoins-how-do-they-work) article on [Cryptopedia](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/), and explore the [global stablecoin landscape here](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/what-are-stablecoins-list-global-ecosystem).

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

There are four main stablecoin collateral structures: fiat-backed, crypto-backed, commodity-backed, or algorithmic.

Understanding Stablecoins: They’re Not All Created Equal

At Gemini, we take a global view of crypto. We strive to develop a robust understanding of how crypto is being adopted and deployed around the world. As the world marches toward broad adoption of cryptocurrency, Gemini is introducing a first-of-its-kind report exploring the attitudes, drivers, and adoption of crypto globally. 

[__Click here to download the 2022 Global State of Crypto Report__](https://www.gemini.com/state-of-crypto).

The crypto industry hit numerous milestones in 2021. Bitcoin reached all-time highs at over $65,000 USD, and venture capital investment in crypto businesses soared beyond $30 billion USD. Last year was also transformative for crypto adoption, with __41% of existing crypto owners globally making their first investment in 2021__, according to our report. 

The report also found that nearly half of all current crypto owners in the United States (44%), Latin America (46%), and Asia Pacific (45%) first bought crypto in 2021. Inflation concerns were also highlighted as a primary driver of adoption. Further, the gender gap in crypto is potentially narrowing. Among those who plan to purchase crypto for the first time this year, 47% were women globally. With regard to barriers to entry, education remains the greatest obstacle to investing in crypto.

Developing countries Brazil and Indonesia led the way in crypto adoption with more than two in five (41%) respondents in each country reporting owning crypto, compared to just 17% across developed countries and regions including the U.S. (20%), Europe (17%), and Australia (18%).

__Key themes:__

- __2021 Was Crypto’s Breakout Year:__ Forty-one percent of crypto owners surveyed globally purchased crypto for the first time in 2021.
- __The Crypto Gender Gap May Be Narrowing:__ Among the crypto curious who plan to purchase crypto for the first time in the next year, 47% were women globally.
- __Inflation a Primary Driver for Crypto Adoption:__ Respondents in countries that have experienced 50% or more devaluation of their currency against the USD over the last 10 years were more than 5 times as likely to say they plan to purchase crypto in the coming year.
- __Crypto Regulation A Top Concern Globally:__ Among non-owners, 39% in Asia Pacific, 37% in Latin America, and 36% in Europe saying there is legal uncertainty around cryptocurrency.
- __Education is the Greatest Barrier to Ownership:__ Globally, respondents were nearly twice as likely to say that more educational resources on cryptocurrency would help them get started with crypto (40%), compared to recommendations from friends (22%).

Crypto adoption is poised to grow throughout 2022 and beyond, as educational resources become more accessible. At Gemini, we support global crypto adoption by ensuring consumers have a safe, simple, and regulated on-ramp to invest in crypto. 

[If you don’t yet have a Gemini account, you can create one here.](https://exchange.gemini.com/register)

We are still at the start of this journey, as we continue on our mission to unlock the next era of financial, creative, and personal freedom.

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

__Survey Methodology__

The survey was conducted online between November 23, 2021 and February 4, 2022 on behalf of Gemini by Data Driven Consulting Group. The total sample has been balanced and is generally representative of the adult population in each country ages 18 to 75 with household incomes of $14,000 or more. Nearly 30,000 individuals in 20 countries were surveyed in the study. 


As the world marches toward broad adoption of cryptocurrency, Gemini is introducing a first-of-its-kind report exploring the attitudes, drivers, and adoption of crypto globally.

Crypto Ownership Nearly Doubled in U.S., Latin America, and Asia Pacific in 2021 | Gemini

New Gemini Report: Crypto Ownership Nearly Doubled in U.S., Latin America, and Asia Pacific in 2021

At the beginning of the year, [we welcomed our new CTO](https://www.gemini.com/blog/we-welcome-pravjit-tiwana-as-our-chief-technology-officer), Pravjit Tiwana, who joined us from Amazon Web Services (AWS). Pravjit leads our Engineering, Product, and Information Security teams, with a vision of building customer-centric innovative products that harness the opportunities of Web3, the Metaverse, and decentralized finance. Earlier this month, we sat down with Pravjit to discuss his vision and strategy for enhancing Gemini’s suite of products, and his plans to continue to build a world-class engineering organization. 

In our conversation below, we covered topics such as Pravjit’s vision for the crypto industry, and why he believes that Gemini is particularly well-positioned to play a leading role in unlocking the next era of financial, creative, and personal freedom.

__After more than six years at AWS, what attracted you to the crypto industry?__

Every few years, we see a paradigm shift in technology — we saw this with the birth of the internet and with the evolution of Web2 and expansion of cloud computing. We are now entering the next pivotal moment, one toward a distributed internet. 

I was lucky to be part of the cloud computing journey that started in the early 2000s. The learnings and outcomes of that journey were transformational for me in understanding how the power of the cloud could enable the world to be more innovative and productive. 

Now, with Web3 and decentralized token-based economics, I see an opportunity to redefine the internet and aim for true economic freedom and flexibility. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to contribute to, influence, and most importantly, catalyze the next generation of how the online world will behave and operate. 

__And, why did you choose Gemini?__

I have always been drawn to opportunities that allow me to solve customer-centric complex technical challenges at scale while driving innovation that makes an impact, and the mission of Gemini aligns with my passion.

I feel reinvigorated to work with a dedicated team and build a decentralized and open financial system based on the blockchain, and believe in Tyler and Cameron’s vision for the company. They have given me a platform to build high-scale distributed systems, as well as the opportunity to scale architectures, products, processes, and people.

The overall culture at Gemini is super aligned to what I look for — it’s exciting to walk into work and see passion and drive from the team. I do believe Gemini to be a company which will not just be a strong contributor to Web3 but a catalyst to its innovation and growth in the coming years.

__Tyler and Cameron have talked about building the future of money, finance, and the Metaverse. What is your vision and strategy to help the company achieve this as we enter this next evolution of the internet?__ 

While we are still early days in Web3, decentralized finance, and the Metaverse, Gemini is one of the pioneers in this industry that will help our customers transition into a digital and decentralized future. To ensure Gemini continues to be an innovative leader in this space, I’m focused on the following key milestones:

- __Continue to build products which are simple, secure, scalable and delight the customer__, which is our ethos for developing any product, be it in Web2 or Web3. The core mission of crypto/Web3 companies is no different in the sense that we have to be customer-obsessed and build products that empower them and enhance their lives. Customer asks are at the core of any product development plan, and they are particularly so for next-generation, transformational technologies like crypto.
- __Build a world-class bar-raising engineering organization.__ As crypto and Web3 have gained momentum and robust investment, I believe the promise of a better decentralized internet will lead to increased talent migration from traditional technology companies, as curious and learning-driven talent will seek new opportunities to be part of this transformational wave. With the disruptive promise of Web3, we are potentially going to witness an impact that has parallels to the introduction of personal computing, cloud computing, and the internet itself. For me, and many others in the tech industry, the opportunity to be part of a seismic shift like this is impossible to ignore.
- __Relentless focus on making Gemini products operationally indistinguishable from perfect.__ I have always believed that all successful products have a strong foundation in service fundamentals of security, availability, and performance. These service fundamentals require intense focus on operational health, processes and rigor. Gemini is a technology company where not just product development, but operations, are led by engineers. Being operationally aware right from the get go of the product development, enables us to become more effective in the development of high-performance and scalable software. 

__For engineers specifically interested in joining your team, what are some specific qualifications or requirements you are looking for?__ 

Most of Gemini’s engineers are able to work across the software stack, not just on their own specialization or subteam. We welcome talent from all organizations, and not just the finance world, with a passion for this wave of innovation. I’m specifically looking for individuals who have a track record of strong delivery, strong sense of ownership coupled with a sense of urgency to build and ship products which touch the lives of millions of users across the world.   

Gemini is currently looking to hire bar-raising engineers to deliver value to our customers with speed and reliability in multiple areas including web, mobile, data, machine learning, infrastructure, security, and backend systems. If you are interested in joining Pravjit and the Gemini mission, please review our Engineering [openings on our careers page](https://gemini.com/careers).

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Q&A: Gemini’s CTO Pravjit Tiwana on Building the Future of Web3

At Gemini, we believe that community is central to the success of our industry, and the extraordinary response to the [launch of ApeCoin __(APE)__](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-now-supports-apecoin-ape) exemplifies that reality. As a launch partner, we want to continue to support the ApeCoin community with a __Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT giveaway__!

[If you don’t yet have a Gemini account, you can create one here.](https://exchange.gemini.com/register)

__How to Enter:__

- [Retweet our announcement by March 21 at 11:59pm ET](https://twitter.com/Gemini/status/1504806265825996801)

__Eligibility:__

- You must have [Gemini](https://exchange.gemini.com/register) and [Nifty Gateway](https://niftygateway.com/new-signup) accounts that are linked together — new and existing Gemini users are eligible
- Ensure you have a bank account linked to Gemini or Nifty Gateway
- Make sure that you acknowledge and agree to the [Official Rules](https://www.gemini.com/legal/gemini-bored-ape-yacht-club-nft-giveaway)
- __One winner will be randomly selected__ on March 22, 2022 

We are thrilled to welcome the APE community to Gemini. 

Onward and Upward!

*__Winner Requirements:__*
- Winner must have verified Gemini and Nifty Gateway accounts; these accounts must be linked – new and existing customers are eligible 
- Complete Gemini onboarding and link a bank account
- Winner will be responsible for all taxes associated with the prize
- Prior to receiving the award, the winner must provide a Form W-9 certifying U.S. tax status with a valid Name/TIN combination so the required tax reporting (Form 1099-MISC) can be issued to report the fair market value of the prize at the time of award. Form 1099-MISC reporting will be issued to the winner in January, 2023. 

*__Legal Disclaimer:__* No purchase necessary. Must be a legal resident of the 50 U.S. states and D.C., at least 18 years of age, and age of majority in state of residence. Ends March 21, 2022, at 11:59 ET. Void where prohibited. [See Official Rules here for complete details](https://www.gemini.com/legal/gemini-bored-ape-yacht-club-nft-giveaway).

Win This Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT With Gemini

As we inch closer to April, many of us start bracing for tax season. While some might find the prospect of filing crypto taxes daunting, we at Gemini aim to simplify this process for our users through partnerships and by providing helpful information.

Today, we’ll go through five tips that can help you better understand your crypto taxes, including who will receive Forms 1099-MISC and what kinds of crypto earnings must be reported on your taxes. We’ll also outline our [integration with TaxBit](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-and-taxbit-partner-to-make-crypto-taxes-easier), which allows eligible Gemini users to create free accounts. 

Below are five tips that can help you on your 2021 crypto taxes:

1. __Who owes crypto taxes?__ All crypto assets earned by U.S. persons (U.S. citizens or residents) are taxable and required to be reported on a U.S. tax return regardless of whether you receive a tax form from Gemini (e.g. a Form 1099-MISC, which we will get into next). __NOTE:__ if your only activity was the purchase of crypto assets with fiat currency and you had no earnings or dispositions, you should not owe taxes on your crypto. 
2. __Who will receive a Form 1099-MISC from Gemini?__ Gemini issues Forms 1099-MISC for non-exempt U.S. exchange account holders who have earned more than USD 600 (or USD equivalent) in income during the relevant calendar year. You can download your Form 1099-MISC (or confirm you did not receive one) in the “Statements and History'' section on the “Account” page on the Gemini website or mobile app.
3. __What kinds of crypto earnings are taxable?__ The IRS has issued guidance on the taxation of crypto activities including earnings, gains, losses, and donations. How these transactions are taxed may vary depending on your personal tax situation, which is why it is critical for each filer to consider their own situation independently. Crypto assets can also be earned on the Gemini exchange by lending assets through [Gemini Earn](https://www.gemini.com/earn), or through bonuses or promotions. 
4. __How to access your transaction history:__ When preparing your U.S. tax filing obligations, you may be required to reference your transaction data. You can access your transaction history by following these steps once you’re signed in to your account: 1) Navigate to https://exchange.gemini.com/history. 2) Click the “Transaction History” tab. 3) Click the download button and select your desired date range. Click "Download.xlsx" and the transaction history will download onto your device.
5. __How to find IRS information about crypto taxes:__ We always recommend that you consult a tax advisor to determine your personal tax obligations, but if you want to do some research yourself on IRS regulations covering crypto, here are some resources: the [IRS’ FAQ on Virtual Currency Transactions](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/frequently-asked-questions-on-virtual-currency-transactions), and [IRS Publication 544](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p544.pdf) on how gains and losses from crypto dispositions may be taxed differently for different types of investors. 

Another way that Gemini supports you on your crypto journey is through our partnership with crypto tax platform TaxBit. As a Gemini user, you may have access to a free TaxBit account, which could drastically simplify your crypto tax reporting process. 

[Create your free TaxBit account here.](https://taxbit.com/invite/gemini)

TaxBit allows you to link your Gemini account — and any other TaxBit Network exchange account — to a central location, determine a tax lot selection method, and produce a Form 8949 that will determine your total gain or loss from crypto transactions to report on a Form 1040. 

For more information about crypto taxes, [you can explore our FAQ](https://support.gemini.com/hc/articles/360000032643-What-Do-I-Need-To-Know-About-Cryptocurrency-Tax-Reporting-).

We are dedicated to providing you with the most seamless crypto experience possible, and equipping you with information to help you accurately report your crypto earnings is an important part of that process. We are thrilled to be on this journey with you as we continue on our mission to unlock the next era of financial, creative, and personal freedom.

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

*Disclaimer: The information above is provided for general informational purposes and should not be considered tax advice. Please consult a tax advisor to determine your personal tax obligations that result from your activities on Gemini, including dispositions, earnings, and rewards.*

Here, we outline five tips that can help you understand your crypto taxes and detail our integration with crypto tax platform TaxBit.

Crypto Taxes: 5 Tips To Help You During Tax Season, And Our TaxBit Integration

Crypto Taxes: 5 Tips To Help You During Tax Season

Today, we are thrilled to announce that Gemini Galactic Markets (Gemini Galactic), an affiliate of Gemini Trust Company, __has received approval from FINRA to operate a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and is officially a [FINRA member](http://www.finra.org)__.

As a result of this approval, Gemini Galactic is able to operate an alternative trading system (ATS), which will facilitate the trading of digital asset securities.

As the digital asset industry continues to grow, we believe blockchain infrastructure will change the way companies raise money in capital markets, and the ability to provide a regulated venue for the buying and selling of digital assets that are securities will be an important part of the blockchain ecosystem.

The digital asset security ecosystem is still developing and we are excited to be a first mover and to help further develop this space. Gemini Galactic will leverage the existing experience and expertise in crypto assets across the Gemini family to operate a secure and compliant trading platform and offer new products to our users.

Gemini is committed to proactively working with regulators to ensure our customers have as much freedom and choice as possible in accessing the digital asset ecosystem. Gemini Galactic’s broker-dealer registration is an important step in fulfilling that vision, and we’re excited to expand our offerings in lockstep with the growth and maturity of the industry.

Onward and Upward! 

Team Gemini

Gemini Galactic Markets Approved for FINRA Membership and Broker-Dealer Operation

Today, we are thrilled to announce that [EarlyBird](https://www.getearlybird.io/), a [Gemini Frontier Fund](https://www.gemini.com/frontier-fund) portfolio company, has launched their waitlist for EarlyBird Crypto. 

EarlyBird Crypto, powered by Gemini, will allow parents, family, and friends to contribute crypto to a child’s investment portfolio, __providing the next generation of investors with early exposure to the burgeoning crypto asset class__. Gemini will serve as the custodian for EarlyBird Crypto, providing institutional-grade security and compliance to families investing on the platform.

Parents who [__sign up__ for the EarlyBird Crypto waitlist](https://www.getearlybird.io/crypto) will receive __early access__ to the offering when it goes live next month, as well as a __$25 sign-up bonus__.

EarlyBird is a platform for parents, family, and friends to seamlessly invest in a child's future, having helped tens of thousands of families open accounts for their children since launching in December 2020. Within minutes, parents can set up an account, choose from a range of diversified portfolios, set a recurring investment, and invite friends and family to make contributions. 

__With the launch of EarlyBird Crypto, parents can invest in bitcoin and ether for their children, a first for the wealth management industry!__ 

The launch of EarlyBird Crypto comes on the heels of the company’s $4M seed funding round, led by Alexis Ohanian’s Seven Seven Six and with strategic participation from the [Gemini Frontier Fund](https://www.gemini.com/frontier-fund). 

Gemini offers crypto services and infrastructure to a growing number of asset managers and institutions across the world through [Gemini Custody](https://www.gemini.com/custody), [Gemini Fund Solutions](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-fund-solutions-a-unified-offering-for-fund-managers), and custom integrations with registered investment advisors and FinTech platforms. As a New York trust company and qualified custodian regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services, one of the most sophisticated financial regulators in the world, the security of our clients’ assets is our top priority.

To learn more about our full-stack of institutional crypto offerings, we invite you to [reach out to us here](https://exchange.gemini.com/register/institution).

We are excited to work with EarlyBird to provide parents with access to crypto investments for their children, as we continue on our mission to unlock the future of financial, creative, and personal freedom through crypto!

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

EarlyBird To Launch Crypto Wallet Custodied by Gemini, Allowing Parents To Invest in Bitcoin and Ether for Their Children

Today, we are excited to welcome Pravjit Tiwana as our Chief Technology Officer!

Pravjit joins us from Amazon Web Services (AWS), where he was the General Manager of Edge Services, which includes Amazon CloudFront, AWS Edge Computing, and AWS Data Transfer Operations. Prior to 6+ years at AWS, Pravjit held product and engineering leadership roles at Microsoft and Disney.

As our Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Pravjit will lead our engineering and product teams and draw upon his deep experience building world-class engineering cultures with a bias for action. He will help us scale and deliver value to our customers with speed and reliability — so that we can continue to __unlock the next era of financial, creative, and personal freedom__ with our simple, reliable, and secure products and services.

In Pravjit’s own words, he decided to join Gemini because “I want to help build Web3 and the decentralized Metaverse. The promise is as big as the Internet itself and Gemini is well-positioned to help build and catalyze that future.”

Welcome to the team, Pravjit!

If you are interested in joining Pravjit and the Gemini mission, please review our Engineering openings on our [careers page](https://gemini.com/careers) – we’re hiring!

Onward and Upward,

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss

We Welcome Pravjit Tiwana as Our Chief Technology Officer 

We are proud to announce that over the past weekend, digital artist [Pak’s *Merge* drop on Nifty Gateway](https://niftygateway.com/collections/pakmerge "Pak's Merge Drop on Nifty Gateway") set the world record for an NFT sale. In 48 hours, __28,983 collectors spent $91,806,519 to purchase 312,686 total units of *mass*__, which have now been merged to create unique NFTs for each collector of *mass*.

The record breaking doesn’t stop there. __*Merge* also generated the highest sales value by a living artist for a single artwork in a public sale__ — be it physical or digital art — a milestone that we are thrilled to be a part of. 

The *Merge* collection debuted a compelling mechanism novel to the world of digital art, where collectors who bought multiple units of *mass* during the sale period unlocked access to an exclusive NFT that expands in size as more *mass* is added to their collection.

From December 2 through December 4, users were able to collect as much *mass* as they wanted. At the end of the sale, owners of *mass* obtained a dynamic NFT that merged all the *mass* accumulated by each collector during the sale. Collectors who acquire more *mass* on the secondary market will “merge” purchased *mass* with their existing *mass* to grow their NFT.  

The mechanism allows for *mass* available on the secondary market to consolidate, lowering the total number of unique NFTs over time while the total units of *mass* remain constant. This pioneering approach highlights the social nature of art collecting and market scarcity, while utilizing NFT technology in an innovative way. 

An enigmatic creator operating at the vanguard of digital art for decades, Pak specifically chose Gemini-owned Nifty Gateway to create this boundary-pushing artwork. Previously, Pak was central to developing the idea of Open Editions on Nifty Gateway. Open Editions allow collectors to purchase as many NFTs as they wish during the sale period for a fixed price in parallel to a collection that reveals itself over the course of the sale. In *Merge*, Pak created a new way to reward collectors that is uniquely possible using blockchain technology and Nifty Gateway’s infrastructure, powered by Gemini.  

The *Merge* NFT sale comes on the heels of a number of notable developments for Nifty Gateway. We recently became the first NFT platform to offer collectors [significantly reduced gas fees](https://medium.com/nifty-gateway/coming-soon-buy-and-sell-directly-from-your-ethereum-wallet-in-eth-on-nifty-gateway-d47e4f314e7a "Nifty Gateway reduces gas fees") (up to 70% lower) thanks to our unique custodial infrastructure. We also began listing NFTs from other marketplaces and enabling users to list NFTs in ETH directly from their wallets and buy directly from other users’ wallets in ETH. 

The previous record for a single artwork sold publicly by a living artist was $91.1 million for Jeff Koons' 1986 sculpture, *Rabbit*, set in 2019. Earlier this year, digital artist Beeple sold an artwork, *Everydays: the First 5,000 days*, for around $69.3 million at a Christie’s auction, which held the previous record for an NFT sale.

We are thrilled to have worked with Pak on *Merge* to create an experience that united collectors from around the globe. As we continue on our mission to have 1 billion people collecting NFTs, we can’t wait to see where our community will take us next!

Onward and Upward!

Duncan and Griffin Cock Foster  
Nifty Gateway Co-founders

Pak's Merge NFT Sale on Nifty Gateway Generated the Highest-Ever Sales Value by a Living Artist for a Single Artwork in a Public Sale. 

Pak's Merge NFT on Nifty Gateway Breaks Record as Largest Public Art Sale by Living Artist

Pak’s ‘Merge’ Drop on Nifty Gateway Breaks Records in Largest-Ever Public Sale of an Artwork by a Living Artist

On October 31, 2008, an [obscure whitepaper](https://gemini.com/bitcoin.pdf) was published outlining a digital currency that would operate in a fully decentralized, trustless manner allowing users to send and receive monetary value. The pseudonymous author (or authors) of the whitepaper, Satoshi Nakamoto, called the __revolutionary digital currency Bitcoin__. 

Over the past 13 years, Bitcoin has [grown into a global phenomenon](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/bitcoin-satoshi-nakamoto-genesis) ushering in a new wave of innovation across industries. It has inspired thousands of projects founded on blockchain technology, creating a dynamic community of developers, founders, investors, and users.

At Gemini, in addition to providing a secure and [reliable onramp to trade bitcoin](https://exchange.gemini.com/register) through our exchange, we support the Bitcoin ecosystem through grants, fellowships, sponsorships and donations made through the [Gemini Opportunity Fund](https://www.gemini.com/opportunity-fund). Earlier this year, we announced __the sponsorship of three Bitcoin Core Developers__: [__Amiti Uttarwar__](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-to-sponsor-bitcoin-core-developer-amiti-uttarwar), [__Dhruv Mehta__](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-to-sponsor-bitcoin-core-developers-dhruv-mehta-and-jarol-rodriguez), and [__Jarol Rodriguez__](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-to-sponsor-bitcoin-core-developers-dhruv-mehta-and-jarol-rodriguez).

Today, in honor of the Bitcoin whitepaper's 13th anniversary, we want to highlight some of the work Amiti, Dhruv, and Jarol have been doing to support the usability, security, and resilience of the Bitcoin Network.

- __Amiti's__ main area of work is centered on the security of the Bitcoin Network, and the ways in which nodes connect and communicate with each other. Alongside other Bitcoin Core Developers, Amiti is building a secure, private, and non-influenceable way to store node addresses, enhancing the reliability of the Bitcoin Network. Check out [Amiti’s GitHub](https://github.com/amitiuttarwar?tab=repositories) and this piece about her [Bitcoin Core journey](https://medium.com/@amitiu/onboarding-to-bitcoin-core-7c1a83b20365). 

- __Dhruv__ is passionate about the censorship resistance of the Bitcoin Network and has been working on BIP324, which introduces end-to-end encryption for Bitcoin peer-to-peer traffic. BIP324 adds encryption without overhead or risk of network partition, and provides the ability to observe man-in-the-middle attacks directly. Check out [Dhruv's work on GitHub](https://gist.github.com/dhruv/5b1275751bc98f3b64bcafce7876b489) and some [posts about Bitcoin](https://voluntarymind.com/bitcoin/).

- __Jarol__ is focused on the Bitcoin Network’s graphical user interface (GUI), and is involved in revamping the GUI to enhance user flow and streamline multi-wallet support. Working with fellow Bitcoin Core Developers, as well as the vibrant Bitcoin design community, Jarol is building a functional, appealing, and intuitive user interface for the Bitcoin Network. Check out [Jarol’s work on GitHub](https://github.com/bitcoin-core/gui-qml). 

Bitcoin has proven itself deeply resilient, remaining the world’s most popular cryptocurrency and reaching a market cap of over $1 trillion. The strength of the Bitcoin Network is backed by a vibrant community of developers who are helping to maintain and enhance the network by working on the open-source Bitcoin Core. We are thrilled to support Amiti, Dhruv, and Jarol’s important work.

Our industry is poised to continue scaling as more individuals and institutions make the leap into crypto. At Gemini, our mission is to empower the individual through crypto, and supporting the foundations of our industry is central to that goal.  

If you think you’re a great candidate for the Gemini Opportunity Fund or know someone who is, please reach out to us at [opportunityfund@gemini.com](mailto:opportunityfund@gemini.com).

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

13th Anniversary of the Bitcoin Whitepaper and the Emergence of a Global Movement. Highlighting the work of Bitcoin Core Devs we sponsor.

13th Anniversary of the Bitcoin Whitepaper and the Emergence of a Global Movement

13th Anniversary of the Bitcoin Whitepaper — the Emergence of a Global Movement

Today, __we are thrilled to announce the launch of Gemini Earn in Hong Kong__, allowing users to earn up to 8.05% APY on their crypto.

With [Gemini Earn](https://www.gemini.com/earn), interest is earned and compounded daily, and you can redeem your crypto at any time. Plus, there are no minimum balances and no fees to transfer or redeem your crypto. If you want to use Gemini Earn and don’t yet have a Gemini account, you can [sign up here](https://exchange.gemini.com/register). Please note that interest rates will vary by cryptocurrency.

We’ve made it easier than ever for Gemini users to earn interest using Gemini Earn. You can seamlessly buy crypto and immediately transfer it to Earn to start earning interest on your balance. [On the mobile app](https://www.gemini.com/blog/earn-interest-on-your-crypto-with-gemini-earn), tap the *Earn* icon in the bottom menu to explore the available interest rates and select your crypto. Then, tap “Buy new crypto” to use your linked bank account, debit card, or [Apple Pay and Google Pay](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-now-supports-apple-pay-and-google-pay). Once you opt in, the crypto you purchase will go directly to Gemini Earn.

Hong Kong users can also move stablecoins like the [Gemini dollar (GUSD) to Gemini Earn](https://www.gemini.com/blog/earn-7-4-interest-on-your-gemini-dollars), providing a seamless way to earn interest while minimizing the price volatility of your assets. Gemini Earn is __available to all Gemini customers in the United States__, __Singapore__, and __Hong Kong__, and is available for 42 of the cryptos we support. We plan to add new cryptos to Gemini Earn as we list new tokens.

The Asia Pacific region has proven to be one of the most exciting markets for crypto and financial innovation. In June, we celebrated the first anniversary of our presence in the region and our Singapore-based operations have [shown tremendous growth and potential](https://www.gemini.com/blog/geminis-apac-expansion-builds-global-momentum). The vibrant team in Singapore is paving the way for satellite offices throughout APAC, including Hong Kong.

At Gemini, we are committed to offering new and exciting products to empower you on your journey through the limitless world of crypto. Happy earning!

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Gemini Earn Is Now Available in Hong Kong

Six years ago today, we launched Gemini with a vision for a simple, secure, and reliable bitcoin exchange. What we saw in Bitcoin and, more broadly, crypto were tools to empower the individual and fundamentally impact the future of finance. 

Now in 2021, crypto has become a global asset class with a market cap greater than one trillion dollars, a testament to the dedication and enthusiasm of millions of people around the world. At Gemini, we are proud to have contributed to the growth of our industry and are inspired by what the future holds. 

__From a Small New York City Office to a Global Brand__

We started with a small and close-knit founding team in a tiny office west of Madison Square Park, an area of New York City now known as “Crypto Alley.” In merely six years, Gemini has grown into a global crypto platform with almost 600 employees across three continents and eight offices. We’re motivated by our continued growth, with our London colleagues recently [celebrating their one year anniversary](https://www.gemini.com/blog/one-year-of-building-gemini-uk), and the Asia Pacific team building [Gemini’s momentum across the region](https://www.gemini.com/blog/geminis-apac-expansion-builds-global-momentum). 

Gemini’s global expansion mirrors the explosion of interest in crypto over the past six years. Launching initially as a one-asset exchange that just offered USD/BTC pairs, Gemini users can now buy, sell, store, and earn interest on [more than 50 cryptos](https://www.gemini.com/prices) including popular tokens like ether and Dogecoin, as well as the exciting cryptos powering the burgeoning decentralized finance (DeFi) space. We’ve also made it easier to transit into crypto, expanding our fiat support beyond U.S. dollars (USD), to offer trading in British pounds (GBP), Euros (EUR), Canadian dollars (CAD), Australian dollars (AUD), Hong Kong dollars (HKD), and Singapore dollars (SGD), making Gemini a truly global exchange.

__Imagining the Future of Finance__

We believe that Gemini will help shape the future of finance, and we’ve barely reached the bottom of the first inning for crypto. Over the past six years we’ve launched innovative projects and invested in compelling ideas, bringing incredible talent under the Gemini umbrella, acquiring four startups — [Nifty Gateway](https://niftygateway.com/), [Blockrize](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-to-offer-credit-card-with-crypto-rewards), [ShardX](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-enhances-speed-and-scale-of-asset-listings-transfers-and-usage-with), and [Guesser](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-acquires-guesser-to-bolster-defi-opportunities) — since 2019.  

Earlier this year we launched our interest-bearing product [Gemini Earn](https://www.gemini.com/earn), which allows Gemini users to earn interest on their crypto. We’re excited about the upcoming launch of the [Gemini Credit Card](https://www.gemini.com/credit-card), with which cardholders can earn crypto rewards on their purchases. We also launched [Cryptopedia](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia), an open-access, high-quality crypto education resource.

We’re thrilled about Nifty Gateway’s tremendous growth as the NFT space continues to draw interest from artists and collectors alike. Recently, the Nifty Gateway team released a [new site design](https://www.gemini.com/blog/introducing-the-new-nifty-gateway-design) with the aim of providing the best UI and UX in the NFT space, further unleashing the power of the ever-expanding Nifty Gateway community.

As we continue on our journey building the crypto universe, we are more excited than ever to work with innovative and driven individuals who want to join our mission. We have numerous open positions across various teams around the globe, which you can [check out here](https://www.gemini.com/careers). 

We’re confident in the power of crypto to change the world as we pursue our mission to empower you, the individual, through crypto.

Onward and Upward!

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss

Gemini’s 6th Anniversary!

Today, we are celebrating Gemini UK’s one year anniversary! Since our launch, we’ve been blown away by our incredible growth, partnerships, and colleagues who have joined our mission to make Gemini the go-to crypto exchange in the UK. 

True to Gemini’s ethos, we sought permission from regulators before launching in the UK. Gemini became one of the first and remains one of a handful of crypto exchanges registered by the Financial Conduct Authority under money laundering legislation in the UK, a testament to our commitment to offering UK customers the highest levels of safety and security. All of that is on top of our authorization as an E-money Institution, which means the fiat in your wallet is safer with us. 

__Boats, Pizza, and Giving Back__

Since launching in September 2020,  we’ve certainly created a splash in the market. We proudly served as the principal sponsor of [The 2021 Oxford-Cambridge University Boat Race](https://www.gemini.com/blog/introducing-the-gemini-boat-race-2021), one of the oldest and most celebrated events in the UK sporting calendar. Broadcast globally, we reached enthusiasts of both crypto and sports with illuminated Gemini-branded rowing boats, and presented the victorious rowers with their trophies. 

Equally exciting, we launched the Gemini Bursary Fund to further develop the sport and provide young people from disadvantaged backgrounds across the UK with an opportunity to learn rowing. While initially intended to be capped at £75,000, it was so well received that we donated in excess of £81,000 to amazing social mobility sporting programs across the UK.

On Bitcoin Pizza Day, May 25th, we delivered pizzas to the remarkable staff of the National Health Service’s accident and Emergency centres across London to celebrate. As a small gesture, Gemini wished to thank medical workers for their incredible work and service during a gruelling year — a rewarding way to acknowledge a hallmark day for the industry! 

__A Growing Ship With More to Come...__

What started as a three person team back in January 2020, has now grown into an entity attracting top quality expertise and world class talent across business development, compliance, customer service, engineering, financial crime, finance, marketing, and communications. With [more roles available on our website](https://www.gemini.com/careers) and further still in the pipeline, the UK talent stream at Gemini shows no sign of abating.

Gemini also [joined Take Five To Stop Fraud](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-supports-the-uks-take-five-to-stop-fraud-campaign) earlier this month, a national campaign to raise awareness of financial fraud. Joining the initiative, which is endorsed by the UK government and the largest banks and fintechs in the UK, is an important step on our mission to better protect consumers and raise awareness of fraud in the crypto industry. Gemini is committed to being a conscientious and demonstratively positive partner within the UK financial services industry. 

We continue to cement strong relationships with local media, including the Financial Times, to share Gemini’s global and local story and affirm our position as thought leaders in crypto, financial regulation, custody, and DeFi. The UK team is further amplifying the Gemini message through a number of speaking engagements, including Token 2049 in October and Digital Asset Summit London in November, to further establish and build our presence in the institutional space. 

Thank you to everyone who has supported our journey this past year and for all the international Gemini teams whose tireless work has helped us successfully launch in the UK. 

For the year ahead, we look forward to welcoming new team members, growing our product offering, and continuing our work with global colleagues to empower individuals across the world through crypto. 

Onward and Upward!

Blair Halliday  
Head of Gemini UK

One Year of Building Gemini UK

Today, we are proud to announce that Gemini has [joined the Take Five Charter](https://getstarted.gemini.com/take5/) in the UK alongside other leading financial institutions, banks, and fintechs. Led by UK Finance and backed by Her Majesty's Government, the campaign offers straightforward and impartial advice to help protect UK customers from financial fraud and scams. 

[Take Five](https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/) encourages customers to take several steps to consider if a certain situation is genuine or feels like a scam, including:

- __STOP__: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
- __CHALLENGE__: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse, or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
- __PROTECT__: Contact your bank or financial institution immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.

As one of the very few UK companies approved as a cryptoasset firm under the Money Laundering Regulations, Gemini’s Financial Crime program is subject to oversight and enforcement by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). 

To help identify potentially fraudulent situations, we recommend you visit the [Take Five website](https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/) to familiarise yourself with the most common types of online criminal activity and practical advice to protect yourself, your family, and your friends against online fraud. The site includes useful tips on how to spot a cryptocurrency scam, which can range from online advertisements to incentive marketing techniques via email and social media where consumers are pressured to buy crypto before a deadline. 

At Gemini, customer safety is our priority and we are committed to providing education, understanding, and robust internal controls to facilitate a safe and trusted trading environment for our customers.

Onward and Upward.

Blair Halliday  
Head of Gemini UK

Gemini Supports the UK’s Take Five to Stop Fraud Campaign

Today, we are delighted to announce the launch of Wrapped Filecoin __(EFIL)__. You can now easily convert [Filecoin (FIL)](https://www.gemini.com/prices/filecoin) into EFIL and move it seamlessly onto the Ethereum network, providing more opportunities to create value across the burgeoning DeFi ecosystem. 

All Gemini users who hold FIL can __convert their assets 1:1 into EFIL__ through the Gemini Mobile App and Website using the __wrap__ button on the FIL price page. You can also purchase FIL and immediately wrap it by toggling “Wrap Your Filecoin Purchase” before completing your order. You can unwrap your EFIL to receive FIL by visiting the [EFIL price page](https://exchange.gemini.com/buy/EFIL).*

Once you hold EFIL in your Gemini wallet, you can withdraw it to any Ethereum address you specify. You’ll be able to use EFIL across various Ethereum-based protocols, including DeFi platforms.

All minted __EFIL will be backed 1:1 by FIL held in Gemini Custody__, our institutional-grade storage system. As a qualified custodian regulated in New York, the safety of our clients’ assets is our top priority, and we employ top-of-the-line security, compliance, and operational protocols across our custody product — ensuring your assets remain secure.

We are also __excited to extend our collaboration with CoinList__, which will also offer EFIL wrapping for their customers, providing another avenue to interact with the EFIL smart contract while creating more opportunities for users across the Filecoin and Ethereum ecosystems. CoinList already supports [wBTC and tBTC](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/wtbtc-vs-tbtc) minting on its platform, and will now allow users to instantly convert FIL for EFIL, and vice versa, via the CoinList Wallet.

To develop this wrapping functionality, we built our own open-source Ethereum smart contract that wraps FIL and converts it into an ERC-20 token — EFIL. The EFIL smart contract mints and burns EFIL, and ensures that the amount of available EFIL is equal to the amount of FIL held in Gemini Custody.

[Filecoin](https://gemini.com/blog/upcoming-support-for-filecoin) is the native token of the Filecoin Network, a decentralized data-sharing platform. FIL is used to purchase storage space on, and retrieve files (i.e., data) from, the [Filecoin Network](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/filecoin-fil-democratizing-cloud-storage). Miners receive FIL for storing your files and verify their services via cryptographic proofs. This decentralized model offers a compelling alternative to existing centralized cloud storage offerings.

At Gemini, we offer trading for more than __45 cryptos__, with a further __14 cryptos__ available for custody. Learn about all the cryptos we support, and more, [here](https://www.gemini.com/prices).

As DeFi continues to show its far-reaching potential to redefine financial services, we are dedicated to empowering you, the individual, with more opportunities to engage across Ethereum’s DeFi ecosystem. __EFIL is just our first act__.

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

**[Fees apply](https://www.gemini.com/fees/mobile-fee-schedule)*

Gemini Launches Wrapped Filecoin (EFIL), Building a Bridge to DeFi

Today, we are thrilled to announce that [Brave Rewards users](http://www.gemini.com/brave) can __have their Basic Attention Tokens (BAT) seamlessly deposited into a Gemini account through the new Gemini User Wallet.__

One year ago we launched our [partnership with Brave](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-integrates-with-brave-for-trading-and-wallet-support), providing crypto wallets for Brave Creators and adding the Gemini Trading Widget to the Brave browser. Brave is an internet browser with over 34 million monthly users, and compensates users with BAT if they opt in to view privacy-preserving Brave Ads. Our expanded integration now __allows Brave users to do much more with the BAT they’ve earned__ with just a few clicks. 

Once you connect your Brave Rewards wallet to Gemini, __you can spend your BAT with__ [__Gemini Pay__](https://www.gemini.com/pay) at participating retailers. Customers in the U.S. and Singapore can also __move BAT into__ [__Gemini Earn__](https://www.gemini.com/earn) __and earn up to 3.49% APY* on their holdings__. You’ll also benefit from our industry-leading security and compliance protocols, ensuring your crypto remains secure. 

From the Brave Rewards page, users can link their Brave Rewards wallet to an existing Gemini account, or easily create one, and up to four Brave Rewards wallets (in different user profiles, or on different devices) can be connected to a Gemini account. BAT payouts are sent as direct deposits to your Gemini account, simplifying the BAT earnings and redemption process.

Your Brave Rewards account balance will reflect the BAT balance in your Gemini account, including BAT purchased via the Gemini exchange, and all your BAT can be used within the Brave Rewards ecosystem.

The Gemini User Wallet for Brave Rewards is available in today’s Brave desktop update (version 1.29), and support for Gemini User Wallets in the Brave Android app is coming soon.

We are delighted to continue building our partnership with Brave as we provide you with more ways to build your crypto portfolio while ensuring you remain secure online.

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

**Gemini Earn rates are subject to change*

Gemini Now Provides an Integrated Crypto Experience for Brave Users

Today, we are thrilled to launch __the new__ [__Nifty Gateway__](https://niftygateway.com/) __design__, which will give creators and collectors an incredible new interface and experience. We believe this monumental overhaul will be a game changer for collectors — our aim is to give Nifty Gateway __the best UI and UX in the NFT space__.

Here’s what we’re excited about:

- A complete overhaul of our UI and UX designed by top Silicon Valley design firm Metalab
- A ‘Featured Collections’ section
- Improved layouts and designs for presenting NFTs (or nifties)
- New statistics for each creator, collection, and nifty
- More filters to easily browse our ‘Marketplace’ section

Our redesign will help to further unleash the power of the Nifty Gateway community by allowing you to seamlessly explore, experience, and ultimately buy, sell, and resell nifties. In addition, we have focused on building elements that foster liquidity and discovery in our __secondary market__ to help you find great projects and empower creators to reach a greater audience.

To that end, we are also excited for the __Secondary Summer Slam, a two-day event__ taking place starting __today at 1pm ET through August 26 at 1pm ET__, that will reward the top 150 spenders on Nifty Gateway’s secondary market. Winners may receive exclusive nifties by major artists, physicals, and Nifty Gateway merchandise, available for the first time ever. In fact, all Nifty Gateway collectors will be winners during the Summer Slam event, as we will rebate Nifty Gateway’s fees on nifties sold during that window. 

With our new design, we can’t wait to empower both new and experienced collectors with statistics and more ways to discover nifties, with the goal of ultimately helping every collector find the nifty that’s right for them. 

Onward and Upward!

Duncan and Griffin Cock Foster  
Nifty Gateway Co-Founders

Introducing the New Nifty Gateway Design

At Gemini, we are committed to ensuring you have all the tools you need to seamlessly build your crypto portfolio and invest in your future. Central to that mission is our effort to __consistently improve Gemini’s Customer Support operations__. We’ve re-launched the [Gemini Help Center](https://support.gemini.com/hc) to provide you with more robust tools to help you easily onboard, manage your account, trade crypto, and much more. 

We continue to scale our Customer Support team to address your account questions quickly. Our response times have improved to at most 24 hours and we are continuously improving our Support Services. We are looking forward to further expanding the ways we interact with our customers to provide best-in-class support.  

__Exploring the New Gemini Help Center__

Here are some of the features we’re most excited about:

- __Status Bar__: In addition to our [Status Page](https://status.gemini.com/), we’ll feature a Status Bar on the Help Center page to indicate if there are any Gemini platform or network issues.
- __Enhanced Search__: With our new Help Center search function you can search any topic related to your question, and we’ll direct you to all the relevant help articles. 
- __New Help Center Sections__: With the newly organized Help Center sections you can dive into various topics to find the help article you're looking for. Our new Help Center sections are: [Trading, Funding & Withdrawing](https://support.gemini.com/hc/categories/1260802420710-Trading-Funding-Withdrawing), [Security & Signing in](https://support.gemini.com/hc/categories/1260802420730-Security-Signing-in), [Account Management](https://support.gemini.com/hc/categories/1260802455609-Account-Management-), [Gemini Earn & Gemini Custody](https://support.gemini.com/hc/categories/1260802455629-Gemini-Earn-Gemini-Custody-), [The Gemini Credit Card](https://support.gemini.com/hc/en-us/categories/1260802420830-The-Gemini-Credit-Card), and [Education & Other Topics](https://support.gemini.com/hc/categories/1260802420850-Education-Other-Topics). 

For answers to questions you’re not finding on the Help Center, feel free to reach out to our customer support team by submitting a request via our [help desk](https://support.gemini.com/hc/requests/new). __We invite you to__ [__answer a couple questions__](https://geminitrust.typeform.com/to/odJXRgRu) __to help us better understand your customer support needs__. 

Our customer support team is growing, so if you’re interested in joining us, take a look at our [open positions](https://www.gemini.com/careers/support). We are always in search of great talent! 

Our goal is to minimize response times to your questions. We are continuously improving our processes and enhancing our tools and services to provide you the best crypto trading experience. 

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Gemini Launches Improved Help Center, Bolstering Customer Support

Today, we are excited to release the [2021 State of Crypto in Singapore report](https://www.gemini.com/state-of-sg-crypto), which outlines crypto’s broadening appeal among current investors and the crypto-curious in Singapore. 

The report, published jointly with personal finance community platform Seedly and crypto price-tracking website CoinMarketCap, found that __the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted more than two-thirds of current crypto holders to increase their investments in crypto__.

The survey also showed that 67% of Singaporean investors who own personal investment products hold crypto as part of their portfolios. The remaining 33% of those not invested in crypto cited a lack of knowledge and understanding of digital assets as a barrier to investing. More than 50% said that markets are “too volatile” and almost one third (29%) said they are unsure how to go about investing in cryptocurrency.

Notably, crypto is also gaining in popularity among older age groups, with the survey indicating that 20% of crypto investors are over 35. 

Other noteworthy results from the survey include:

- __81% of crypto holders said that buying and holding crypto for the long-term investment potential is the top reason to invest in crypto__. This is followed by 58% of crypto holders who trade crypto to earn profits, and 43% who have used crypto deposits to earn interest.

- Across the various cryptos, __ether is the most popular among crypto holders (78%)__, followed by bitcoin (69%) and Cardano (40%).

- The __median annual income of women crypto investors is higher than that of men who own crypto__, falling within the S$55,001 to S$75,000 annual income bracket, whereas male crypto investors’ median annual income falls within the S$45,001 to S$55,000 bracket.

- The average age of a crypto holder is 29 years old and __19% of the crypto holders are women__.  

The State of Crypto in Singapore report offers a promising outlook for the future growth and adoption of crypto, with valuable insights that can help bring more people into this revolutionary asset class. To learn more about our findings, you can download the full report [here](https://www.gemini.com/state-of-sg-crypto).

This report underscores the increased crypto adoption across the globe as seen in our recent [2021 State of U.S. Crypto](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-us-report-more-than-two-thirds-of-us-adults-are-interested-in-crypto) and [State of UK Crypto](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-uk-report-crypto-investors-are-more-diverse-as-interest-grows) reports.

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

*The Seedly x Gemini x Coinmarketcap State of Crypto in Singapore Report is based on a total sample of 4,348 Singapore based adults, ages 18 to 65 across varying household incomes. Survey respondents were polled from 29 June 2021 to 9 July 2021 and included 2,862 self-identifying current crypto holders and 1,486 non-crypto holders.*

Gemini Singapore Report: COVID-19 Prompts Two-Thirds of Investors to Increase Crypto Holdings

Today, we are thrilled to announce the acquisition of Guesser, a real-time predictions market platform. 

The Guesser team brings to Gemini experience in decentralized finance applications, smart contract software and tech, and on-chain markets. The Guesser platform will sunset and the team will transition their focus to a variety of exciting projects in the DeFi space and accelerated adoption of [Gemini dollar (GUSD)](https://www.gemini.com/dollar), our regulated stablecoin, across the burgeoning crypto world. 

With DeFi among the fastest growing sectors in crypto, the Guesser team, led by their CEO Jose Garay and CTO Carlos Gonzalez, will join Gemini’s product team to spearhead projects ranging from submitting GUSD integration proposals and building oracles to developing relationships with DeFi protocols. 

Over the past year we’ve seen DeFi projects and platforms increasingly support GUSD, leading to a [surge in GUSD’s market cap](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-dollar-surpasses-usd100m-market-cap-as-defi-soars), now up to more than $250 million. As more retail investors and financial institutions enter the DeFi ecosystem, they will seek a safe and reliable bridge between centralized finance and this new financial frontier — GUSD is that bridge.

Guesser marks Gemini’s fourth acquisition, following [Nifty Gateway](https://niftygateway.com/), [Blockrize](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-to-offer-credit-card-with-crypto-rewards), and [ShardX](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-enhances-speed-and-scale-of-asset-listings-transfers-and-usage-with), and we are excited to continue supporting the top talent and technologies in the blockchain and crypto space. 

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Gemini Acquires Guesser to Bolster DeFi Opportunities

At Gemini we have a global vision, with the understanding that crypto is borderless by nature and has the potential to empower individuals around the world. 

One of the most exciting markets for crypto and financial innovation is the Asia Pacific region. We recently celebrated the [first anniversary](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-welcomes-jeremy-ng-as-head-of-asia-pacific-region) of Gemini’s presence in the region, and our Singapore-based operations have shown tremendous growth and potential thus far. Anchored by support for the [Singapore dollar (SGD)](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-now-supports-the-singapore-dollar-sgd), we are thrilled to see the continued expansion of our regional headquarters as Gemini becomes a leader in the APAC crypto landscape. 

__Ambitious Growth in Asia Pacific__

Our APAC headquarters in Singapore has quickly developed into a vibrant team of professionals with industry-specific expertise. Among the most recent additions to our team is Yee Fei Soh, Head of Product Management for Gemini APAC. Prior to Gemini, Yee Fei led the equity derivatives development team at Singapore Exchange (SGX), responsible for driving new product initiatives for the exchange. It is through the conscientious hiring of knowledgeable and talented individuals that the team aims to provide Gemini with a robust base as we expand in the region. 

To date, our Singapore office has hired a team of over 30 employees across various departments including legal and compliance, engineering, marketing and communications, business development, trading, risk management, talent acquisition, product management, and customer support. If you’re interested in a career in crypto and want to join a dynamic team, we invite you to [explore our careers page here](https://www.gemini.com/careers).  

Our rapid growth in Singapore will pave the way for satellite offices throughout APAC, including in Australia and Hong Kong, with crypto increasingly becoming a staple of the global financial system. 

__Unparalleled Products and Services__

Our retail and institutional customers throughout APAC can buy, sell, store, and earn more than 40 cryptos, with their funds secured by top-of-the-line proprietary cold storage systems or held in insured hot wallets. Further bolstering our APAC footprint is our support for [the Australian dollar (AUD) and Hong Kong dollar (HKD)](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-announces-trading-support-for-hkd-aud-cad).

Gemini users in APAC also have access to a variety of innovative crypto products including [Gemini Earn](https://www.gemini.com/earn), through which you can earn up to 7.4% APR on your crypto, and our [ActiveTrader™ platform](https://www.gemini.com/activetrader), which provides advanced traders with the tools they need to implement sophisticated crypto trading strategies for SGD trading pairs. Working in tandem with local regulators, we now [support the use of SingPass](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-streamlines-application-process-for-singapore-residents-with-singpass) to facilitate opening a Gemini account, streamlining the application process for Singapore residents while ensuring the highest level of security and compliance.

We will continue providing our APAC customers with new innovative crypto products throughout the year ahead to best serve their financial interests. As we continue to empower the individual through crypto, we’ve never been more excited about the opportunities for Gemini in APAC. 

Onward and Upward!

Jeremy Ng  
Head of Asia Pacific

Gemini’s APAC Expansion Builds Global Momentum 

Today, we are thrilled to announce __Gemini Green__, a long-term initiative to incorporate climate-conscious practices into our business. We’re on a mission to empower the individual through crypto, and we want to make sure we do so in a sustainable way.

[Gemini Green’s](https://www.gemini.com/green) initial focus is the energy consumption of the Bitcoin Network, namely the energy used by miners to secure the network. Many miners use renewable energy sources, which emit no carbon dioxide into the atmosphere; however, some miners do not. In an effort to offset the latter, we used reputable data sources to determine the annualized carbon footprint of the Bitcoin Network and then estimated Gemini's usage of the Bitcoin Network to understand our exposure to non-renewable mining. With this information, we have collaborated with Climate Vault, a non-profit organization founded by the University of Chicago, to purchase carbon permits to offset our exposure for the first half of this year. And we plan to continue to do so into the future. We discuss our results, methodology, and implementation below. 

__Result__

We have spent __$4,031,767.35__ to purchase carbon permits to offset the carbon emissions related to Gemini’s usage of the Bitcoin Network from January 1 to June 30, 2021. These carbon permits will prevent __341,965 metric tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere__ — the equivalent of nearly a billion miles driven by a typical passenger car.

__Methodology__

The Bitcoin Network’s energy consumption is a result of miners competing for the bitcoin block reward. This competition involves a computationally-intensive, proof of work (PoW) puzzle, whereby the “winning” miner is rewarded with a set number of bitcoin roughly every 10 minutes. This competition secures the Bitcoin blockchain and continues regardless of whether or not there are any transactions on the Bitcoin Network. Therefore, we define our “usage” of the Bitcoin Network as the portion of the mining process that we benefit from, or rather, the amount of energy consumed by miners to secure the bitcoin that Gemini custodies. We believe that this custody-based approach more accurately reflects Gemini’s usage of the Bitcoin Network as opposed to a transaction-based approach, which ignores the fact that bitcoin at rest are secured by the mining process.

As a result, we calculated the amount of bitcoin we custody as a percentage of the circulating supply of bitcoin to determine our usage of the Bitcoin Network and then applied this percentage to the Bitcoin Network’s total energy consumption to estimate the energy consumption related to our usage. We then offset the energy consumption related to our usage that we estimate to involve non-renewable mining. 3

__Step 1__: Calculate Gemini’s usage of the Bitcoin Network.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Gemini’s average daily bitcoin balance / Average daily bitcoin in circulation 1 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;= Gemini’s usage of the Bitcoin Network

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;250,843 BTC / 18,660,225 BTC = __1.34%__

__Step 2__: Calculate the energy consumed by miners related to Gemini’s usage of the Bitcoin Network (2021 YTD).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Gemini’s usage of the Bitcoin Network x the Bitcoin Network’s average &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;annualized energy consumption 2 = energy consumed by miners related &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;to Gemini’s usage of the Bitcoin Network 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.34% x 106.6913 tWh = __1.434215 tWh__

__Step 3__: Calculate the carbon intensity of the energy used by the Bitcoin Network. “Carbon intensity” is defined as the amount of carbon emitted per unit of energy consumed. 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Annualized carbon footprint of the Bitcoin Network 3 / Projected annual &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;energy usage of Bitcoin network = carbon intensity of the energy used by &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;the Bitcoin Network 3

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;60.40 Mt CO2 / 126.66 tWh = __476,867.20 mT CO2 / tWh__

__Step 4__: Calculate the carbon emissions related to Gemini’s usage of the Bitcoin Network.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Energy consumed by miners related to Gemini’s usage of the Bitcoin &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Network x carbon intensity of the Bitcoin Network) x (days/year) = &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Carbon emissions related to Gemini’s usage of the Bitcoin Network

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1.434215 tWh x 476,867.20 mT CO2 / tWh) x (182.5/365) = __341,965 mT &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;CO2__

__Step 5__: Calculate the cost to offset the carbon emissions related to Gemini’s usage of the Bitcoin Network.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Carbon emissions related to Gemini’s usage of the Bitcoin Network x cost &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;per permit to emit 1 mT CO2 = cost to offset the carbon emissions related &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;to Gemini’s usage of the Bitcoin Network

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;341,965 mT CO2 x $11.79 per permit / 1 mT CO2 = __$4,031,767.35__

1 Bitcoin Blockchain (source: [Blockchair](https://blockchair.com/bitcoin)) 
2 We used publicly available data from the [Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index](https://cbeci.org/) and the [Digiconomist Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index](https://digiconomist.net/bitcoin-energy-consumption/) to determine Bitcoin’s average annualized electricity consumption. 
3 We used the data and methodology of the Digiconomist Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index to estimate a carbon intensity coefficient (“Carbon Footprint” and “Estimated TWh per Year”, both as of June 8, 2021). 

__Implementation__

Gemini Green has teamed up with [Climate Vault](https://climatevault.org/) to offset our carbon emissions. Climate Vault engages directly with government-regulated cap-and-trade markets to buy carbon permits and remove them from circulation by “vaulting” them, which prevents other market participants from using them to emit CO2 and reduces the overall supply of carbon permits, making it more expensive for businesses to pollute. Climate Vault also supports the development of cutting-edge carbon capture and sequestration technologies, further accelerating the removal of carbon from the atmosphere. 

__Looking Ahead__

In addition to purchasing offsets, we have allocated $1 million through the [Gemini Opportunity Fund](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-opportunity-fund-launches-to-support-bitcoin-core-developers) to support companies, projects, and nonprofits that are focused on sustainability in the crypto industry. If you are working on a sustainability initiative, we want to hear from you. You can reach out to us at [opportunityfund@gemini.com](mailto:opportunityfund@gemini.com). 

Crypto promises greater choice, independence, and opportunity for all. As a global company, we are committed to raising the bar for environmental stewardship across the entire crypto industry so that we can usher in this revolutionary technology and movement in a sustainable way. If you’d like to learn more about partnering with Gemini Green, you can reach out to us at [green@gemini.com](mailto:green@gemini.com).

We are proud to be __the first crypto platform in the world to offset our carbon emissions__. 

Onward and Upward!

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss

Introducing Gemini Green: Offsetting Bitcoin Carbon Emissions

Two weeks ago during the Bitcoin 2021 conference, we saw an incredible development in the future of philanthropy. charity: water, a nonprofit focused on bringing clean, safe drinking water to the world, established [The Bitcoin Water Trust](http://charitywater.org/bitcoin). This trust will HODL all the bitcoin donated to it until 2025.

This new charity model — the __HODL MODL__ — creates a new paradigm for charitable giving. It brings the HODL ethos of Bitcoin to charitable giving, and means your bitcoin donation today could make an even bigger impact tomorrow. By donating bitcoin — an investment in the future of money — you’re investing in the future of clean drinking water for years to come.

charity: water will use Gemini’s crypto wallet to accept and HODL bitcoin donations. Our founders, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, have agreed to personally match the first 50 bitcoin donated to The Bitcoin Water Trust — a gift that could serve approximately 50,000 people globally with clean water today, but hopefully many more in the future. The funds of the trust will be held in bitcoin and the fund intends to use bitcoin in 2025 and beyond for the construction of its clean water projects across 20+ countries.

charity: water is relentlessly focused on ending the global water crisis by investing in clean water solutions to provide safe drinking water to those who most need it. Currently, 785 million people globally lack access to clean water, and charity: water has provided 12.7M people across 29 countries with this basic need. 

While they began accepting bitcoin donations in 2014, charity: water historically sold the asset to immediately fund construction of new projects. Through their Bitcoin Water Trust initiative, however, they plan to hold onto the asset as an investment, with the hopes of building even more projects and helping more people as bitcoin appreciates in value. 

We’re thrilled to help a fellow mission-driven organization like charity: water accept bitcoin and maximize its humanitarian efforts. 

You can learn more and donate at [charitywater.org/bitcoin](http://charitywater.org/bitcoin).

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Introducing the HODL MODL for Charitable Giving

Today we are excited to announce the acquisition of Shard X, a leading developer of secure multi-party computation (MPC) cryptographic technology.

Gemini will integrate Shard X’s MPC technology into our distributed, multi-site key management and signing infrastructure, markedly increasing the speed with which we can transfer customer assets and provide support for new asset listings and usage on the Gemini platform.

Gemini has more than $30 billion of crypto assets under custody, serving a range of individual and institutional customers. The addition of Shard X’s MPC will work in concert with all other aspects of Gemini’s custody offering, which includes role-based governance protocols, multiple layers of biometric access controls, and physical security to safeguard the sensitive key material, safely stored in government-rated hardware security modules (HSMs), that controls customers’ assets. 

Shard X, which will become a part of Gemini’s UK affiliate, was founded in 2018 by Yaniv Neu-Ner, Nikita Lesnikov, and Navaho De Wet with the goal of making the crypto ecosystem more secure. Shard X’s MPC technology generates key fragments which are used in a  distributed signing protocol without ever reconstructing a full private key. The team has developed a portable MPC implementation that aims to run in high security environments, such as hardware security modules, ensuring the highest integrity and secure processing of private key fragments that protect digital assets.

The acquisition of Shard X is yet another step forward in providing our customers with the products and services they demand as we remain laser focused on our mission of empowering the individual through crypto.

Onward and Upward,

Tyler Winklevoss  
Chief Executive Officer

Gemini Enhances Speed and Scale of Asset Listings, Transfers, and Usage With Shard X Acquisition

Today, we are delighted to announce the sponsorships of Bitcoin Core Developers Dhruv Mehta and Jarol Rodriguez. These sponsorships, made through the [Gemini Opportunity Fund](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-opportunity-fund-launches-to-support-bitcoin-core-developers), will continue to support the fund’s mission to improve the scalability, security, and sustainability of the Bitcoin Network.

Our sponsorship of Dhruv is in partnership with Square Crypto and the Human Rights Foundation and will support his efforts to improve the security of Bitcoin Network nodes. Dhruv’s work relates to the susceptibility of the Bitcoin Network to DNS and border gateway protocol attacks on Bitcoin seed nodes. 

Our sponsorship of Jarol has been made directly through the Gemini Opportunity Fund. He was recently part of a Chaincode Labs study group and plans to focus on providing support for open issues, reviewing and testing pull requests, as well as improving the Bitcoin Network's graphical user interface. 

Dhruv and Jarol’s sponsorships start this month, and they join [Amiti Uttarwar](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-to-sponsor-bitcoin-core-developer-amiti-uttarwar) as the first three Bitcoin Core Developers sponsored by the Gemini Opportunity Fund. 

The Gemini Opportunity Fund is a donor-advised fund focused on making Bitcoin more scalable, secure, and sustainable through grants, fellowships, and donations. Launched in December 2020, the Gemini Opportunity Fund has pledged nearly $1.5 million toward Bitcoin Core development to date, and plans to continue to support Bitcoin and the developer community going forward.

We are thrilled to collaborate with Dhruv, Jarol, and Amiti as we continue on our mission to empower the individual through crypto. 

Onward and Upward!

Beth Kurteson  
Managing Director

Gemini Sponsors Bitcoin Core Developers Dhruv Mehta and Jarol Rodriguez

Last week, Gemini leaders took the virtual stage at Coindesk’s Consensus 2021 to discuss a range of topics including the __emergence of mainstream crypto products__, __how exchanges are harnessing a surge of institutional interest__, and __the development of the crypto industry in Colombia__. 

We are honored to contribute leading voices to important conversations happening throughout the crypto community as our industry goes mainstream. 

Noah Perlman, Gemini’s Chief Operating Officer, was joined by Mastercard executive Jess Turner on a panel about the emergence of crypto products for everyday use. They spoke about the Gemini Credit Card, for which Mastercard will be the [exclusive network partner](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-credit-card-to-launch-with-mastercard-as-network-partner), and the growth of consumer-first products that can help catapult crypto into the mainstream. 

Noah outlined how the Gemini Credit Card will expose a broad retail audience to crypto without changing their day-to-day behavior, allowing users to seamlessly earn crypto rewards on the dollars they spend. He added that more than half of those on the 250,000+ strong waitlist are not existing Gemini customers, suggesting that people are seeking risk-free exposure to crypto. The card rolls out this summer to U.S. residents in every state and will grant up to 3% back on purchases anywhere Mastercard is accepted — [join the waitlist](https://www.gemini.com/credit-card/waitlist) for early access to the card. 

Moving from retail to the institutional front, our Global Head of Business Development, Dave Abner, dove into Gemini’s expansive institutional offering that includes custody, clearing, and trade execution services. He noted the central role education will play in broader institutional adoption, adding that he anticipates the crypto exchange traded product market alone will grow to $100 billion to $200 billion over the coming years. 

With unified offerings — like [Gemini Fund Solutions](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-fund-solutions-a-unified-offering-for-fund-managers) — Dave explained how Gemini works alongside institutions seeking to harness novel opportunities in crypto that will continue to emerge over the next decade. [Reach out](https://exchange.gemini.com/register/institution) to our institutional team to learn more.

Borders have not quelled the institutional crypto buzz, as our Head of Strategy and Corporate Development, Marshall Beard, outlined on a panel about crypto in Colombia. Highlighting our partnership with Bancolombia, Marshall noted the major role crypto can play in the Latin American country following the launch of its regulatory sandbox. With our regulation- and security-first mindset, Marshall expressed the potential for Gemini to work closely with the Colombian crypto ecosystem to build trust, and support crypto products that can empower Colombians to take control of their financial lives. 

With the conversation as vibrant as ever, we are thrilled to continue to contribute innovative ideas and solutions to discussions that will help propel the crypto ecosystem forward. 

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Consensus Roundup: Gemini Credit Card and Institutional Solutions Take Center Stage

We are excited to announce that Gemini has formed a __strategic partnership with WisdomTree Investments and Onramp Invest__ to facilitate financial advisors’ investment into cryptocurrency. WisdomTree’s new +Crypto Model Portfolios are designed to educate registered investment advisors (RIAs) on allocating their clients’ portfolios to crypto. RIAs can follow through by investing into crypto on behalf of their clients using Onramp Invest.

Gemini will provide Onramp with custody, clearing, and execution services so that RIAs and  their clients can gain access to one of the best performing asset classes of the last decade.

As cryptocurrency continues to garner more and more attention and appeal, demand for exposure to the asset class is growing rapidly. WisdomTree’s +Crypto Model Portfolios are intended to serve as a resource for RIAs to assess potential crypto portfolio performance, gain strategic insights about crypto investing, learn about potential crypto tax efficiencies, and understand crypto investing costs in order to best advise their clients. Onramp Invest, via its partnership with Gemini, provides seamless, secure, and compliant access to bitcoin and other digital assets so that RIAs can learn, model, invest, and manage their client’s cryptocurrency investments.

Gemini is a New York trust company and fiduciary subject to the capital reserve requirements, cybersecurity requirements, and banking compliance standards set forth by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) and New York Banking Law. We have met the industry's highest financial and security compliance standards and are the only exchange and custodian in the world to have completed both [SOC 1 Type 2](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-completes-soc-1-type-2-and-soc-2-type-2-examinations-leading-crypto) and [SOC 2 Type 2 examinations](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-completes-soc-1-type-2-and-soc-2-type-2-examinations-leading-crypto), which were certified by Deloitte, a fundamental requirement for safeguarding crypto assets for investors.

RIAs are searching for a rapid, reliable, and compliant way to satisfy their clients’ desire to add crypto to their portfolios. Now they can, with WisdomTree, Onramp Invest, and Gemini.

If you would like to learn more about our custody, clearing, and execution services, [connect with us](https://exchange.gemini.com/register/institution) today.

Onward and Upward,

David Abner  
Global Head of Business Development

Gemini Partners With WisdomTree and Onramp to Bring Crypto to Financial Advisors

Today, we are thrilled to announce Gemini’s __sponsorship of Bitcoin Core Developer Amiti Uttarwar__. Our first direct sponsorship, via the [Gemini Opportunity Fund](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-opportunity-fund-launches-to-support-bitcoin-core-developers), will support Amiti on her mission to improve the resilience, security, and usability of the Bitcoin Network.

An alum of Chaincode Labs, Amiti brings a wealth of experience, having previously worked as a full-stack developer in Silicon Valley. She is the first woman known to have contributed to Bitcoin Core and was named to the 2021 Forbes 30 under 30 list for finance as well as to Coindesk’s 2020 Most Influential list.

With a passion for Bitcoin’s potential to redefine how we conceptualize wealth, Amiti’s specific focus will continue to be on improving the privacy, testing, and robustness of Bitcoin’s peer-to-peer layer. Our sponsorship of Amiti will start in June. 

The Gemini Opportunity Fund is a donor-advised fund that supports Bitcoin Core development through grants, fellowships, and donations. Launched in December 2020, the Gemini Opportunity Fund has pledged nearly $1.5 million to date toward Bitcoin Core development, and will continue to support the Bitcoin Network and developer community as Bitcoin further gains widespread appeal.

We are honored to work side-by-side with Amiti and collaborate with her on our mission to empower the individual through crypto, as we continue to build the financial system of the future. 

Onward and Upward!

Beth Kurteson  
Managing Director

Gemini To Sponsor Bitcoin Core Developer, Amiti Uttarwar

Over the past year, Gemini has supported [institutional investors](https://www.gemini.com/institutions) with crypto expertise that is second to none while meeting security and compliance standards that are equal to or better than those found at legacy financial services firms. 

Whether you’re a [fund manager](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-fund-solutions-a-unified-offering-for-fund-managers) seeking to launch a crypto fund, a private investor seeking to diversify your portfolio into crypto, or a large institution assessing plans to integrate crypto into your business model, our experienced teams can provide the unified support you need to succeed on your crypto journey.

__First Movers Look to Gemini’s Crypto-Native Platform__

We have built an expansive crypto-native platform that aims to serve clients from all walks of life, providing a bridge from the legacy financial system to the financial frontier of crypto and blockchain. With our support as crypto custodian and partner, an increasing number of established institutions are diving into crypto with Gemini:

- [__3iQ Corp.__](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/02/23/2180047/0/en/The-Bitcoin-Fund-by-3iQ-Completes-Private-Placements.html): We worked with 3iQ, a leading Canadian digital asset manager, to shepherd their bitcoin and ether closed-end funds through regulatory approval and on to the public markets. Serving as the custodian for both their bitcoin and ether funds, we continue to provide ongoing support.

- [__Purpose Investments__](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/02/12/2174792/0/en/Purpose-Investments-Cleared-to-Launch-First-Bitcoin-ETF-in-the-World.html): We serve as the custodian for the first North American bitcoin ETF launched by Canadian asset manager Purpose Investments. We’re also the custodian for their ether ETF.  

- [__Evolve ETFs__](https://evolveetfs.com/2021/04/evolve-announces-worlds-first-ether-etf-begins-trading-today-on-tsx/): We serve as the crypto custodian for Canadian asset manager Evolve, supporting their bitcoin and ether ETFs.

- [__BTG Pactual__](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-to-custody-btg-pactual-bitcoin-fund): We are the custodian and trade execution partner for BTG Pactual’s Bitcoin 20 Multi-Market Investment Fund, the first bitcoin fund launched by the largest investment bank in Latin America. 

- [__Eaglebrook Advisors__](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/11/17/2128376/0/en/Eaglebrook-Advisors-Announces-that-Mariner-Wealth-Advisors-is-Making-the-Eaglebrook-Bitcoin-SMA-Available-to-Clients.html): We secure and custody digital assets for Eaglebrook's clients, who represent some of the largest registered investment advisors (RIAs) in the country.

- [__Caruso__](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/caruso-partners-with-gemini-in-industry-first-to-bring-blockchain-technology-and-bitcoin-to-caruso-properties-throughout-southern-california-301264610.html): We helped Caruso, one of the largest privately-held real estate companies in the U.S., to add crypto to their balance sheet through their treasury arm and are further supporting their acceptance of bitcoin rent payments for their retail and residential properties, a first in the industry. 

- __GlobalBlock__: We partner with GlobalBlock, a leading UK-based digital asset brokerage, to provide a wide range of tradable assets, and best-in-class execution and liquidity for their growing base of individual, corporate, and institutional clients.

- __BullionStar__: We provide trade execution services for Singapore-based BullionStar, one of the first bullion dealers in the world to accept cryptocurrency as a mode of payment for physical gold, silver, and platinum bullion.

Cryptocurrency is a global phenomenon, and we have continued to [expand our offices in the UK and APAC](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-builds-out-uk-institutional-offering), with teams that are ready to provide institutional support to international clients. 

Gemini provides the complete spectrum of institutional investors with a full-service on-ramp to crypto. [Reach out to us here](https://exchange.gemini.com/register/institution).

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Gemini welcomes fund managers, private investor, and any large institution with plans to integrate crypto into their business model with a security first mindset. 

Institutional Crypto Adoption Grows With Gemini

Institutions Are Moving Into Crypto With Gemini

*Crypto has undergone unprecedented growth in the last few years — but when it comes to leadership roles in the industry, women are staggeringly underrepresented. In keeping with Gemini’s mission of empowering the individual through crypto, our series __Women in Crypto__ seeks to shed light on the amazing work that women are doing in crypto and blockchain, with the hope of inspiring more women around the world to invest in crypto and seek jobs in the industry. *  

*Today we are featuring __Karen Chang__, VP of Engineering at Stellar Development Foundation. Karen has over 25 years of experience as a software engineer and in engineering management at companies like Netscape, Goldman Sachs, Netflix and Salesforce.*

*Learn more about Stellar [here](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/stellar-blockchain-payments-xlm-coin) on [Cryptopedia](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia). *

__Tell us about your crypto "lightbulb" moment. How did you get into crypto?__

I was working at Goldman Sachs in NYC throughout the 2000s and had lived through the financial crisis and recession in 2008. Most of my friends didn’t work in banks, and I experienced the strong backlash against Wall Street that came after the government bailout. The perception was that financial services companies were taking high risk bets in financial engineering of debt instruments, and because of the contagion effect of the real estate bubble popping, a small pool of participants were able to destabilize the entire global economy.

Wind forward several years, I had come back to SF and was working in tech. I hadn’t been following bitcoin closely until I got into a conversation with an acquaintance who was a true believer in bitcoin and heavily invested. I’ll admit that at the time, I thought of cryptocurrencies as heavy on hype, even though I knew blockchains had some novel uses as a new type of distributed system. Out of that debate, I started reading up on the space, connecting the dots between my past experience during and after the financial crisis and this idea of decentralization in finance — the value of open loop financial systems, protocols, and the runway that creates true marketplaces for financial innovation, low-cost access, and experimentation.

Then, the Stellar Development Foundation reached out. I talked to Jed and Denelle about Vibrant, an app being built in the Stellar ecosystem to allow cross border conversion of currencies, targeted at South American countries like Argentina, where devaluation has been a real and present danger. That use case really resonated with me as an applied benefit of DeFi and cryptocurrencies, and tied into my personal experience in finance and technology in a way that felt meaningful.

__Tell us about your role as VP of Engineering — how would you describe your day-to-day role at the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF)?__ 

My day-to-day role involves managing our engineering teams, and being responsible for delivering our Stellar SDKs and APIs, full stack product, partner engagement, and infrastructure. I’m focused on making sure our work is aligned with our overall SDF goals in becoming the premier cross-border payment network, and that we’ve got the right talent and organizational competencies to deliver on that.

I spend a lot of time recruiting, talking to my peers in business development, understanding the business context, and translating that into engineering goals. I see a lot of what I do through the lens of organizational readiness — making sure we’re covering the short-term product milestones, while keeping an eye on the overall scale, security, and health of the Stellar network and providing the right tools to our ecosystem of developers so we can make sure Stellar is easy to use.

__What's the one piece of professional advice that you would give to your younger self that would have helped you the most as you progressed in your career?__

I think for a long time I thought of communicating as a way to express myself. It wasn’t until I got a little older and wiser that I realized self-expression was secondary to delivering a message. And to do that effectively, I needed to build competency around perspective-taking and being able to communicate so that the other person was able to receive the message. In any collaborative environment, I would say the ability to influence your peers and other people is probably one of the most valuable skills you have in your repertoire. 

__How can we encourage and facilitate more women entering the crypto workforce, especially in technical functions like engineering? __

I think we need to reduce some of the noise in crypto that can be distracting or intimidating for newcomers. I find the barrier to entry is similar to finance. We like to use obfuscating words or acronyms for concepts that could be more simply explained in plain English. 
Everyone understands money, right? We all use it, borrow it, exchange it, and we need a place to record what we do with it. Let’s make this space less intimidating by simplifying our words.

The challenge we face hiring in crypto is similar to what I encountered in the mid-90s working at Netscape. At that time, it’s not like there was a computer science degree in internet protocols, so you needed to look beyond a tick-the-boxes approach to find talent. Instead, you prioritize fundamentals and translatable skills that enable people to ramp up in a new industry. Here at SDF, we have folks with astronomy, physics, and law degrees. Some who didn’t go to college at all.  

I think certain companies in Silicon Valley have created a culture of perceived academic barriers that have nothing to do with the applied problem solving skills needed for any given role. 

That speaks to the second part of my answer to how we bring more women in crypto. I think it’s incumbent on us to find female talent in adjacent domains who are good at logic, are passionate about the interdisciplinary nature of crypto (policy, compliance, engineering, finance), and who show they have the personal grit and conscientiousness to continuously learn in a fast-moving domain of knowledge. I love growing female engineers who can show that kind of trajectory because they will always win the race.

__Who are some women that you admire in the crypto space? In tech? In general?__

I don’t say this to be self-serving but I really admire our CEO & Executive Director, Denelle Dixon. She was a major reason that I took the leap and joined SDF. She leads with intention and clarity of purpose. With her roots in the web and her vast legal experience, she brings a balance of expertise and leadership. I feel fortunate to work with and learn from her. 

More broadly in the tech sector, I’m a big fan of Megan Smith, the former CTO of the Obama administration. She’s been a tech pioneer in the public and private sectors, leading engineering teams at some of the most influential players in the world. And throughout it all, she has stayed true to her beliefs of inclusive innovation.  

In general, I’m an admirer of Stacey Abrams and the work she has done in Georgia to expand voting access and rights and how that has spurred not only national discussion but action. She is a vital voice in the United States for equality and for me, an inspiration.

__Why do you believe in crypto?__

I think blockchain technologies open up the space for financial innovation to enable truly efficient markets. I think this spans not just financial instruments, like the payments space where Stellar plays a key role in reducing the cost of transaction for cross-border assets, but also in really any domain in which there are buyers, sellers, and financial records and contracts.

__What is something unique that you have learned from working in crypto?__

The main thing I learned in crypto so far is just how many of the use cases require us to solve problems having to do with liquidity. That’s a departure from where I’ve been before — I’m used to highly liquid markets like security assets! It’s not a problem I’ve had to think about too much, let alone think about solving! But price discovery, slippage, and spread problems having to do with new markets for currency pairs in the payment corridors Stellar creates is something we think about quite a bit and a fascinating new topic for me to learn about. 

Women in Crypto: Karen Chang, VP of Engineering at Stellar Development Foundation

Following a remarkable year for Nifty Gateway, and the NFT space as a whole, we are delighted to announce that we’ve __surpassed $300 million in gross merchandise value__. 

In March 2020, we launched [Nifty Gateway](https://niftygateway.com/) with a motto: __we believe NFTs are the future, and we will not rest until 1 billion people are collecting NFTs__. Looking back, we are more confident than ever that non-fungible tokens or NFTs (“nifties”) have ushered in a new paradigm in art, gaming, collectibles, and music and we are thrilled to play a central role in bringing these unique digital assets to the world.

Nifties have officially arrived. In just the past few months, they have gone from a hobby for crypto enthusiasts and a small group of art collectors to a global phenomenon. Even Christie’s and Sotheby’s, among the oldest, most esteemed auction houses in the world have embraced nifties. In April, we worked exclusively with Sotheby’s to host their first nifty drop in collaboration with digital creator Pak, which realized $17 million in sales. 

We are committed to ensuring only the highest quality nifties are delivered to our customers on Nifty Gateway. We take great care in partnering with digital artists, helping them to curate, develop, and drop collections that add greater dimension and impact to the broader nifty space. We believe these artists are producing work that belongs in the canon of art history.

We are humbled and grateful to the artists who chose our platform to sell their works, the collectors who have supported this new and exciting medium, and all nifty enthusiasts out there who have made these past year possible.

We are steadily marching forward and will not rest until 1 billion people are collecting nifties. [Join us](https://niftygateway.com/) on this magical journey.

Onward and Upward!

Duncan and Griffin Cock Foster  
Nifty Gateway Co-Founders

Nifty Gateway Sales Surpass $300M in Gross Merchandise Value

Today, we are excited to announce that __Mastercard will be our exclusive network partner for the Gemini Credit Card__. We are thrilled to work with one of the most trusted and globally recognized brands in the credit card and payments space. WebBank, a leader in digital lending, will be the issuing bank for the Gemini Credit Card.

The Gemini Credit Card allows you to earn up to 3% back in bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies on the dollars you spend. Join the [Gemini Credit Card waitlist](https://gemini.com/credit-card) to get early access. 

Check out some of the Gemini Credit Card’s exciting features:

- __Real-time rewards__: Cardholders will earn up to 3% back on qualifying purchases in bitcoin or any of the more than 30 cryptocurrencies available on Gemini. Crypto rewards will automatically be deposited into the cardholders’ Gemini account.
- __No annual fee__: Earn crypto without paying a hefty annual fee.
- __Security-first design__: Sensitive information, like the card number, is removed and accessible to cardholders via the Gemini app, which requires two-factor authentication.
- __Near-instant access__: Once approved, you can access the Gemini Credit Card and begin making purchases online, in-app, and in stores by directly adding the card to your mobile wallet through the Gemini mobile app.
- __World Mastercard® Benefits__: You’ll have access to exclusive offers with select merchants such as DoorDash, HelloFresh, Lyft and ShopRunner, as well as through Mastercard’s [Priceless® Experiences](https://www.priceless.com/). Your card will include advanced security features including Mastercard ID Theft Protection™, Zero Liability, and Price Protection.
- __24/7 live customer support__

The Gemini Credit Card will be available in all 50 U.S. States and will be accepted wherever Mastercard is accepted. The card will be rolled out this summer, and those on the waitlist will have first access to apply. When approved, you can earn up to 3% back on dining, 2% back on groceries, and 1% back on other purchases. If you have additional questions about the Gemini Credit Card, we invite you to visit our [FAQ page here](https://support.gemini.com/hc/en-us/articles/360055401011-How-do-I-join-the-waitlist-for-the-Gemini-Credit-Card-). 

We are thrilled to continue to __empower the individual through crypto__ by giving you a way to effortlessly earn crypto as you go about your daily life.

Onward and Upward!

Tyler Winklevoss  
Chief Executive Officer

Gemini Credit Card to Launch With Mastercard as Network Partner

Today, we are excited to release our [2021 State of U.S. Crypto Report](http://gemini.com/state-of-us-crypto), a comprehensive report of the U.S. crypto market. 

Key findings point to a significant population expansion and demographic diversification of the nation’s interest in crypto. More than two-thirds (77%) of U.S. adults are interested in learning about cryptocurrency and more women than men identify as crypto-curious.

Our data also shows that as cryptocurrency continues to gain more mainstream acceptance, crypto is seen as a long-term investment. The large majority of current crypto owners report buying and holding crypto for its long-term investment potential rather than actively buying and selling as a means to achieve profits or using it to make purchases on the internet.

Other notable results from the survey include:

__- The number of crypto investors is set to nearly double this year,__ with 13% of those curious about investing planning to purchase crypto in the next 12 months.

__- For the first time ever, more women than men are interested in getting into crypto soon.__ Women make up 53% of crypto-curious people interested in investing in the asset class.

__- Education is crucial in initiating or increasing engagement with crypto. __Of those who are crypto-curious, 60% identify as “not very” or “not at all” knowledgeable, setting the stage for education to play a significant role in crypto adoption.

__- The next wave of crypto buyers are older and have slightly smaller yearly incomes,__ with an average age of 44 and average household income of $107,000 a year.

The 2021 U.S. State of Crypto Report offers a promising look at the future growth and adoption of this revolutionary asset class, further supporting Gemini’s mission of empowering the individual through crypto. To learn more about our findings, you can download the full report [here](http://gemini.com/state-of-us-crypto). 

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

*Conducted from October 19 to November 16, 2020, the 2021 State of U.S. Crypto report is based on a total sample of 3,000 U.S. adults, ages 18 to 65 with $40,000 or more in household income. Survey respondents included 921 self-identifying current cryptocurrency owners and 1,697 consumers who were interested in learning more about cryptocurrency. *


Gemini U.S. Report: More Than Two-Thirds of U.S. Adults Are Interested In Crypto

At Gemini, our global footprint reflects crypto’s global reach. As we continue to expand, we increasingly support a range of clients around the world. 

Our experienced team in the UK caters to institutional investors seeking exposure to cryptocurrency, including asset managers, corporations, wealth managers, and high-net worth individuals, with solutions designed to meet the highest standards of compliance, security, and client service.

Our services include strong trade execution capabilities, unified support for clients seeking to launch crypto funds, and payment solutions and bespoke integrations to help companies and high-net worth individuals leverage the rapid growth of cryptocurrency. 

__Industry-Leading Compliance, Security, and Custody__

Institutions will never compromise on security – and neither will Gemini.

Gemini Custody™ offers 100% offline storage for digital assets in segregated addresses. All assets held are secured by institutional-grade technology and multi-layered security architecture. Gemini maintains $290M in digital asset insurance across our custody and exchange products, in addition to capital reserves, which applies globally. We are the only cryptocurrency platform in the world to have completed the [SOC 1 Type 2](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-completes-soc-1-type-2-and-soc-2-type-2-examinations-leading-crypto) and [SOC 2 Type 2](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-completes-soc-1-type-2-and-soc-2-type-2-examinations-leading-crypto) examinations for both our exchange and custody products, certified by Deloitte. 

__Unrivaled Knowledge and Client Service__

The Gemini team has deep expertise in crypto, traditional capital markets, security, and technology, which allows us to partner with clients and deliver tailored solutions that meet unique requirements. 

We invite institutional investors in the UK to [learn more about our offering](https://www.gemini.com/institutions) and reach out to [Stephanie Ramezan](mailto:sales.emea@gemini.com) and [Ekaterina Daminova](mailto:sales.emea@gemini.com) in our Business Development team to explore the unparalleled growth potential of crypto.

Onward and Upward!

Blair Halliday  
Head of UK

Gemini Builds Out UK Institutional Offering

We are delighted to announce that Gemini will serve as custodian and trade execution partner for BTG Pactual’s Bitcoin 20 Multi-Market Investment Fund, the first bitcoin fund launched by a Brazilian investment bank. 

As we continue to expand our institutional fund offerings, we are thrilled to provide BTG Pactual, the largest investment bank in Latin America, with secure and compliant access to bitcoin. The fund will invest 20% of its assets under management in bitcoin and is the first of a variety of cryptocurrency products BTG Pactual plans to release. 

Gemini provides cryptocurrency services and infrastructure to a growing number of fund managers and traditional financial institutions across the world through [Gemini Custody](https://www.gemini.com/custody), [Gemini Fund Solutions](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-fund-solutions-a-unified-offering-for-fund-managers), and custom integrations with registered investment advisors and FinTech platforms. 

Our mission — __to empower the individual__ — is aligned with BTG Pactual’s goal to increase access to investment opportunities for its clients. We are committed to providing a seamless on-ramp for global clients seeking new opportunities to enter the booming cryptocurrency industry and tap into a growing wave of investor interest.

We invite institutions seeking to explore a crypto fund offering to reach out to [GFS@gemini.com](mailto:gfs@gemini.com).

Onward and upward!

Team Gemini

Gemini to Custody BTG Pactual Bitcoin Fund

Today, we are excited to announce that Gemini has teamed up with Unifimoney, a premium digital money management platform, to offer our crypto services to their users. 

Unifimoney users can now access the full suite of Gemini’s crypto assets to seamlessly buy, sell, and store their crypto. 

Unifimoney provides a comprehensive financial services solution with the ability to bank, build credit, add insurance, invest in precious metals and equities, and now trade more than 30 cryptocurrencies.  

Gemini provides cryptocurrency services and infrastructure to a growing number of traditional financial services institutions through [Gemini Custody](https://www.gemini.com/custody), [Gemini Fund Solutions](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-fund-solutions-a-unified-offering-for-fund-managers), and custom integrations with registered investment advisors and FinTech platforms. 

As the cryptocurrency market continues to grow and more people are looking for ways to gain exposure to this new asset class, Gemini provides simple and seamless integrations for a variety of partners to leverage our robust technology, security, and compliance.

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Gemini Now Integrated With Unifimoney

Today, we are delighted to announce a $25,000 sponsorship through the Gemini Opportunity Fund to support the ongoing development of open-source blockchain explorer Mempool.space. 

Mempool.space provides the crypto community with seamless visibility into the bitcoin blockchain without ads, altcoins, or third-party trackers, and we are privileged to be the project’s first enterprise sponsor. The sponsorship will enable project maintainers [@wiz](https://twitter.com/wiz) and [@softsimon](https://twitter.com/softsimon_) to continue their work, enhance Mempool.space’s ability to collaborate with other projects, and ensure the site remains as accessible as possible. Our sponsorship was transferred to Mempool.space in BTC and confirmed in [block 676921](https://mempool.space/tx/fc7582f8c2509d84e680d6809055924f212c579b69a0aacb35128c087f0359ee).

To ensure the bitcoin community remains vibrant, the crypto industry must step up and support a range of community projects, built by and for the community. We are proud to help Wiz and Softsimon maintain Mempool.space and support their mission to bolster the bitcoin ecosystem more broadly. 

The [Gemini Opportunity Fund](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-opportunity-fund-launches-to-support-bitcoin-core-developers) has already donated $450,000 towards Bitcoin core development since its launch in December 2020, and it will continue to support the Bitcoin Network and developer community going forward. We also recently announced our [Gemini Frontier Fund](https://www.gemini.com/blog/introducing-the-gemini-frontier-fund-betting-on-the-future-of-crypto), a strategic venture fund focused on investing in early-stage crypto projects and startups.

Our donations to dynamic projects and developers within the Bitcoin ecosystem, and to the larger crypto industry, directly complement our mission to empower individuals through crypto and provide our customers  with a simple, reliable, and secure way to engage with the magical crypto frontier. 

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini


Gemini Supports Bitcoin Ecosystem With $25K Mempool.space Sponsorship

Cryptocurrencies have ushered in a new wave of innovation that is helping to redesign the Internet, money, and even the art world through Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). Digital artists, who could otherwise never participate in selling their art like artists in the traditional art world, can now do so. This is not just a watershed moment, it is an entirely new paradigm. It allows digital creators to not only make a living like offline creators, but it has brought in a whole new generation of collectors who’s interest and passion for the space will help propel it forward. It gives us great pride at Nifty Gateway to see so many digital creators thrive in this new medium, especially in the backdrop of the pandemic. Our overarching mission is to empower creators through crypto and we won’t rest until 1 billion people are collecting NFTs.

## Environmental Concerns

That being said, we acknowledge the growing concern from some regarding the carbon footprint of the NFT movement. Ironically, because blockchains give the world such a transparent and accurate accounting of the energy consumption of our industry, they provide a tangible number to focus and dwell on, which has led to a double standard being applied to our industry. Because there is no blockchain to account for the carbon footprint of the traditional art world, which includes, *inter alia*, all of the private and commercial air travel to the Basels, Biennales, and countless other festivals around the world, not to mention the automobile traffic to gallery exhibitions, museums, and so forth, such criticism has not been leveled against the offline art world, despite the fact that its carbon footprint is orders of magnitude greater. Apparently, this is the price of transparency and accountability. Nonetheless, the good news is that the carbon footprint of the NFT industry is small when you take [an honest look at all the contributing factors to climate change](https://sterlingcrispin.blogspot.com/2021/02/crypto-art-sky-is-not-falling.html). The better news is that *__Nifty Gateway is committing to become a carbon negative platform__*. 

## Becoming Carbon Negative

Our plan is to calculate our emissions using the following [site](https://github.com/kylemcdonald/cryptoart-footprint), which will allow us to estimate our total carbon footprint over time. At the end of every month, we will purchase offsets for 2x the amount of carbon footprint Nifty Gateway created from blockchain transactions that month, and thereby in theory Nifty Gateway will become a net remover of carbon.

In addition to buying offsets, we are already building a new NFT minting system that will be significantly greener. To be clear, trading NFTs and storing NFTs on Nifty Gateway __*does not*__ affect Nifty Gateway’s carbon footprint. This is because these actions happen on our internal ledger, which means they are *off-blockchain* transactions. However, when we mint a creator’s NFT and put it on the blockchain, this is an *on-blockchain* transaction and does increase Nifty Gateway's carbon footprint. To that end, we have been developing a new minting system that will utilize [EIP 2309](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-2309) and make our minting process approximately 99% more efficient. We are already hard at work and look forward to deploying our new minting system in the weeks ahead. Once launched, Nifty Gateway will have a materially smaller carbon footprint and need to purchase even less offsets to remain carbon negative.

But that’s not all. Recently, we helped raise $6.5 million dollars for [Open Earth Foundation](https://www.openfoundation.earth/) via [The Carbon Drop](https://niftygateway.com/collections/carbondrop). All of the proceeds of this drop will go towards the development of blockchain technology for climate accountability. We’re going to continue to look for ways like this in which Nifty Gateway can have an even greater impact on our community and the world around us.

## Ethereum 2.0

Nifty Gateway is built on top of the Ethereum network where much of the NFT phenomenon is unfolding. But to put things in perspective, only 1% of all transactions on the Ethereum network are related to interactions with NFT contracts. And the entire Ethereum network itself only accounts for .02% of the world’s total carbon footprint. That being said, the Ethereum community has never been one to settle. In fact, it has already been working towards becoming more sustainable since well before the recent mainstream interest in NFTs. For years it has been planning Ethereum 2.0, which uses a zero carbon consensus mechanism known as Proof of Stake, and this past December it already started migrating to Ethereum 2.0. 

The Nifty Gateway team appreciates the passionate and diverse voices of our community and we look forward to continuing to build this magical new frontier of art and collectibles together. Here’s to the exciting days ahead.

Onward and Upward,

Duncan & Griffin Cock Foster  
Nifty Gateway, Co-Founders


Nifty Gateway to Become Carbon Negative

*Crypto has undergone unprecedented growth in the last few years — but when it comes to leadership roles in the industry, women are staggeringly underrepresented. In keeping with Gemini’s mission of empowering the individual through crypto, our new series __Women in Crypto__ seeks to shed light on the amazing work that women are doing in crypto and blockchain, with the hope of inspiring more women around the world to invest in crypto and seek jobs in the industry.   *

*We are kicking off this series by featuring __Kathleen Breitman__, currently a co-founder of Coase, a software company that aspires to lower transaction costs. She previously co-founded Tezos, a blockchain-based smart contract platform with an on-chain governance mechanism to coordinate and push upgrades to its network. She has also worked at Accenture, Bridgewater Associates, and the Wall Street Journal. *

*Learn more from Kathleen about Tezos [here](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/tezos-xtz-coin-digital-commonwealth) and [here](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/what-is-tezos-xtz-governance-use-cases) on [Cryptopedia](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/topic/tezos).* 

__Tell us about your crypto "lightbulb" moment. How did you get into crypto?__

I've heard about cryptocurrencies a lot since 2011. At some point around 2012 or 2013, I started looking into it for myself and liked the irreverence at the heart of it. 

__What was the inspiration behind Tezos, and what do you hope for its future?__

Around 2013, most technologies that could theoretically improve Bitcoin were realized through the launches of new cryptocurrencies. Tezos was proposed in 2014 as a cryptocurrency that allows its owners to upgrade the codebase seamlessly while preserving network effects. 

Since its launch in 2018, the Tezos blockchain has upgraded seamlessly more than any other public chain. I would like to see more provocative upgrades to the network in the coming years. 

__What's the one piece of professional advice that you would give to your younger self that would have helped you the most as you progressed in your career?__

Ditch the losers, double-down on the winners. I have wasted time trying to fix broken things rather than improve upon what was going well.

__How can we encourage and facilitate more women entering the crypto workforce?__

The culture of the space has created a filter such that women who tend to stick around are either hard-nosed or smart enough not to look at comments sections.

Candidly, a great part about cryptocurrencies is that you don't have to work on them to enjoy their benefits. I would rather that more women own cryptocurrencies en masse than work in the industry.

__Who are some women that you admire in the crypto space? In tech? In general?__

In the cryptocurrency space, I admire the contributions of Dahlia Malkhi, Dawn Song, and Cathie Wood. In technology, I admire Judy Estrin, Fei-Fei Li, and Ruth Porat. More generally, I think Janelle Monae, Pat McGrath, Roz Brewer, Aileen Lee, and Taylor Swift are total badasses worth emulating. 

__Why do you believe in crypto?__

It solves a problem that people have largely proposed hackish solutions around for centuries: moving value across the world without the use of an intermediary. I don't think it makes sense to bet against novel solutions to old problems. 

__What is something unique that you have learned from working in crypto?__

People really don't like thinking about finance. It is astounding what passes for thought leadership.

__How do you see blockchain evolving over the next five years?__

I like the burgeoning NFT collectibles market, no matter how noisy it is, because it gets to the heart of what cryptocurrencies should do in other industries by creating a viable alternative to traditional intermediaries. Right now, creative types are realizing this as a new way to monetize their work. In the coming years, I hope everyone can use decentralized solutions that typically fall into categories like financial services.


Women in Crypto: Kathleen Breitman, Co-Founder of Tezos

This week we saw an increase in the number and frequency of account takeover attacks (commonly referred to as ATOs) against Nifty Gateway’s users. To be clear, the Nifty Gateway platform remains secure. We would, however, like to use this moment as an opportunity to raise awareness about ATOs within the NFT community. 

The following guidance highlights the steps members of our community can take to protect their accounts and shares some of the security features we’ve deployed on Nifty Gateway. 

__How exactly do ATOs of online accounts occur?__ 

An ATO occurs when an attacker obtains a user's valid email and password, often by breaching other unrelated services and then trying the same email and password combination across a variety of sites, including Nifty Gateway. Therefore, it is important to practice good security hygiene by *__never__* reusing the same password for more than one service. This means that the password you use for Nifty Gateway should be unique and not used for any other service.

__How can you prevent ATOs?__

In addition to never reusing a password, you should *__always__* enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on Nifty Gateway and any other service you use. Our customers can reference our website for instructions on how to [enable two-factor authentication](https://help.niftygateway.com/2020/08/05/guide-to-two-factor-authentication-on-nifty-gateway/). 

We have also deployed improvements to our platform to further mitigate similar attacks. The most impactful change we made is prompting users to perform email verification before performing sensitive account actions.

In the coming weeks and months, the team plans to roll out further enhancements to help mitigate the impact of ATOs. This includes mandatory 2FA for high risk accounts, additional controls to mitigate potential misuse, and continued focus on raising awareness around account security in the NFT community.

We also recommend users avoid negotiating trades outside of the official Nifty Gateway marketplace. Transactions occurring off-platform present significant counterparty risk and lack the security controls offered by the Nifty Gateway marketplace.

Our goal is to help educate all our users and engage our community wherever you may be on your security journey. We will continue to increase awareness of security best practices, including the risks of password reuse, and the importance of 2FA to the Nifty Gateway community. Coupled with the new controls that are planned, we’re excited to continue to make the platform even stronger for all our users. 

Onward and Upward,

Duncan and Griffin Cock Foster  
Nifty Gateway Co-Founders

Protecting Yourself Against Account Takeovers on Nifty Gateway

We are delighted to announce that Gemini is the Principal Partner of the 2021 Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race. 

Our partnership will enable the 166th Men’s and 75th Women’s races to go ahead in a safe manner, as well as fund the high performance rowing training at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and engage young people with limited access to rowing through The Gemini Boat Race Bursary Scheme. The £75,000 Bursary will provide rowing instruction and education to disadvantaged students by removing the financial barriers that often prevent them from taking part.

This is a special alliance for our company and for us personally, having competed in the 2010 Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race in the Oxford Blue Boat and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. 

We started rowing at the Saugatuck Rowing Club in 1997 when we met James Mangan, an Irishman who founded the club in 1990. Back then, James would show us VHS tapes of the Oxford-Cambridge race and we dreamed of one day competing at that level.

Rowing was our first foray into entrepreneurship, inspiring us to create the varsity rowing team at our high school. Our experience in rowing taught us that whether you are building yourself as an athlete or building a startup, the power of big dreams together with conviction and perseverance cannot be underestimated. This potent combination led us to row at Harvard, Oxford, the Olympics, and ultimately start Gemini, which today has over 350 employees worldwide.

Rowing instilled in us the power of aligning a team with shared principles and values for the purposes of advancing a common mission. At Gemini, we strive to move at the speed of innovation, with as much agility and velocity as possible. We are constantly in search of “swing,” that state of flow when everyone is rowing together or working together in harmony. It’s that powerful and rhythmic force that drives a rowing shell or startup towards its objective as fast, efficiently, and joyously as possible.

Our mission — to empower the individual through crypto — starts with providing you with a safe and secure platform to buy, sell, store, and earn on your crypto. After securing an E-money Institutions License from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2020, we [launched in the United Kingdom](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-live-in-the-uk) as our first international market outside of the U.S.

We are thrilled to be combining two of our greatest passions — rowing and crypto — with our sponsorship of this historic event. 

Onward and Upward!

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss

Introducing The Gemini Boat Race 2021

We are proud to introduce Gemini Fund Solutions, the first unified platform providing fund managers with custody, clearing, trade execution, and other capital markets services __specifically designed for crypto ETFs, closed-end funds (CEFs), and other fund vehicles__.

The process for launching a crypto fund has been fragmented and disjointed, until now. Our regulated and secure platform is custom-built for institutions seeking a swift go-to-market blueprint that allows fund managers to seamlessly offer crypto products to their clients while managing all of the underlying infrastructure in a single place. 

[Gemini Fund Solutions](http://gemini.com/institutions#fundsolutions) will support fund issuers every step of the way throughout onboarding and implementation and provide technical support and ongoing operational expertise to help ensure that Gemini Fund Solutions is seamlessly integrated into their systems and workflow. Gemini Fund Solutions already custodies and supports two bitcoin ETFs sponsored by __Purpose Investments__ and __Evolve Funds Group__, which trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and currently hold more than $500 million combined. In addition, we also custody and support several public and private bitcoin and ether funds including those managed by __3iQ__, __CI Global Asset Management__, __Galaxy__, and __Ninepoint Partners__, which trade on the TSX and currently hold approximately $2 billion combined. 

Gemini Fund Solutions has met the industry's highest financial and security compliance standards. Gemini is the only exchange and custodian in the world to have completed both [SOC 1 Type 2](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-completes-soc-1-type-2-and-soc-2-type-2-examinations-leading-crypto) and [SOC 2 Type 2](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-completes-soc-1-type-2-and-soc-2-type-2-examinations-leading-crypto) examinations, which were certified by Deloitte, a fundamental requirement for safely managing financial products for investors.

Now more than ever, fund managers are searching for new ways to create exposure to the booming cryptocurrency industry and tap into the wave of investor interest. Gemini Fund Solutions provides rapid, reliable, and comprehensive access to the world of crypto through traditional investment vehicles. 

We invite any fund managers seeking to explore a crypto fund offering to reach out to [GFS@gemini.com](mailto:GFS@gemini.com).

Onward and Upward,

Team Gemini

Gemini Fund Solutions: A Unified Offering for Fund Managers

The typical cryptocurrency investor profile has traditionally been young, single males with above average income who are highly educated. However, survey data from our [State of UK Crypto Report](https://www.gemini.com/state-of-uk-crypto) shows that this profile is changing and becoming increasingly diverse across gender, income, and education, challenging long-held stereotypes.

Our report outlines that as crypto and bitcoin quickly become household names, our industry is evolving, expanding, and becoming more inclusive.

Conducted in the second half of 2020 and published in January of this year, the State of UK Crypto report shows that 13.5% of respondents are current or former crypto owners, a 152% increase from the 5.35% reported by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority in 2019.

Other notable results from the UK survey include:

- __Gender__: 41.6% of current and former crypto investors are women — and women also constitute 40% of those who are planning to invest in crypto
- __Age__: 33.1% of current and former crypto investors are between the ages of 25-34, 27.5% are between 18-24, and 24.2% are in the 35-44 age range
- __Income__: 91.8% of current and former crypto investors have a household income under £100,000
- __Relationships__: 56.9% of crypto investors are married, in a civil partnership, or live with a partner
- __Education__: 50.1% of current and former crypto investors have no university or advanced degree

Our data shows glimpses of how crypto’s reach is continuing to broaden beyond the early-adopter audience. The results further remind us that there is huge potential for the industry to educate investors, with 38.7% of respondents saying they either do not know anything at all about crypto, or do not know enough to invest.

Momentum is growing in the crypto industry across the globe and all walks of life, with consumer interest supported by the proliferation of easy, safe, and secure platforms on which to invest. These long term trends further point to a sustainable future for crypto as part of any balanced investment strategy.

At Gemini, we seek to empower individuals through crypto. Our UK State of Crypto Report shows interest is growing among a more diverse group of investors as the opportunity to build wealth with crypto is becoming increasingly clear. We invite you to [open an account](https://exchange.gemini.com/register) with us to begin your crypto journey.

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Gemini UK Report: Crypto Investors Are More Diverse as Interest Grows

The [Gemini Opportunity Fund](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-opportunity-fund-launches-to-support-bitcoin-core-developers) is pleased to announce a __$1 million dollar gift__ to the __Digital Currency Initiative (DCI) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Media Lab__. This gift will be made in $250,000 installments over four years. 

The DCI will use the funds to support open-source development and advance the security of the Bitcoin protocol. This will include funding a growing team of senior, specialized open-source developers focused on systemic threat mitigation and rigorous improvements to Bitcoin's underlying infrastructure, including code audits, increasing automation, and novel research into Bitcoin's long-term economic security.  

In addition to this gift, the Gemini Opportunity Fund recently provided __$50,000 in BTC funding to the Human Rights Foundation’s Bitcoin Development Fund__, which aims to support Bitcoin developers working to enhance privacy on the Bitcoin Network and ensure that bitcoin is a tool for financial freedom, as well as __$150,000 in BTC funding to John Newbery’s recently launched Brink__, a London-based, non-profit fellowship program that will sponsor and mentor exemplary Bitcoin developers. 

We remain deeply committed to supporting the Bitcoin Network and its developer community, and are thrilled to be furthering MIT’s work towards strengthening and ensuring the security of the Bitcoin network now and in the future.

If you think you’re a great candidate for the Gemini Opportunity Fund, or know someone who is, please reach out to us at [opportunityfund@gemini.com](mailto:opportunityfund@gemini.com).

Onward and Upward,

Team Gemini

Gemini Opportunity Fund Donates to MIT’s Digital Currency Initiative

As a Gemini user, you can access a variety of external web applications by simply using your Gemini credentials. This is made possible through integrations using the OAuth internet protocol, which enables you to link your Gemini account to external services without having to create a new account. For each connection you make to an external platform, you have complete control to approve what information to share from your Gemini account. 

All services that we integrate are reviewed by the Gemini team, and every integration is required to request specific levels of access to your account information. In the vast majority of cases, only basic transaction information is shared, and no access to your funds is permitted.

Below are some of the web applications you can access with your Gemini credentials:

- __[Brave](https://www.gemini.com/brave)__ is an open-source and free internet browser that blocks ads, ad trackers, and other identifying software used by websites to trace visitors. Users can buy, sell, and store their cryptocurrency through Brave’s Gemini Trading Widget, and Brave-verified content creators can receive Basic Attention Tokens (BAT), Brave’s native cryptocurrency, in their Gemini Creator Wallet. 
- __[TradingView](https://www.gemini.com/tradingview)__ is a community-focused trading platform. Our integration with TradingView allows you to execute trades on the Gemini Exchange directly via the TradingView interface, giving you access to advanced charting tools and a robust trading community.
- __[Samsung’s Blockchain Wallet](https://www.gemini.com/samsung)__ can connect directly to your Gemini account. Our integration connects Samsung Blockchain Wallet users to the Gemini Mobile App to buy, sell, and trade crypto.
- __[TaxBit’s Tax Center Suite](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-and-taxbit-partner-to-make-crypto-taxes-easier)__ technology automates and optimizes cryptocurrency tax reporting. Gemini users in the United States can download a completed tax report and upload it for use in a variety of popular tax filing software or hand it over to an accountant in the same format that the IRS requires.

We continue to seek innovative companies and developers to partner with as we build the future of finance, and encourage the development of [new integrations](https://docs.gemini.com/oauth/) that can enhance our customers’ crypto experience. If you’re interested in integrating with us, reach out to [trading@gemini.com](mailto:trading@gemini.com) for more information on developing new OAuth integrations.

To continue empowering the individual through crypto, we aim to provide Gemini users with access to the most efficient cryptocurrency products and tools to help you build and manage your portfolio. 

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Enhance Your Crypto Experience With Gemini Integrations

We are thrilled to announce the launch of [Cryptopedia](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia), a free resource that provides open-access, high-quality crypto education to the world.

Our mission at Gemini is to empower the individual through crypto and we believe that journey begins with understanding. We know that the lack of comprehensive education around crypto is one of the main barriers to entry and adoption for consumers — which is where Cryptopedia can help.

Cryptopedia caters to all levels of knowledge and interest — from the crypto-curious to the crypto-native. You can get started with the [fundamentals of Bitcoin](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/story/begin-with-bitcoin), take a deep dive into the [hottest projects in DeFi](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/explore#de-fi), explore how [trading and investing concepts](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/explore#trading-investing) apply to cryptocurrency, or learn about [cybersecurity best practices](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/explore#security) to keep your crypto safe. 

Cryptopedia is also a platform for crypto experts to share their knowledge with the world. Founders and thought leaders from some of the most prominent and innovative crypto projects — such as Brave CEO Brendan Eich, Aave CEO Stani Kulechov, Tezos co-founder Kathleen Breitman, and many more — have joined our [Expert Network](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia/authors). We plan on further collaboration with these experts and invite other crypto leaders, visionaries, and technologists to __join us by emailing cryptopediasupport@gemini.com__.

We hope Cryptopedia becomes your go-to resource for all things crypto. Happy reading!

Onward and Upward,

Cameron Winklevoss
 President

[![02-10-2020 Cryptopedia blog banner](//images.ctfassets.net/jg6lo9a2ukvr/5oiTHYsfgjDrd6RCxGodv/84e3324e94dba3780d2aff2b22e89331/02-10-2020_Cryptopedia_blog_banner.png)](https://www.gemini.com/cryptopedia)

Gemini Launches Cryptopedia, A Free Crypto Education Platform

Over the past months, growing support for the Gemini dollar (GUSD) by Decentralized Finance (DeFi) projects and platforms has led to a surge in its market cap to more than $100 million. 

As individual investors and financial institutions enter the DeFi ecosystem, they will seek a safe and reliable bridge between centralized finance and this new financial frontier — the [Gemini dollar](https://www.gemini.com/dollar) is that bridge.

Below is a snapshot of platforms that support GUSD.

1. __Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs)__ provide cryptocurrency traders with access to a variety of trading pairs, some of which might not be widely available. GUSD trading pools are supported by the following DEXs: __Balancer__, __Curve__, __Uniswap__
 
 

2. __DeFi Lending__ platforms provide permissionless loans without a central authority underwriting transactions. Crypto holders can stake their coins to lend and receive a yield generated from the interest paid by borrowers. GUSD holders can stake on the following lending platforms: __Aave__, __Maker__
 
 

3. __Aggregators__ in the DeFi space provide solutions for traders looking to find the best prices across DEXs, or develop algorithmic investment strategies across platforms. GUSD is supported by the following DeFi aggregators: __Yearn Finance__, __Matcha__, __1 Inch__
 
 

4. __DeFi Insurance Funds__ have increased in prominence, providing decentralized insurance products. GUSD is supported on: __DerivaDex Insurance Fund__
 
 

5. __DeFi Portfolio Managers__ help users manage their finances across the DeFi ecosystem. GUSD is supported by the following DeFi portfolio managers: __Zapper__, __Zerion__, __Argent Wallet__
 
 

The Gemini dollar is an ERC20 stablecoin built on the Ethereum Network that combines the creditworthiness and price stability of the U.S. dollar with our deep commitment to regulatory compliance. The funds backing GUSD are held with State Street Bank and Trust, the largest financial custodian in the world. Each month, the U.S. dollar deposit balance is examined by BPM LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, to verify the 1:1 peg. All examinations are [readily posted](https://www.gemini.com/dollar#reports) for open review on our website.

As we continue on our mission to empower the individual through crypto, we are excited about the promise of DeFi and the greater choice, independence, and opportunity that it can provide.

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Gemini Dollar Surpasses $100M Market Cap as DeFi Soars

2020 was a blockbuster year for [Nifty Gateway](https://niftygateway.com). We helped artists and creators sell more than $12 million of their digital art and collectibles since we launched 9 months ago in March 2020. While blockchain, crypto, and DeFi continue to have a dramatic impact on the financial services industry, non-fungible tokens or NFTs ("nifties") have begun to energize and reimagine what is possible in the world of art. __We believe nifties are the future, and we will not rest until 1 billion people are collecting nifties.__

Bolstered by high-profile drops from artists like Beeple and Trevor Jones, who each made millions of dollars in total sales last year, Nifty Gateway has sustained 50% month-over-month growth since March, and we are thrilled and encouraged by the booming interest and engagement from the community.

Nifty Gateway works with artists and brands to create limited nifty collections that are exclusively available on our platform, which leverages Gemini’s industry-leading security. Each collection is dropped at a specific date and time, and is available for purchase during a limited period. You can display nifties you purchase on your profile, withdraw them to an external wallet, or deposit nifties from an external wallet into your Nifty Gateway account. 

As Nifty Gateway enters its first full year, here are some of our highlights from 2020:

- __$4.2 million+__ (largest single drop, by artist Beeple)
- __$11 million+__ (total value of nifties sold between March and December 2020)
- __$1.4 million+__ (value of a collaboration drop between artists Pak and Trevor Jones)
- __$777,777__ (largest single nifty sale, by artist Beeple, which is a world record)
- __$370,000__ (made by 18-year old artist FEWOCiOUS on a single drop on his 18th birthday)

We founded Nifty Gateway in 2018 with the belief that crypto networks and the blockchain have the power to fundamentally change the art world by creating *__greater choice, independence, and opportunity for artists, creators, and collectors__*. Prior to the development of nifties, digital art was not scarce. It had no beginning and end. It was effortlessly reproducible and therefore, in many ways valueless. Through the creation of unique, identifiable, and secure digital art on the Ethereum blockchain, nifties have given provenance to digital art — and in doing so, given it value. 

Nifty Gateway’s growth, and the notable success of artists and creators using the platform to sell digital art and collectibles, is another testament to blockchain’s power to change the world and empower individuals through crypto. Join us as we continue to bring new and exciting artists and collections to the platform in 2021!

Onward and Upward!

Duncan and Griffin Cock Foster  
Nifty Gateway Co-Founders

The Explosive Rise of Nifty Gateway and Digital Art

We are delighted to announce that we have completed both __SOC 1 Type 2__ and __SOC 2 Type 2__ examinations, covering our exchange and Gemini Custody™ products. The exams were conducted by Deloitte & Touche LLP and make us the __world’s first cryptocurrency custodian *and* exchange__ to demonstrate this standard of financial operations and security compliance.

At Gemini, we aim to foster trust by demonstrating through action that as a company we follow through on the commitments we’ve made to upholding the highest levels of security and compliance for the benefit of our customers. We have done so by showing definitively through these independent third-party SOC evaluations that our operations and security compliance structures meet robust industry standards. We believe that these standards should be upheld by any cryptocurrency exchange and custodian.

In January 2019, we became the first crypto exchange and custodian in the world to complete a [SOC 2 Type 1](https://gemini.com/blog/gemini-completes-soc-2-review-a-worlds-first-for-a-cryptocurrency-exchange-and-custodian) examination, and followed that up with a [SOC 2 Type 2](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-completes-soc-2-type-2-examination-another-first-in-crypto) examination in January 2020. Building on these milestones, we completed a [SOC 1 Type 1](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-custody-and-exchange-completes-soc-1-type-1-examination) examination in April 2020 and recently completed our __SOC 1 Type 2__ examination in December 2020. 

The SOC 1 evaluates the design and implementation of our financial operations and reporting controls, while the SOC 2 evaluates the design and implementation of our security, availability, and confidentiality controls. The Type 1 examinations assessed those processes at a point in time while our Type 2 examinations test that our system controls across our exchange and custody product have been operating over the period covering 2020.

Gemini will continue to uphold the highest standards of security and operational compliance by undergoing __SOC 1 Type 2__ and __SOC 2 Type 2__ examinations on a yearly basis moving forward. 

Onward and Upward,

Yusuf Hussain  
Head of Risk

Gemini Completes SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2 Examinations — Leading Crypto Industry

Across the globe, Esports has grown into an unstoppable force. At Gemini, we believe in another unstoppable force — non-fungible tokens (NFTs). NFTs have allowed artists to create digital artwork that is scarce for the first time in history, and the best part is that there are still so many unexplored use cases. __We believe it is only a matter of time before Esports and NFTs converge in a major way.__ 

That is why we are incredibly excited to announce the release of an exclusive OG Esports NFT collection through our company [Nifty Gateway](https://niftygateway.com/), on January 23rd at 2pm EST, that features a total of 12 NFTs — each utilizing the 2018 Dota 2 Championship ring.

We are also simultaneously releasing two open editions in collaboration with the digital artist Filip Hodas. We believe the NFTs featured in the collection will appeal to digital art collectors and Esports fans alike. We look forward to seeing how Esports companies can use NFTs to interact with their fans and enhance fan engagement going forward. 

Both Esports and NFTs are on the rise globally, and mainstream audiences are increasingly exposed to both industries as our world’s digital transformation accelerates. We are incredibly excited that JMR Luna and his team at OG Esports decided to explore NFTs in the Esports space with us, and hope this leads to more innovation at the intersection of NFTs and gaming. We both believe that this is the next step forward for brands and teams looking to connect and provide valuable collectibles and merchandise to their fanbase, and we hope to see the use of NFTs among Esports teams proliferate in the coming year.

Onward and Upward!

Tyler Winkelvoss  
Chief Executive Officer

NFTs and Esports, a Match Made in Heaven

Today, we are thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of the Gemini Credit Card, a credit card that lets you __earn up to 3% back__ in bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies for every dollar you spend!

The Gemini Credit Card __[waitlist](https://gemini.com/credit-card/waitlist) is now open__. Those who join will get early access to apply. The Gemini Credit Card will be available to U.S. residents in every state and will be accepted wherever major cards are accepted. Rewards will be automatically deposited into your Gemini account. 

Our effort to launch the Gemini Credit Card has been accelerated by our acquisition of [Blockrize](https://www.blockrize.com/), a fintech startup that has been building a credit card with cryptocurrency rewards. Blockrize waitlist members have automatically been added to the Gemini Credit Card waitlist. 

Blockrize is our second acquisition, following the acquisition of [Nifty Gateway](https://niftygateway.com) in November 2019. The Blockrize team, led by CEO and founder Thomas Harrison, will play a central role in the development and rollout of the Gemini Credit Card.

Join us as we redefine the credit card experience!

Onward and Upward,

Tyler Winklevoss  
Chief Executive Officer

Gemini to Offer Credit Card with Crypto Rewards

Following our [support for the Singapore Dollar (SGD)](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-now-supports-the-singapore-dollar-sgd), Singapore residents can now use SingPass to facilitate opening a Gemini account. After a successful MyInfo integration, Singapore residents can now simply log in to SingPass to auto-fill Gemini’s account registration forms. 

MyInfo is a digital data initiative developed by the Government Technology Agency of Singapore to facilitate online transactions, and SingPass serves as a gateway to funnel user information stored with MyInfo.

By streamlining the application process for Singapore residents, while also ensuring the highest level of security and compliance, Gemini continues to empower the individual through crypto. 

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Gemini Streamlines Application Process for Singapore Residents With SingPass

Gemini Gives Back started as an employee-led initiative in 2017 by members of #TeamGemini who wanted to help those who are in need. What started as small groups volunteering locally has now grown into an organized effort that fosters community-driven initiatives, both inside and outside of Gemini. 

As the globe faces a deadly pandemic and our country addresses widespread discrimination, 2020 has proved to be a difficult yet inspiring year, with diverse groups coming together to fight for social justice and effect change in our communities. Even though we are all working remotely, Gemini has been more united than ever in supporting each other and our neighbors.

Here is a snapshot of some of work we have done in 2020 and how you can get involved:

![support social justice](//images.ctfassets.net/jg6lo9a2ukvr/2WNeN9AZYAcLRPHwPkTvAP/ed95d02c90e2016370d61bbd338a0185/support_social_justice.png)

__Supporting Social Justice__

Over the past year, Gemini executives have had powerful conversations with our Black colleagues about their experiences. Given these discussions, we reexamined the commitments we've made at Gemini and to the global crypto community. Among the affirmations we have made this year are that Black Lives Matter and that we stand with the Black community today and forever. The actions we have taken as a company include donating $250K across five organizations focused on education, economic, and social justice reform for the Black community recommended by, voted on, and chosen by our employees. The organizations we have donated to are the [NAACP Legal Defense Fund](https://www.naacpldf.org/), the [Equal Justice Initiative](https://www.eji.org/), [Chicago Youth Centers](https://www.chicagoyouthcenters.org/), the [Black Parent Initiative](https://www.thebpi.org/), and [IntegrateNYC](https://www.integratenyc.org/).

We invite you to donate to these groups and to read our [full statement](https://gemini.com/blog/black-lives-matter) on Black Lives Matter.

![donation matching](//images.ctfassets.net/jg6lo9a2ukvr/u3yBl59dyLNbNTQALpEp0/dfefd88bf13a63c929c53c761f3d721e/donation_matching.png)

__Donation Matching__

This year, Gemini instituted a gift-matching program of up to $1K per employee, per year, to support organizations they choose. Since the launch of the program, Gemini employees have requested donation matching for more than 100 nonprofit organizations that do work across the globe. A cross-section of the nonprofits that are approved for donation matching include [Black Girls Code Inc.](https://www.blackgirlscode.com/donations.html), [Know Your Rights Camp](https://www.knowyourrightscamp.com/), [The Water Project](https://thewaterproject.org/give-water), [The Bowery Mission Foundation Inc.](https://www.bowery.org/donate/), [No Kid Hungry](https://www.nokidhungry.org/ways-you-can-help), [Gamers Outreach](https://gamersoutreach.org/donate/), [Code to Inspire](https://www.codetoinspire.org/), [Engender Help](https://www.engenderhealth.org/help/overview/), and the [Ali Forney Center](https://www.aliforneycenter.org/). We hope you join us in supporting these nonprofits that work with diverse communities throughout the United States.

![bitcoin tuesday](//images.ctfassets.net/jg6lo9a2ukvr/oUfLLLMq6Axnz2rtvqGSc/533bda423dc77ab0edbfc9545eeecf9c/bitcoin_tuesday.png)

__#BitcoinTuesday on Giving Tuesday__

Giving Tuesday is a global movement that has encouraged individuals to do good over the past several years and has inspired millions of people to engage in a simple act of generosity. For the second year running, Gemini [collaborated with The Giving Block](https://gemini.com/blog/gemini-gives-back-on-bitcointuesday) to support [#BitcoinTuesday](https://bitcointuesday.org/), part of the larger #GivingTuesday initiative. This year, Gemini donated $20,000 in crypto to Save the Children, No Kid Hungry, and Children International to support the health and development of children around the world. 

You can donate to more than 120 nonprofits [with cryptocurrency](https://getstarted.gemini.com/bitcoin-tuesday/) through The Giving Block.

![opportunity fund](//images.ctfassets.net/jg6lo9a2ukvr/3daKAmNxqOvwx7gp4wMOd/ead4a384e0a950758f09cf752f868112/opportunity_fund.png)

__Gemini Opportunity Fund__ 

Earlier this month, we announced the creation of the Gemini Opportunity Fund, a donor-advised fund that will support Bitcoin Core development through grants, fellowships, and donations. The Gemini Opportunity Fund will back Bitcoin Core developers who are working to improve the usability, security, and resilience of the Bitcoin Network. The Fund’s first donations will total $200,000, with $50,000 in BTC donated to the Human Rights Foundation’s [Bitcoin Development Fund](https://hrf.org/programs_posts/devfund/), and $150,000 in BTC donated to John Newbery’s recently launched [Brink](https://brink.dev/), a London-based, non-profit fellowship program that will sponsor and mentor exemplary Bitcoin developers. With this initiative, we continue powering the individual through crypto.

We welcome you to learn more about the [Gemini Opportunity Fund](https://gemini.com/blog/gemini-opportunity-fund-launches-to-support-bitcoin-core-developers).

![coat donation](//images.ctfassets.net/jg6lo9a2ukvr/1kCsZFcsd3nYBRE8At1WxO/e36f7c7ac4352b73e52f63823388b11d/coat_donation.png)

__New York Cares Coat Drive__ 

All New Yorkers need a warm coat, especially this time of year. Even though many of us are working remotely, many of New York’s essential workers cannot afford to work from the comfort of their homes. Imagine you couldn't get to work, pick up your prescriptions from the pharmacy, or send your child to school all because you didn't have a decent coat to wear. Every year many New Yorkers face this reality, and even more so this year. New York Cares organizes a coat drive to give the gift of warmth. For every $20 raised New York Cares can purchase one warm coat for those in need. We partnered with New York Cares to host our own Coat Drive fundraiser. 

Find ways you can [donate here](https://www.newyorkcares.org/coat-drive).

![bitcoin pizza](//images.ctfassets.net/jg6lo9a2ukvr/37u7MmUIrtxVkg10ulL4TX/51a6c04442a7e272af34fdc26de347fa/bitcoin_pizza.png)

__Bitcoin Pizza Day 10th Anniversary__

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Bitcoin Pizza Day on May 22, we worked with Slice Out Hunger and Papa John's to donate pizza to New York’s frontline workers battling so bravely against COVID-19. Through this initiative, we also raised funds for No Kid Hungry, a group that works to feed the one in four kids who could face hunger. We donated $25K to Slice Out Hunger and No Kid Hungry, and through our partnerships we delivered 500+ pizzas to New York’s bravest. Bitcoin Pizza Day commemorates a now famous transaction of 10,000 bitcoins for two pizzas. At the current bitcoin price that’s more than $260 million for two pies!

We invite you to continue supporting [these important groups](https://getstarted.gemini.com/bitcoin-pizza-day/).

__Looking Ahead__

We look forward to building on our 2020 initiatives by continuing to expand our relationship with the organizations and people that have helped shape Gemini Gives Back. We will continue to work closely with our community to help those in need as we follow our mission to empower the individual through crypto. 

Onward and Upward,

Team Gemini


2020: A Year of Giving Back

We now support the Singapore dollar (SGD)! You can now buy crypto with SGD using a debit card and deposit SGD into your Gemini account using FAST transfers. SGD trading is available on both our mobile app and website.

Our support of SGD is an important step toward making crypto accessible across the globe and providing you with more trading options. BTC/SGD and ETH/SGD trading pairs are also available on our ActiveTrader™ interface and API! We're proud to be the first North American exchange to launch SGD books and look forward to expanding our service.

Singapore is a financial epicenter in the heart of Asia and is a fast-growing market for cryptocurrency. Supporting SGD is another exciting milestone on our mission — *__to empower the individual through crypto__*.

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

*Updated: Jan. 27, 2021*

Gemini Now Supports the Singapore Dollar (SGD)

The Gemini Security team has seen an increase in crypto scams, as digital currencies have gained in popularity over the last year. These scams occur when hackers compromise a social media account and post deceptive content in order to solicit cryptocurrency from the account’s followers. The deceptive content posted by these hackers usually references prominent cryptocurrency exchanges, celebrities, or business leaders in order to exploit the victim’s trust.

Earlier this month, hackers associated with these scams escalated their activity when they compromised two YouTube channels that maintain over eight million subscribers. In this particular case, the hackers modified these channels to impersonate our brand, using the Gemini name and logo. In light of these ongoing events, we want to share how these attacks work, discuss Gemini’s ongoing actions to protect our customers, and provide some tips for YouTube channel owners to better secure their accounts.

__What Happened With the Hacked Accounts Impersonating Gemini?__  

The hacked YouTube accounts involved in this month’s events belonged to popular gamers [Natalan](https://www.youtube.com/natalan) and [El Fedelobo](https://www.youtube.com/user/elfedelobo), both of whom lost access to their YouTube channels. The hackers then used the compromised accounts to impersonate Gemini and perpetuate a cryptocurrency giveaway scam. Thankfully, after numerous reports flagging the videos and channels as scams, YouTube was able to step in and restore channel access to the rightful owners.

__How Crypto Giveaway Scams Work__

Giveaway scams are the most prevalent type of crypto scam and are typically posted to Facebook, Twitter, Medium, and YouTube. 

Most of these scams have similar components:

1. A hacker compromises and/or impersonates a social media account of a prominent public figure or crypto exchange. 
2. The account begins soliciting bitcoin or ethereum with a “send one, get two back” scheme. For any unsuspecting victims who send through crypto to the wallets highlighted on the fake accounts, that crypto will be lost forever. To be clear, __neither Gemini, nor any reputable cryptocurrency exchange, will ask you to transfer cryptocurrency payments through social media accounts__. To deposit cryptocurrency with Gemini, always make sure you receive the wallet address directly from [Gemini.com](https://www.gemini.com/).
3. Scammers often go one step further by incorporating a sense of urgency. This could manifest itself as a “Live Video” on YouTube or a statement noting that only a limited number of coins will be "given" away. The goal here is to encourage victims to act quickly and without scrutiny.

Once a victim sends funds to a "giveaway" address, they are gone forever. Due to the finality of cryptocurrency transactions, there is no way to reverse a transaction unless the recipient decides to return the funds. This makes these types of “giveaway” scams highly effective for malicious actors.

__What We’re Doing to Protect Gemini Users__

Gemini’s Security Team takes scams seriously and we use custom developed tools and third party services to proactively search the web and social media for scams, including those impersonating our brand. We are constantly analyzing trends in the space, updating our procedures, and building upon our scam detection systems.

Once alerted to a scam, Gemini protects our customers by blocking transactions to bad wallet addresses. Within the past three months alone, Gemini has prevented dozens of transactions destined for scam wallet addresses, saving our customers more than $200k.

__How to Protect Yourself From Crypto Scams__

The best protection is to educate yourself — anyone seeking to invest in cryptocurrency should be acutely aware of scams impacting the industry. Gemini covered a number of scams affecting the crypto ecosystem in a [previous blog post](https://www.gemini.com/blog/common-online-scams-and-how-to-avoid-them). An easy rule of thumb is that __if you don’t recognize a website or social media account, do not interact with it__. Gemini will never ask you to send cryptocurrency through social media, and other reputable exchanges shouldn’t do so either. 

__How to Protect Yourself as a YouTube Channel Owner__

The events earlier this month not only affected the targets of the crypto scam, but also the YouTube channel owners. It can be confusing and frustrating to wake up one day to see your channel changed without your permission. If you find yourself in this predicament, [follow these steps](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/76187) laid out by Google to recover your account. Additionally, to protect yourself from this ever happening in the first place, it's important to [secure your Youtube account](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9701986). We would like to highlight using security keys for two-step verification as an especially strong defense against account takeovers. In fact, this is what we at Gemini [recommend to our customers](https://www.gemini.com/blog/gemini-becomes-first-crypto-exchange-to-support-hardware-security-keys-on) as well. 

Online scams are not new or limited to the cryptocurrency industry. But crypto users must be more aware of scams since all crypto transactions are final, unlike in traditional banking. Gemini’s Security and Fraud teams are continuously enhancing our ability to protect our customers from scams and other threats. If you’re passionate about building security solutions that solve unique challenges, consider applying to one of the [many roles](https://www.gemini.com/careers/security) we have open on the Security Team at Gemini. 

Onward and Upward,

Tory Cullen  
Associate Director, Threat Detection & Response

Our Take on YouTube Bitcoin Scams

Today, we are excited to welcome David Abner as Gemini’s Global Head of Business Development. 

David will spearhead the expansion of Gemini’s institutional business and bolster our reputation as a trusted and secure cryptocurrency exchange and custodian. He will manage a team focused on cultivating Gemini’s relationships with major institutional partners and high-net-worth individuals on a global scale. 

David joins us after launching Dabner Capital Partners, a boutique advisory and investment firm focused on exchange traded funds (ETFs) and digital assets, following more than a decade at WisdomTree Asset Management. He served as Executive Vice President of WisdomTree and CEO of WisdomTree Europe, where he oversaw a significant expansion in assets under management as it became the ninth largest ETF provider in Europe. Prior to WisdomTree David was managing director and head of ETFs at both BNP Paribas and Bear Stearns. David also authored *The ETF Handbook* and is an educator in the ETF industry. 

The cryptocurrency industry continues to experience tremendous growth and 2020 saw more institutions pour resources into the new asset class, setting the stage for wider adoption and stronger use cases globally. David will work to ensure that Gemini remains the partner of choice for institutions seeking knowledge and guidance as they look to engage with cryptocurrencies in a secure and regulated manner. 

David is the latest addition to an incredibly accomplished group of senior leaders who have joined Gemini over the past few years, including [David Damato](https://gemini.com/blog/gemini-welcomes-david-damato-as-chief-security-officer) as Chief Security Officer and [Sydney Schaub](https://gemini.com/blog/welcoming-our-general-counsel) as Chief Legal Officer (formerly General Counsel).

Welcome to the team, David!

If you are interested in joining David and his team as Gemini expands across the globe, please stay tuned for openings on our [careers page](https://gemini.com/careers) – we’re hiring!

Onward and Upward,

Noah B. Perlman  
Chief Operating Officer

Gemini Welcomes David Abner as Global Head of Business Development

Gemini is thrilled to announce the creation of the *__Gemini Opportunity Fund__*, a donor-advised fund that will support Bitcoin Core development through grants, fellowships, and donations. The *Gemini Opportunity Fund* will look to back Bitcoin Core developers who are working to improve the usability, security, and resilience of the Bitcoin Network.

The *Gemini Opportunity Fund* will initially provide __$50,000 in BTC__ funding to the [Human Rights Foundation](https://hrf.org/)’s *Bitcoin Development Fund*, which aims to support Bitcoin developers working to enhance privacy on the Bitcoin Network and ensure that bitcoin is a tool for financial freedom.

The *Gemini Opportunity Fund* will also provide __$150,000 in BTC__ funding to John Newbery’s recently launched [Brink](https://brink.dev/), a London-based, non-profit fellowship program that will sponsor and mentor exemplary Bitcoin developers. Fellows will work closely with one another and be mentored by John, formerly a Chaincode Labs developer, and Mike Schmidt, a Blockstream alumnus.

These are just our first steps. We are deeply committed to supporting the Bitcoin Network and its developer community and look forward to expanding on our initial support in the future. So, stay tuned for more to come!

If you think you’re a great candidate for the *Gemini Opportunity Fund*, or know someone who is, please reach out to us at [opportunityfund@gemini.com](mailto:opportunityfund@gemini.com).

Onward and Upward,

Team Gemini

Gemini Opportunity Fund Launches to Support Bitcoin Core Developers

This Giving Tuesday, we are proud to collaborate once more with The Giving Block on their #BitcoinTuesday initiative with a $20,000 donation to Save the Children, No Kid Hungry, and Children International. With this donation we are honored to support the health and development of children around the world. 

We invite you to [donate as well](https://getstarted.gemini.com/bitcoin-tuesday/)!

Giving Tuesday is a global movement that has encouraged individuals to do good over the past several years and has inspired millions of people to engage in a simple act of generosity. The crypto community has also joined the movement with [#BitcoinTuesday](https://bitcointuesday.org), an official cryptocurrency initiative on the world’s biggest day of charitable giving.

You also don’t have to wait until the next #BitcoinTuesday to donate. More than 120 nonprofits take cryptocurrency donations through The Giving Block and they accept donations at any time. By supporting these nonprofits with a crypto donation you can bolster cryptocurrency adoption and lower your tax burden while supporting good causes around the world.

Happy #BitcoinTuesday!

Onward and Upward!

Gemini Gives Back on #BitcoinTuesday

This month we’ve highlighted the importance of [using two-factor authentication](https://gemini.com/blog/secure-your-accounts-with-more-than-just-a-password/) to ensure you remain safe online. 

But how do these safety measures actually work? 

In our final Cybersecurity Awareness Month post, our security team digs into the technical details behind one-time passwords, two-factor authentication, hardware security keys, and what the future holds for online security. 

Passwords have certain unavoidable shortcomings that, while acceptable years ago, are now exploitable by attackers on the web today. That’s why it’s important you use two-factor authentication, often called 2FA, to protect your accounts.

While all types of 2FA are more secure than using just a password, some do a better job of keeping your credentials safe. In this article, we’ll break down the three most common types of 2FA methods from least to most secure. 

__One-Time Passwords (OTPs)__

OTPs are by far the most common 2FA method due to their ease of use. The most common iteration of OTPs is a random password (only briefly valid) sent via SMS, email, or provided through a mobile application that you must use in addition to a password. 

The downfall of OTPs is that they are still passwords and therefore have the same weaknesses. If an attacker gains access to one of these codes, no matter how briefly, then your account could be at risk. Despite this risk, you should still use this method when available — in 2019, [Google said](https://security.googleblog.com/2019/05/new-research-how-effective-is-basic.html) that SMS-based 2FA helped block 96% of phishing attacks. 

__Push-Based 2FA__

Push-based two-factor authentication is less common but more secure than OTPs because there’s no password involved. In a push-based authentication flow, the website you’re logging in to sends a push notification to a phone with a request to authenticate. This method can be facilitated by Security as a Service (SaaS) providers like Duo or Okta, and is often used for enterprise authentication. 

The largest security concern for push-based 2FA is accepting an impostrous push, where an attacker has already stolen your password and initiates a push notification which you erroneously accept. 

__Hardware Security Tokens__ 

Earlier this month, we advised you to [use hardware security keys everywhere you can](https://gemini.com/blog/keep-yourself-and-your-cryptos-secure-with-one-simple-step/) to enhance your online security. 

The safest way to implement 2FA is with a Universal Two-Factor security token, or U2F. When employing this type of hardware security token, a website requests a U2F authentication. You are then prompted to connect the security token to your computer using USB, Bluetooth, or sometimes via Near Field Communication (NFC), and the token cryptographically signs the site’s request.

Most importantly, this method does not use passwords. 

Using a hardware key provides an extra level of security as you must physically interact with the token by either pressing it or tapping it against your laptop or mobile device. This means there’s little to no chance of incorrectly approving a request since the key is speaking directly to the website through your device.

__WebAuthn: Leaving Passwords Behind__

The shortcomings among OTPs, push-based 2FA, and hardware security tokens is that they all just serve as a cover for the main problem: passwords. 

[WebAuthn](https://gemini.com/blog/securing-your-gemini-account-with-webauthn) is a standalone authentication method that leaves passwords in the past: the end goal is to replace multi-factor authentication with a strong and cryptographic single factor authentication. Simply, WebAuthn is a browser application programming interface that allows you to register and prove ownership of your credentials for a given website.

Many devices capable of either verifying you biometrically or with a PIN are also capable of handling WebAuthn requests. Laptops that support Windows Hello, many Android phones, and most recently released iOS devices are all capable of using WebAuthn because the same hardware used for local authentication can be applied. 

Gemini gives everyone the ability to protect their accounts using the best security standards available. While you will still need a Gemini password for now, you can start using WebAuthn with either a [hardware security token](https://support.gemini.com/hc/articles/360044275792) or with Windows Hello and TouchID supported laptops.

In the meantime, we have partnered with hardware security key maker Yubico to promote staying safe online. Use the promo code YK20E-GEMINI20 for $20 off any two YubiKey Series 5 keys at checkout on the [Yubico website](https://www.yubico.com/store/?utm_source=Gemini-blog-oct15). The promotion ends November 30, 2020, 11:59pm Pacific.

As Cybersecurity Awareness Month comes to a close, we urge you to take this year’s theme to heart: Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart!

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Two-Factor Authentication: A Deep Dive

We are pleased to announce that Gemini will begin implementing [TaxBit’s Tax Center Suite](https://taxbit.com/enterprise) technology to automate and optimize your cryptocurrency tax reporting. This will make it __simple and easy for you to complete your crypto taxes__.

When Tax Center Suite is fully implemented on Gemini, customers in the United States will be able to download a completed tax report that can be uploaded for use in a variety of popular tax filing software or handed over to an accountant in the same format that the IRS requires. 

Tax Center Suite will also give you __tools to monitor and lower your tax liability (or potentially increase your tax refund)__ as you use Gemini throughout the year. You will be able to see the real-time tax impact of your transactions, as well as receive trade alerts when tax saving opportunities are available.

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Gemini and TaxBit Partner to Make Crypto Taxes Easier

Last week we offered one piece of crucial advice from our security team: [use hardware security keys](https://gemini.com/blog/keep-yourself-and-your-cryptos-secure-with-one-simple-step) to protect yourself online everywhere you can. 

This week, as we continue to highlight Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we’re taking a step back to review why it’s more important than ever to ensure your online accounts have two-factor authentication enabled, and how setting up this second level of security on your online accounts can help keep you safe in a digital world.

__More User Accounts Lead to More Risk__ 

As the global workforce increasingly relies on the Internet, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis, we’ve seen people open more accounts online. More accounts means more potential for your username and password to become compromised. 

The average user has more than 100 accounts linked to a single email address, all of which should have a unique password. Without a password manager many people are likely to reuse passwords across various accounts or use weak passwords that are easy to remember. 

Attackers nowadays tend to be computer programs that are quick and effective at both figuring out weak passwords and helping convince unsuspecting users into handing over their credentials, typically through fraudulent emails. Known as phishing attacks, these fraudulent emails are among the most common threat vectors on the web. 

Verizon’s RISK team noted in their [annual Data Breach investigations report](https://enterprise.verizon.com/resources/reports/dbir/) that, since at least 2017, more than 80% of data breaches have leveraged stolen or weak credentials. This data point may make it sound like users are primarily responsible for these breaches, but credentials can also be stolen from vulnerable websites without you even knowing about it. 

__Second Factors for Increased Account Security__

Our current system of using passwords is inherently flawed. Your password is a secret that only you’re supposed to know, but the minute it is compromised, there’s little recourse until you’re notified of the breach. One way to protect your accounts is to use some form of second factor, which serves as a second layer of protection to ensure the security of your accounts. 

If passwords are something you know, then a second factor (2FA) is something that you have. The actual thing-that-you-have for a second-factor can vary: 

  1. it could be a cell phone, capable of receiving one-time passcodes after you’ve typed in a password
  2. it could be a security token, that either displays a one-time code or plugs directly into your computer, authenticating you to a website when you touch it 
  3. it may also not even be a thing, like an email account through which you can receive codes or direct links to access a website 

These 2FAs provide an additional layer of authentication, requiring you to have access to a device or application and use it to provide an extra credential that you wouldn’t know on your own.

Not all 2FAs are created equal, however. Tune in next week where we take a deep dive into the different types of 2FAs and how they stack up against each other. 

In the meantime, we have partnered with hardware security key maker Yubico to promote staying safe online. Use the promo code YK20E-GEMINI20 for $20 off any two YubiKey Series 5 keys at checkout on the [Yubico website](https://www.yubico.com/store/?utm_source=Gemini-blog-oct15). The promotion ends November 30, 2020, 11:59pm Pacific. You can learn more about hardware security keys [here](https://support.gemini.com/hc/articles/360044275792-How-Do-I-Use-My-Security-Key-). 

As we continue to focus on the security of Gemini customers, we wish you all a safe and secure Cybersecurity Awareness Month!

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini

Secure Your Accounts With More Than Just a Password

One of the themes this Cybersecurity Awareness Month is “if you connect it, protect it” — we couldn’t agree more. Gemini’s security team wanted to take this opportunity to share one of the most impactful steps we think you can take to protect yourself and your crypto: use a hardware security key.

__More Than a Token Gesture__

To start, we suggest you use hardware security keys like [YubiKey](https://www.yubico.com/products/?utm_source=Gemini-blog-oct15) or [Google’s Titan Key](https://cloud.google.com/titan-security-key) for all your important online accounts, including Gemini. 

A hardware security key keeps your account safe even if your password is compromised. They provide the strongest level of protection when authenticating to your Gemini account by delivering hardware-backed, cryptographic proof of your identity, ensuring that only you, the holder of the physical hardware key, can gain access to your account, even if an attacker has compromised your password or successfully executed a SIM-swap attack on your mobile device.

Gemini employs [WebAuthn](https://webauthn.guide), which is considered the gold standard of hardware security key authentication for web applications, to ensure user accounts are kept secure. Logging in is faster and simpler with a two-step process: 

- Enter your username and password
- Tap the hardware security key with your finger or hold it to the back of your smartphone

__How Do I Set Up a Hardware Security Key on Gemini?__

You can register your hardware security keys to your Gemini account and review some frequently asked questions [here](https://support.gemini.com/hc/articles/360044275792-How-Do-I-Use-My-Security-Key-). Or, watch How to Add a Hardware Security Key to Your Gemini Account.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NB2-CE6wgeE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The Gemini mobile app ([Android app](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gemini.android.app&hl=en_US), [Apple app](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gemini-buy-bitcoin-instantly/id1408914447)) is the [first crypto exchange mobile app](https://blog.gemini.com/blog/gemini-becomes-first-crypto-exchange-to-support-hardware-security-keys-on) that can be used with dedicated hardware security keys. Just hold your YubiKey 5 NFC, YubiKey 5C NFC or Google Titan Key to the back of your phone and enter your password to login via mobile in the safest and most secure manner possible.

__Two Hardware Security Keys Are Better Than One__

If all this is music to your ears then you may want to jump in with both feet and enable your account to only use security keys to log in. To do this, register two hardware security keys so you can use one as a backup in case your primary security key is lost, stolen, or damaged. Once you’ve added a second security key you can disable other non-hardware-based security features on your account. 

To set up a second hardware security key head to your Gemini account settings and click the security tab. If you already have a security key registered to your account you’ll have the option to add a second key.

For Cybersecurity Awareness Month we partnered with Yubico to help users take their account security to the next level. Use the promo code YK20E-GEMINI20 for $20 off any two YubiKey Series 5 keys at checkout on the [Yubico website](https://www.yubico.com/store/?utm_source=Gemini-blog-oct15). The promotion ends November 30, 2020, 11:59pm Pacific.

__Get a Hardware Security Key and Use It Everywhere__

We’ve just got one piece of advice this Cybersecurity Awareness Month and it’s simple: get a hardware security key and use it everywhere you can. [This page has a list](https://twofactorauth.org/) of the types of authentication that popular web applications support, so take a look to find out where you can use your hardware security keys and stay safe out there.

Onward and upward!

Team Gemini

Keep Yourself and Your Cryptos Secure With One Simple Step

Our co-founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss recently held a Twitter Q&A with Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox following the launch of [shielded Zcash (ZEC) withdrawals](https://gemini.com/blog/youre-one-step-closer-to-financial-freedom-with-shielded-zec-withdrawals) on the Gemini platform. They discussed misconceptions around the anonymity of Bitcoin, the importance of financial privacy in the modern world, and how regulation and privacy can co-exist.

Here, we have collected a few soundbites from the Q&A:

As transactions move increasingly online there is a desire for more anonymity and control in our financial lives and ZEC shielded withdrawals can play an important role in providing you with the privacy you deserve. 

*There are false narratives around Bitcoin being anonymous — it is really anything but. As we move more and more online, our transactions, especially in the case of Bitcoin, are pretty out in the open. We have seen surveillance capitalism, we have seen the stories, we know what is happening __with data and privacy__ on that level — __money is the next battleground__.
*
— Cameron Winklevoss

Your individual data is collected across the web, and financial data can provide expansive insights into your private financial life. Controlling the dissemination of that data is not always possible, but shielded ZEC withdrawals provide a unique opportunity to do so. 

*We know now that __data is valuable, it's exploitable, it's dangerous, it’s intimate, and it’s personal__. 
*
— Zooko Wilcox 

Both Gemini and Zcash have worked closely with regulators across the globe, and the launch of shielded ZEC withdrawals helps illustrate that privacy coins are not inherently problematic for regulators.  

*I think the Gemini Zcash announcement is a blueprint for future discussions with regulators. The  New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), the premier regulator in New York and a bellwether for regulation in the U.S. and around the world, got comfortable with Zcash so __every other regulator should hopefully be able to find comfort in it too__.
*
— Tyler Winklevoss

Missed the livestream or want more insights? Watch the Twitter Q&A with Tyler Winklevoss, Cameron Winklevoss, and Zooko Wilcox [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RWErA14zcQ&feature=youtu.be). 

Onward and Upward!

Team Gemini


A Conversation on Zcash With Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, and Zooko Wilcox

The Decentralized Finance (DeFi) revolution is coming into bloom and it presents the possibility of permissionless, bankless, alternatives to the legacy financial system. The pandemic has stunted economic growth globally and created a bleak outlook for the traditional banking system in the years to come. Now, more than any other time in recent history, do citizens of the world need a new choice outside of the current system. 

DeFi offers such choice. Like a warm ray of sunlight shining down on us during the winter of our financial discontent, DeFi promises greater __choice__, __independence__, and __opportunity__ for all. Gemini shares this ethos. And that is why we are committed to building a trustworthy skybridge for you to traverse into this new, exciting frontier.

At its core DeFi is permissionless finance, underpinned by smart contract technology. Using blockchain-based smart contracts, DeFi replaces much of the functionality currently offered by traditional finance, delivering more value with less friction than legacy financial services providers. For example, current bank interest rates are at an all time low and many consumers have few options to earn an attractive yield on their capital. Borrowing and lending DeFi protocols like Maker, Aave, and Compound, provide an alternative for some, who might be willing to take on more risk and earn a higher rate of return.

Today, in that vein, we have added new support for 15 additional DeFi tokens. We believe in the potential of DeFi and are here to help usher in this next wave of growth and financial innovation for the world. We are excited by the number of worthy DeFi projects being built by impressive, dedicated teams that are already helping individuals around the world become their own bank and achieve financial freedom. 

By supporting these DeFi tokens, we aim to provide you with a simple and secure way to acquire and store these tokens so you can participate in the DeFi ecosystem. We also offer the [Gemini dollar](https://gemini.com/dollar) (GUSD), our regulated stablecoin, as another avenue of entry. 

We are in the early stages of the DeFi movement and look forward to continuing to help you on your journey into this magical, financial galaxy.

Onward and Upward,

Cameron & Tyler 

*Note: DeFi presents unique risks. The listing of a DeFi token on Gemini does not indicate that Gemini or any regulatory authority has endorsed the underlying project or protocol.  While some of our customers may choose to participate in the DeFi ecosystem, Gemini makes no recommendation that they do so.*

Gemini Is Your Trusted Onramp to Decentralized Finance

Today, we are expanding our full services into the United Kingdom (UK). Users in the UK can now use our __simple__, __reliable__, and __secure__ products, including our Mobile App, to buy, sell, and store crypto.

We now also support the pound sterling (GBP) to provide a more local experience for our UK users. You can purchase crypto with GBP using a debit card or make a GBP deposit from your bank via Faster Payments, CHAPS, or SWIFT wire. 

Our UK launch follows the recent approval of our Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which reflects our ethos of working proactively with regulators and asking for permission, rather than forgiveness. As a licensed and compliant platform, we abide by the high regulatory standards established to __safeguard your money, securely store your crypto, protect your privacy,__ and keep bad actors off our platform. Ultimately, this fosters a better and safer experience for you and the larger crypto ecosystem as a whole.

The UK has been a significant, global financial hub for centuries. It is a pioneer in both financial innovation and regulation. We’re proud to help usher the crypto revolution into this historic market and become a part of its rich tradition.

We hope you’ll join us and come aboard!

Onward and Upward,

Tyler

__How do I create a Gemini account? __

Download the Gemini Mobile App from the [Google Play Store](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gemini.android.app&hl=en_GB) or [UK App Store](https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/gemini-buy-bitcoin-instantly/id1408914447). You can also create your account by registering on the Gemini website.

__How can I fund my Gemini account in GBP?__

Once you have fully onboarded, you can fund your account using your debit card or with a bank transfer in real time. 

On your desktop, click on “Add Funds,” select GBP as your currency, and choose your “Deposit Method.” You can then make deposits into your account.

![1. Gemini Exchange Desktop-GBP-UK-Add Funds Large](//images.ctfassets.net/jg6lo9a2ukvr/3aHlhk9BVwAS8lqO4ldRUQ/1e842118a216c7927f53dc4923d2b39a/1._Gemini_Exchange_Desktop-GBP-UK-Add_Funds_Large.png)

In the Gemini Mobile App, once you are fully onboarded, navigate to “Account” > “Funds” > “Funding Source” and enter your details. 

![2. Gemini Exchange Mobile-GBP-UK-Add Funds](//images.ctfassets.net/jg6lo9a2ukvr/TQF7VGTTKWVdrbTzQBzm6/d2672833cad2462cd77c8c0923b45c21/2._Gemini_Exchange_Mobile-GBP-UK-Add_Funds.png)

To deposit GBP, go to “Account” > “Transfer Funds” > “Deposit into Gemini.”

![3. Gemini Exchange Mobile-GBP-UK-Deposit Fiats](//images.ctfassets.net/jg6lo9a2ukvr/4Arc2Xivgss7rN9fh05d11/7b3301ba61472fa09438af6bec4bb7dd/3._Gemini_Exchange_Mobile-GBP-UK-Deposit_Fiats.png)

__How do I buy crypto with GBP?__

With GBP in your account on the Gemini Mobile App or on your desktop, you can buy cryptocurrencies like [Bitcoin (BTC)](https://gemini.com/prices/bitcoin), [Bitcoin Cash (BCH)](https://gemini.com/prices/bitcoin-cash), [Basic Attention Token (BAT)](https://gemini.com/prices/bat), [Dai (DAI)](https://gemini.com/prices/dai), [Ether (ETH)](https://gemini.com/prices/ether), [Litecoin (LTC)](https://gemini.com/prices/litecoin), [ChainLink (LINK)](https://gemini.com/prices/chainlink), [Orchid (OXT)](https://gemini.com/prices/orchid), [Amp (AMP)](https://gemini.com/prices/amp), [Pax Gold (PAXG)](https://gemini.com/prices/pax-gold), and [Compound (COMP)](https://gemini.com/prices/compound). 

See the [full list of digital assets that we now support](https://support.gemini.com/hc/articles/209636186-What-trading-pairs-are-supported-). 

__How can I get help setting up my Gemini account in GBP?__

If you need support, you can find it in-app, on the [support pages on our website](https://support.gemini.com/hc). 

![4. Gemini Exchange Desktop-GBP-UK-App Overview](//images.ctfassets.net/jg6lo9a2ukvr/5eWg0rO63dhsagyMWHWfMj/b957c3011e0b82831a37d69f2867a6fb/4._Gemini_Exchange_Desktop-GBP-UK-App_Overview.png)


Gemini Is Live in the UK! 

We are pleased to announce that trading is now available for [Amp (AMP)](https://gemini.com/prices/amp), [Compound (COMP)](https://gemini.com/prices/compound), and [Pax Gold (PAXG)](https://gemini.com/prices/paxos-gold) on the Gemini platform. 

With these additional cryptos, Gemini will offer trading and custody support for a total of 12 cryptos ([BTC](https://gemini.com/prices/bitcoin), [ETH](https://gemini.com/prices/ether), [BCH](https://gemini.com/prices/bitcoin-cash), [LTC](https://gemini.com/prices/litecoin), [ZEC](https://gemini.com/prices/zcash), [BAT](https://gemini.com/prices/bat), [DAI](https://gemini.com/prices/dai), [LINK](https://gemini.com/prices/chainlink), [OXT](https://gemini.com/prices/orchid), [PAXG](https://gemini.com/prices/pax-gold), [AMP](https://gemini.com/prices/amp), [COMP](https://gemini.com/prices/compound)) and custody support for another 13 cryptos ([ZRX](https://gemini.com/prices/0x), [BRD](https://gemini.com/prices/bread), [MANA](https://gemini.com/prices/decentraland), [ENJ](https://gemini.com/prices/enjin), [GUSD](https://gemini.com/dollar), [GNT](https://gemini.com/prices/golem), [KNC](https://gemini.com/prices/kybernetwork), [LOOM](https://gemini.com/prices/loom), [MKR](https://gemini.com/prices/maker), [NMR](https://gemini.com/prices/numeraire), [OMG](https://gemini.com/prices/omisego), [STORJ](https://gemini.com/prices/storj), and [CSP](https://gemini.com/prices/caspian)).

We will be offering USD trading pairs for PAXG, AMP, and COMP via our ActiveTrader™ platform and API connections, as well as trading pairs with all our supported fiats (USD, AUD, CAD, HKD) via our desktop and mobile platforms. These assets will provide you with a new way to interact with the crypto ecosystem.

![Gemini Crypto-Pax Gold PAXG](//images.ctfassets.net/jg6lo9a2ukvr/5QkmdpPwkaOBswTnm1DAmg/9e21051fbae933c8315f372f3755a7c0/Gemini_Crypto-Pax_Gold_PAXG.png)

__PAX Gold__ is a digital asset where every token is correlated at a 1:1 ratio to one ounce of actual, physical gold held in reserve.

*How It Works:* With PAXG it’s now easier than ever to purchase gold. Each PAXG token is backed by one fine troy ounce (t oz) of a 400 oz London Good Delivery gold bar, stored in Brink’s vaults. PAXG gives you the benefits of actual physical ownership of gold with the speed and mobility of a digital asset. Unlike physical gold, PAXG is divisible (you can have fractional ownership of physical bars), liquid (you can trade it for fiat or cryptocurrency), and digital (securely store it on the Gemini Exchange and access anytime, anywhere).  

![Gemini Crypto-Flexacoin AMP](//images.ctfassets.net/jg6lo9a2ukvr/6tBovQ8dCoVHSFG4WqE68i/2c15c0f3abac5af384f6f881397df174/Gemini_Crypto-Flexacoin_AMP.png)

__Amp__ is a digital collateral token for the [Flexa network](https://flexa.network/), a payment system that allows you to spend certain cryptocurrencies supported on the Gemini exchange with select retailers at their brick and mortar locations.

*How It Works:* When you make a purchase from a retailer via an app with Flexa, such as Gemini Pay, that app pays Flexa from your account in the cryptocurrency of your choosing and Flexa pays the retailer in their currency of choice. Flexa uses Amp as collateral to secure your payment from the time of purchase to the time of settlement with the merchant. If for any reason a Flexa-enabled app does not pay, Flexa uses the Amp staked to that app in order to repay the merchant. In this way, the amount of Amp staked to a given app acts as an upper limit on how much money that app can owe the Flexa network at any time. In return for staking Amp to a given app, network participants receive a portion of the processing fees earned by the Flexa network for all transactions processed through that app.

![Gemini Crypto-Compound COMP](//images.ctfassets.net/jg6lo9a2ukvr/2f7czh4kLLyJ31herL13KC/3ec98fbac265093407eaca64cea680e7/Gemini_Crypto-Compound_COMP.png)

__Compound__ is an open-source platform that allows you to lend and earn interest, or borrow and pay interest, against your crypto.

*How It Works:* You either lend or borrow crypto on the platform and you receive a “cToken” in exchange, corresponding to the specific asset you lent or borrowed. The Compound protocol algorithmically determines the interest rate that you earn or pay, so it changes with the markets every day. COMP is the governance token of the Compound system – you earn small amounts of COMP token for participating in the platform, and holding COMP allows you to vote in changes to the protocol. One percent of COMP holders must support a given change, and if a governance change to the protocol is passed it will take effect two days later giving anyone with a negatively affected position the time to close it out.

These assets expand the range of our platform and further our mission to empower the individual through crypto. We have worked closely with the New York State Department of Financial Services to obtain approval to offer trading and custody services for these new assets and we look forward to continuing to bring mission-oriented projects to you in the future.

Please contact [support@gemini.com](mailto:support@gemini.com) with any questions.

Onward and Upward,

Team Gemini


PAX Gold, Amp, and Compound Trading Now Available

Nifty Marketplace Introduces 2 New Collections

We are excited to announce that __Gemini__ and __Brave__ have partnered to make it easier for users to buy, sell, store, and earn crypto when using the Brave browser. This integration allows  users of the [Brave desktop browser](https://brave.com/download/) (version 1.13) to engage with crypto via the new __Gemini Trading Widget__ in a simple and secure manner. 

Brave provides users with a better Internet experience by giving them back their privacy. The Brave browser blocks ads and trackers and other identifying software used by websites to monitor visitors. This provides a faster (3-6x) and more private Internet experience. Brave users can also earn [Basic Attention Tokens](https://basicattentiontoken.org/) (BAT) by opting in to view [privacy-preserving Brave ads](https://www.brave.com/brave-rewards). Online creators can earn BAT from Brave users via Brave Rewards by publishing great content across a range of platforms including YouTube, Twitter, Vimeo, Github, Twitch, or their own website. 

![Brave Body A](//images.ctfassets.net/jg6lo9a2ukvr/5UjQLP7Nhxpb0Vl1EqMoaI/f97be0be1a6ad8372c19b4243e801d7b/Brave_Body_A.jpg)
*The Gemini Trading Widget is integrated in the Brave browser New Tab page.*

Starting today, Brave desktop users can access the Gemini Trading Widget (the “Gemini card”) from the Brave browser New Tab page to seamlessly trade any crypto asset listed on the Gemini Exchange, as well as view their Gemini account balances and access their deposit addresses – all without ever leaving the Brave browser ecosystem.

![Brave Body B](//images.ctfassets.net/jg6lo9a2ukvr/5tWlHZPS1lIXvud5xyNQoy/f9f16e97bebf72836e73e2af541b3d7a/Brave_Body_B.jpg)
*Brave users can seamlessly trade any crypto asset listed on the Gemini Exchange, as well as view their Gemini account balances and access their deposit addresses. *

In addition, all [Brave-verified](https://creators.brave.com/) content creators can custody their digital assets in a Gemini Creator Wallet. That means Brave creators can receive their BAT payments into their Gemini Creator Wallet, or in any other fiat or crypto asset supported on Gemini’s Exchange. Gemini is a New York-based Trust company regulated by the New York State Department of Finance, and available in all 50 U.S. states. For the first time, Brave Creators registered in New York can now benefit from the Gemini-Brave integration and utilize the Creator wallet to claim their BAT.

__How to Use the Gemini Trading Widget__

1. From the Brave New Tab page, open the Gemini Trading Widget or select “Add Card” and choose Gemini if it’s not currently active.
2. Then select “Connect to Gemini”. This will prompt you to sign in with your Gemini credentials or create an account if you don’t have one.

__How to Link Your Gemini Creator Wallet__

1. From the Brave browser, register or login to your creator account at
[https://creators.brave.com/](https://creators.brave.com/).
2. Follow the prompts under “Wallet Services” to connect your Brave Creator account to Gemini. If you don’t have a Gemini account yet, the connection process will prompt you to create one.

You can learn more about the Gemini integration within the Brave browser [here](https://gemini.com/brave), and we’ll be sharing more announcements around our broader partnership soon. 

Onward and Upward,

Team Gemini


Gemini Trading Widget Now Available to Brave Desktop Users

Today, we are thrilled to announce support for [OAuth 2.0](https://oauth.net/2/) on Gemini. Developers will now be able to easily integrate Gemini into their applications giving you, our customers, the ability to securely connect your Gemini account to third-party companies. Going forward, __you will now be able to buy, sell, store, and spend your crypto across an expanded range of products and services.__ 

OAuth 2.0 is a widely used authorization standard that allows you to securely grant specific access to your account on third-party platforms. In the case of Gemini, this means that you are able to give another company specific [types of access](https://docs.gemini.com/rest-api/#roles) to your account, whether that be for read-only access, placing trades, or executing fund transfers – all without sharing your private sign-in information. Our recently announced integrations with [TradingView](https://gemini.com/blog/litecoin-is-now-available-on-gemini), [Brave](https://brave.com/gemini/), and [Samsung](https://gemini.com/samsung) are examples of how you will have more ways than ever to interact with cryptocurrency through Gemini. 

For developers, all of [our APIs](https://docs.gemini.com/oauth/) are now able to support authentication via both API Key and OAuth 2.0 and you can now build applications on top of our full platform including our exchange, wallets, offline custody, and account structure. 

Please contact [support@gemini.com](mailto:support@gemini.com) for development questions or to find out how you can integrate Gemini into your application today.

Our support for OAuth 2.0 is just another example of our efforts to bring you __simple, elegant, and secure crypto solutions__ to all aspects of your life. 

Onward and Upward,

Team Gemini


Gemini’s OAuth 2.0 Support Opens the Door to Wider Crypto Usage

Today we are excited to announce Gemini’s participation in the Digital Currency Innovation Lab (DCIL), a two-year pilot program designed to bring crypto to the people of Hawaii.
 
Our goal, in partnership with the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation (HTDC), will be to __create economic opportunity for the people of Hawaii__ through the early adoption of digital assets and __offer them consumer protections__ through our regulated and secure platform. 
 
The HTDC’s broader mission, working under the umbrella of the Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions (DFI), is to provide quality, high-paying jobs for Hawaii residents and accelerate the growth of Hawaii's technology industry by providing capital, building infrastructure, and developing talent to foster innovation.
 
Hawaii is an innovative, business-minded state and we look forward to providing our full suite of products and services to Hawaiians through this initiative, and hopefully beyond.

Gemini will now be operational in all 50 states with our participation in the DCIL. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring a simple, elegant, and secure crypto solution to the people of Hawaii. 

Mahalo,

Team Gemini

*Gemini Trust Company, LLC is providing services to residents of Hawaii as a participant in a special Hawaii project which ends on December 31, 2022. At the end of the project term, Gemini Trust Company, LLC may be required to close all accounts for Hawaii customers and cease operations. Gemini Trust Company, LLC will notify Hawaii customers in advance if accounts must be closed.*
 
*Hawaii customers who choose to open accounts with Gemini Trust, LLC are advised that the virtual currency or digital currency purchased, whether as an investment, for making payments, or other purposes, may lose value, including the loss of some or all of your original purchase amount.*





Gemini Joins Hawaii’s Digital Currency Innovation Lab

Today we are excited to announce our partnership and integration with Blockchange Inc., a digital asset investing platform for professional wealth managers.
 
This first-of-its-kind integration provides RIAs __a one-stop-shop for buying, selling, and storing digital assets__ with seamless execution support and institutional-grade security for all digital assets available on the Gemini platform. 
 
Quantum Capital Management, a wealth management firm with more than $125M assets under management, is signing on to the Blockchange-Gemini solution to give clients the opportunity to diversify their customers’ portfolios into increasingly popular digital asset classes.
 
The Blockchange-Gemini solution offers a variety of benefits that differentiate it from digital asset hedge funds and index funds including deeper customization and flexibility, superior tax benefits, and ownership of the underlying assets – all with a qualified custodian, which is particularly critical in the digital asset ecosystem. 
 
Wealth managers are increasingly recognizing the opportunity for returns and long-term value in digital assets. Our partnership with Blockchange will provide them with a simple, elegant, and secure crypto solution.
 
Onward and Upward,

Team Gemini


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