tl;dr
Gemini, the crypto exchange co-founded by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, is expanding in Europe with new staking and derivatives products, targeting the EEA. The expansion includes staking for Ethereum and Solana, and perpetual contracts in USDC, following regulatory approvals under Malta’s MiCA an...
Gemini, the crypto exchange co-founded by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, is making a bold move in Europe with the launch of new staking and derivatives products, positioning itself as a serious contender in the region’s rapidly evolving crypto landscape. The expansion includes staking options for Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL), as well as perpetual contracts denominated in Circle’s USDC stablecoin, all available to users in the European Economic Area (EEA). This follows Gemini’s regulatory approvals under Malta’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) and the EU’s Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II), which have paved the way for its European ambitions.
Mark Jennings, Gemini’s head of Europe, emphasized the company’s goal: “To be one of the major exchanges in Europe.” With a full suite of products—including spot trading, staking, and perpetuals—accessible through a single interface, Gemini aims to capture a growing market hungry for diverse financial tools.
**Derivatives Rise as Spot Trading Slows**
Gemini’s focus on derivatives comes as spot trading, the buying and selling of crypto tokens at current prices, has seen a sharp decline. Despite Bitcoin’s price surge in 2025, spot trading volumes dropped 32% in the first half of the year, totaling just $3.6 trillion in Q2, according to TokenInsight. Meanwhile, crypto derivatives—contracts that derive value from underlying assets—have exploded in popularity, with volumes hitting $20.2 trillion in the same period.
Jennings noted that the derivatives market is projected to balloon to $23 trillion by 2025. “As crypto adoption grows, there’s increasing demand for alternative, risk-managed financial instruments,” he said. Derivatives allow users to hedge bets, take long or short positions, or profit from price volatility without holding the actual asset—a feature that’s proving increasingly appealing to institutional and savvy retail investors.
**Staking Surges in Europe**
Staking, the process of locking up crypto to support blockchain networks and earn rewards, is also gaining momentum in the EU. MiCA, which fully took effect in late 2024, has spurred a 39% surge in institutional staking activity in Europe, outpacing non-EU growth by 17 percentage points. CoinLaw’s data shows Ethereum staking deposits in the EU jumped 28% in 2025, reaching $90 billion in total staked ETH.
Gemini’s staking service, available to both retail and institutional investors, targets “sophisticated, professional retail investors” looking to generate passive income. “It’s about putting crypto funds to work,” Jennings said, highlighting the appeal of earning returns without the need to actively trade.
**IPO on the Horizon**
Gemini’s European push coincides with its recent filing for an initial public offering (IPO) in the U.S. The exchange plans to sell 16.67 million shares at a price range of $17 to $19 per share, aiming to raise up to $317 million. This move underscores Gemini’s confidence in its growth trajectory, as it expands its services in the EU and positions itself as a bridge between traditional finance and the crypto world.
As the crypto market continues to evolve, Gemini’s dual focus on derivatives and staking reflects a broader industry shift toward more complex financial instruments. With Europe’s regulatory framework maturing and demand for crypto products rising, the exchange is betting that its European expansion—and its IPO—will be the next big steps in its journey to become a global financial powerhouse.
What do you think? Are derivatives the future of crypto trading, or will spot markets rebound? Let us know in the comments.