Gemini
Company History
Gemini History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 2014 in New York City, New York
When was Gemini founded?
Gemini was founded in 2014 in New York City, New York by Tyler Winklevoss and Cameron Winklevoss, making it 12 years old.
- Founded
- 2014
- Founding place
- New York City, New York
- Founders
- Tyler Winklevoss and Cameron Winklevoss
- Headquarters today
- New York City, New York, United States
- Milestones documented
- 12 (2012–2026)
- Current CEO
- Tyler Winklevoss
- Acquisitions
- 4
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss purchase approximately 1% of all circulating Bitcoin at ~$10 per coin. |
| 2014 | Founders incorporate Gemini Trust Company in New York City with a regulatory-first strategy. |
| 2015 | October 5: NYDFS grants Gemini a Limited Liability Trust Charter; exchange launches publicly. |
| 2018 | Launches the Gemini Dollar (GUSD); launches major 'The Revolution Needs Rules' national ad campaign. |
| 2019 | Acquires NFT platform Nifty Gateway. |
| 2020 | Becomes the first crypto custodian in history to achieve SOC 1 and SOC 2 Type II security certifications. |
| 2021 | Raises $400 million at a $7.1 billion valuation in a round including Morgan Creek Digital and 10T Holdings. |
| 2022 | Launches the crypto-rewards Gemini Credit Card nationwide across the United States. |
| 2023 | SEC Charges Over Earn Programme |
| 2024 | Successfully returns over $2.18 billion in digital assets to Earn users in kind (100% recovery). |
| 2025 | September 12: Gemini Space Station lists on Nasdaq as GEMI after a $425 million IPO priced at $28. |
| 2026 | February: cuts up to 25% of staff and exits the UK, EU and Australia; May: Winklevoss Capital invests $100 million. |
- Where was Gemini founded?
- Gemini was founded in New York City, New York in 2014.
- Who founded Gemini?
- Gemini was founded by Tyler Winklevoss and Cameron Winklevoss.
- When did Gemini start?
- Gemini was founded in 2014.
- How old is Gemini?
- Gemini is 12 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
The Winklevoss twins began buying Bitcoin in 2012 after hearing about it in Ibiza, using part of their $65 million Facebook settlement and reportedly accumulating around 1% of circulating Bitcoin at roughly $10 per coin. Frustrated by insecure exchanges such as Mt. Gox, they founded Gemini (Latin for 'twins') in 2014 and secured a New York trust charter in 2015.
Founders
Tyler Winklevoss
Tyler Winklevoss co-founded Gemini in 2014. After famously receiving a massive $65 million settlement from Mark Zuckerberg regarding the founding of Facebook, he and his twin brother used the funds to become some of the absolute earliest institutional investors in Bitcoin (allegedly owning 1% of the entire supply). He founded Gemini explicitly to create the highly secure, fully regulated 'Fort Knox of Crypto' that institutional investors demanded. Tyler Winklevoss was born in 1981 in Southampton. Education: Christ Church; Harvard University; Harvard College. Tyler Howard Winklevoss was born on August 21, 1981. A former Olympic rower, he founded Winklevoss Capital Management and, with his identical twin Cameron and Divya Narendra, co-founded HarvardConnection, later renamed ConnectU. The brothers sued Mark Zuckerberg in 2004 over the origins of Facebook.
Cameron Winklevoss
Cameron Winklevoss co-founded Gemini in 2014 alongside his twin brother Tyler. He drove the company's incredibly rigorous, expensive strategy of working directly with hostile New York regulators rather than fleeing offshore. This regulatory moat allowed Gemini to become one of the most trusted names in the industry, though it severely hampered its ability to grow as quickly as aggressive rivals like FTX and Binance. Cameron Winklevoss was born in 1981 in Southampton. Education: Christ Church; Harvard University; Harvard College. Cameron Howard Winklevoss was born on August 21, 1981. He rowed in the men's pair at the 2008 Summer Olympics with his identical twin Tyler, and the two co-founded HarvardConnection, later renamed ConnectU, with Divya Narendra.
Key Milestones
Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss purchase approximately 1% of all circulating Bitcoin at ~$10 per coin.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFounders incorporate Gemini Trust Company in New York City with a regulatory-first strategy.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgOctober 5: NYDFS grants Gemini a Limited Liability Trust Charter; exchange launches publicly.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLaunches the Gemini Dollar (GUSD); launches major 'The Revolution Needs Rules' national ad campaign.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAcquires NFT platform Nifty Gateway.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgBecomes the first crypto custodian in history to achieve SOC 1 and SOC 2 Type II security certifications.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRaises $400 million at a $7.1 billion valuation in a round including Morgan Creek Digital and 10T Holdings.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLaunches the crypto-rewards Gemini Credit Card nationwide across the United States.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgSEC Charges Over Earn Programme
The SEC charged Gemini and Genesis in January 2023 over the Gemini Earn lending programme.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgSuccessfully returns over $2.18 billion in digital assets to Earn users in kind (100% recovery).
Source: en.wikipedia.orgSeptember 12: Gemini Space Station lists on Nasdaq as GEMI after a $425 million IPO priced at $28.
Source: cnbc.comFebruary: cuts up to 25% of staff and exits the UK, EU and Australia; May: Winklevoss Capital invests $100 million.
Source: bankingdive.comMajor Acquisitions
Nifty Gateway
2019Added an NFT and digital art marketplace.
Omniex
2020Institutional trading software for Gemini's institutional business.
BITRIA
2022Digital asset portfolio management platform.
Shard X
2021Secure multi-party computation cryptographic technology.
Keep researching Gemini
Gemini Company History FAQ
When was Gemini founded and when did it receive its New York Trust Charter?
Gemini was founded in 2014 by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. On October 5, 2015, the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) granted Gemini a limited purpose trust charter, officially launching the exchange to the public.
When did Gemini launch the Gemini Dollar (GUSD) stablecoin?
In September 2018, Gemini launched the Gemini Dollar (GUSD), one of the world's first fully regulated 1:1 U.S. dollar-backed stablecoins approved and overseen by the NYDFS, complete with monthly independent audit attestations.
When did Gemini achieve SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2 security certifications?
In 2019 and 2020, Gemini became the world's first cryptocurrency exchange and custodian to complete independent SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2 security and operational examinations conducted by Deloitte.
When did Gemini acquire digital art platform Nifty Gateway?
In November 2019, Gemini acquired Nifty Gateway, scaling it into the world's leading curated digital art and NFT auction marketplace during the historic 2020 to 2021 digital art boom.
When did Gemini launch the Gemini Credit Card with real-time crypto rewards?
In April 2022, Gemini officially launched the Gemini Credit Card nationwide across all 50 U.S. states in partnership with Mastercard and WebBank, offering instant crypto cash-back rewards on daily purchases.
When was the Gemini Foundation international derivatives platform launched?
In May 2023, Gemini launched Gemini Foundation, an international non-U.S. crypto derivatives trading platform offering perpetual futures contracts across dozens of global jurisdictions.
When was the $2.18 billion 100% in-kind recovery achieved for Gemini Earn users?
In May 2024, Gemini finalized the resolution of the Genesis Global bankruptcy, returning over $2.18 billion in actual cryptocurrency, representing a complete 100% in-kind recovery of all digital assets, to Gemini Earn customers.
How has Gemini shaped the global regulated cryptocurrency industry over a decade?
Over ten years, Gemini proved that cryptocurrency exchanges could operate with uncompromising regulatory compliance, bank-grade security, and fiduciary integrity, establishing an enduring institutional foundation for the digital asset economy.
How did Gemini start?
Gemini was founded in 2014 by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. After famously winning a massive $65 million legal settlement against Mark Zuckerberg over the creation of Facebook, they aggressively bought Bitcoin (at $8 per coin). Realizing there was no safe, Wall-Street-grade exchange to hold their massive crypto wealth, they built Gemini themselves.
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