Gemini has obtained a preliminary approval in Malta for an investment firm license, allowing it to offer regulated futures and options contracts in the EU.
This move strengthens the European expansion strategy of the exchange, targeting retail and institutional investors. In this article, we see all the details.
A strategy of expansion that aims to consolidate the presence of Gemini among retail and institutional investors
As anticipated, the exchange of cryptocurrencies Gemini has taken a significant step in its European expansion by obtaining preliminary approval in Malta for an investment firm license.
This authorization, subject to the pre-authorization requirements of the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), will allow Gemini two main actions.
The first, offering futures contracts and, the second, concerns regulated options throughout the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA) under the MiFID II (Markets in Financial Instruments Directive) regulatory framework.
This approval marks a milestone for Gemini, which has chosen Malta as the main hub for its operations in the EU and as the location for the license application under MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation).
Obtaining the final approval will allow Gemini to expand the range of secure and regulated services for its clients in Europe.
Obtaining the investment company license is a key strategic move for the growth of Gemini in the European market.
Once the final authorization is obtained, MiFID II will allow the exchange to offer perpetual futures contracts to advanced traders and institutional investors throughout the region. However, the expansion of the offering is not limited to derivatives.
Gemini currently provides its clients with a cryptocurrency exchange with over 90 digital assets, an advanced trading platform (ActiveTrader
) with more than 80 trading pairs, and an OTC and eOTC system dedicated to institutional investors.
The introduction of regulated derivative products therefore represents an important evolution that aims to meet the growing demand from the financial sector.
Crypto derivatives: a growing market
According to Mark Jennings, Head of Europe at Gemini, the preliminary approval of the license marks a key moment in the company’s strategy:
“Receiving preliminary approval for an investment license is a milestone in our commitment to offering a high-quality service for both retail and institutional investors. In recent years, interest in crypto derivatives, particularly from institutional investors, has increased significantly with the maturation of the sector.”
The interest in futures and options on cryptocurrencies has seen exponential growth, especially among institutional investors who see in these instruments a greater stability and opportunity for risk hedging compared to traditional spot trading.
Obtaining a regulated license in Malta provides Gemini with the opportunity to operate in a vast market, covering, among others, Austria, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia.
This will ensure users a more secure and compliant trading environment with European regulations, improving trust in the bull and bear cryptocurrency market.
In other words, the preliminary approval of the investment company’s license represents an important milestone for Gemini, which continues to strengthen its presence in Europe.
With the introduction of regulated futures and options, the exchange aims to offer investors a more complete, reliable, and secure ecosystem.