Gemini Bets on Prediction Markets to Revive Post-IPO Momentum

TheCryptoTimesPublicado em 2025-11-05Última atualização em 2025-11-05

Gemini Space Station Inc., the parent company of the Gemini cryptocurrency exchange, is moving toward launching a federally regulated prediction market as it looks to diversify revenue and offset mounting financial challenges.

The firm had filed an application with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in May seeking approval to operate a new derivatives exchange called “Gemini Titan.” 

According to the public filings on the CFTC’s website, Gemini Titan would function as a Designated Contract Market (DCM) offering federally regulated event contracts.

Bloomberg reported Tuesday that Gemini has been in active discussions to launch products tied to the registration “as soon as possible.” The company reportedly plans to offer services directly, rather than relying on third-party partnerships.

If approved, Gemini Titan would compete directly with Kalshi, the only active CFTC-regulated event market, and Polymarket, which is preparing to reopen to U.S. users.

Prediction markets hit record highs

The filing comes amid booming interest in event-based trading. Prediction markets have seen a resurgence in 2025, with weekly trading volume reaching an all-time high of $2 billion in the final week of October.

Gemini’s move is not entirely new. In August 2024, the company, founded by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, submitted a comment letter to the CFTC regarding its proposed rule on event contracts.

Gemini argued that the rule “exceeded the CFTC’s statutory authority” and warned that its blanket prohibition of “event contracts involving gaming” could “hamper prediction markets.”

Should Gemini proceed, it must operate under the Commodity Exchange Act, which requires a Designated Contract Market to comply with 23 core principles, including rules on market surveillance, financial integrity, governance, and system safeguards to ensure fair and orderly trading.

Facing headwinds after IPO

Gemini’s foray into prediction markets comes as the company battles shrinking revenue, widening losses, and falling retail engagement following its September initial public offering (IPO).

Gemini’s shares have plunged around 49% since listing, closing at $16.29 on Tuesday, per Google Finance data. The stock opened at $32 on its first day of trading after pricing at $28 a share.

The firm reported a $282 million net loss in the first half of 2025, nearly double its $158 million loss for all of 2024. Revenue dropped to $68.6 million in H1 2025 from $74.3 million a year earlier, according to an August U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing.

Currently, over 80% of Gemini’s trading volume comes from institutional clients, reducing its exposure to retail users—a market where Coinbase and Robinhood continue to dominate.

Gemini’s strategic push

The proposed derivatives platform represents Gemini’s broader effort to stay competitive in a maturing crypto industry. Gemini has applied for regulatory approval to run its own designated contract market, which would eventually allow it to list prediction-based derivatives contracts.

Getting the green light from the CFTC isn’t a quick process. Approvals like this can take months or even years, and the recent U.S. government shutdown could delay things even more.

While Gemini waits, other financial firms have taken a faster route—teaming up with prediction market platforms that already have the required licenses. For instance, Robinhood provides clients access to event contracts through Kalshi Inc., avoiding the lengthy approval process.

If approved, Gemini’s platform would join a growing field that includes Kalshi, Polymarket, and Trump Media and Technology Group’s “Truth Predict”—a new venture in partnership with Crypto.com. Truth Predict will integrate with Truth Social, Donald Trump’s social media platform, and use Crypto.com Derivatives North America as its CFTC-registered clearinghouse. Initial testing is expected to begin soon.

Competition heats up

Traditional financial giants are also eyeing the fast-growing prediction market sector. CME Group Inc. and Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE) have both explored launching similar products.

Gemini’s crypto rival, Coinbase Global Inc., revealed during recent earnings calls that it, too, plans to branch into event contracts as part of its mission to become an “Everything Exchange.”

Before its IPO, Gemini disclosed plans to launch event contracts covering sports, financial, political, and economic forecasts.

A Needham & Co. analyst shared that prediction markets are an “ideal opportunity” for Gemini to expand its range of products and open up new sources of revenue, especially as its main trading business continues to struggle with falling interest from retail investors.

Regulatory hurdles persist

Even with the rising excitement around prediction markets, the industry still faces a lot of regulatory uncertainty in the United States.

The CFTC has allowed Kalshi to launch new event markets, but state gaming regulators—who usually handle sports betting have pushed back in court. The clash between federal and state authorities has created confusion over where prediction markets end and gambling begins.

The road ahead

Gemini’s move into event contracts highlights its effort to regain growth and move beyond its core crypto exchange business. The company raised $425 million in its September IPO—one of the strongest market debuts by a digital asset firm this year, but it now faces pressure to show that prediction markets can become a steady source of profit.

If the CFTC gives its approval, Gemini Titan would mark a big step into a federally regulated space that combines crypto innovation, derivatives trading, and real-world forecasting. Still, the approval process could take time, and competition in this area is heating up. Gemini’s challenge will be to build a lasting position in a fast-changing market that’s already under close regulatory watch.

Also Read: UBS Launches First Tokenized Fund via Chainlink DTA


Mobile Only ImageMobile Only Image

Leituras Relacionadas

South Korean Retail Investors 'Move from Seoul to Wall Street': Buying SK Hynix ADR, Betting on Triple-Leverage ETF

A surge of Korean retail investors is shifting funds from the volatile Seoul market to Wall Street, intensifying their bets on the AI theme through unconventional and high-risk instruments. Data shows Korean investors were net buyers of about $4.5 billion in US stocks in July, nearing a yearly peak. A notable trend is their purchase of approximately $840 million worth of SK Hynix American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), despite a significant 10% premium over the company's domestic shares, leading analysts to label the move as speculative and irrational. Simultaneously, Korean traders are heavily favoring leveraged ETFs. The triple-leveraged semiconductor ETF SOXL was the most-bought US product in July, with leveraged products occupying four of the top ten spots. Experts note that this shift in geography does not represent a diversification of risk; instead, investors are merely expressing the same concentrated bet on AI hardware through different, often riskier, US-listed vehicles. Analysts warn that while this capital inflow is unlikely to systemically impact the vast US institutional market, it risks creating localized distortions and amplifying volatility, particularly in the targeted sectors and instruments. The move follows a sharp correction in the Korean market, where high leverage in semiconductor stocks and related ETFs had previously led to significant losses, prompting this search for alternative avenues to chase the AI narrative.

marsbitHá 22m

South Korean Retail Investors 'Move from Seoul to Wall Street': Buying SK Hynix ADR, Betting on Triple-Leverage ETF

marsbitHá 22m

Bithumb's First Half Report: Net Loss Exceeds $76 Million, Where Did the Profits Go?

**Title: Bithumb H1 2026 Report: Net Loss Exceeds $76M – Where Did the Profits Go?** Despite a headline net loss of approximately 108.7 billion KRW (~$76.44 million) for the first half of 2026, a detailed breakdown reveals Bithumb's core exchange business remained profitable. The significant loss was primarily driven by two major non-operating items: substantial losses on the disposal and valuation of the company's own cryptocurrency holdings (net loss ~$48.21 million) and a sharp increase in litigation provisions (~$25.93 million), largely linked to a regulatory fine. Operating revenue fell 48.7% year-on-year to ~$119 million, almost entirely from transaction fees, as market activity cooled. While the company drastically cut marketing and subsidy expenses by ~70% to protect margins, more rigid costs like payment processing and salaries declined only modestly. This highlights the vulnerability of its highly fee-dependent revenue model in a down market. Total assets decreased by ~$584 million, but this was largely attributable to an ~86% drop in client KRW deposits. The market value of client crypto assets under custody also fell (~32.7%), partly influenced by declining cryptocurrency prices rather than solely client withdrawals. In summary, the report indicates underlying exchange profitability was eroded by significant crypto asset losses and mounting regulatory/legal costs, against a backdrop of declining trading revenue. Future focus should be on revenue recovery, managing crypto-related损益, and the ongoing impact of regulatory challenges.

marsbitHá 42m

Bithumb's First Half Report: Net Loss Exceeds $76 Million, Where Did the Profits Go?

marsbitHá 42m

BitMart's Final 9 Days: A True Exchange Crisis Is Never About Shutting Down

BitMart's Final 9 Days: A True Exchange Crisis Is Not About Shutting Down On August 17, 2026, with just 9 days until BitMart's scheduled cessation of trading, the focus shifted from the platform's orderly closure to serious questions about user withdrawals, platform solvency, employee payments, and reserve transparency. Stakeholders, claiming to represent users and staff, publicly demanded asset/liability disclosures, explanations for withdrawal delays, a user repayment plan, and an independent audit, setting an August 19 deadline. While BitMart CEO Sheldon Lee denied allegations of insolvency or wrongdoing, the controversy highlighted a core vulnerability of centralized exchanges (CEXs). When an exchange announces its shutdown, normal user behavior changes dramatically, triggering a mass withdrawal event—the ultimate stress test for its liquidity and custodial integrity. The key question becomes not whether the platform has assets, but whether it holds sufficient *liquid* assets to cover all user liabilities on demand. The article argues that the trust placed in CEXs is based on the convenience they provide, abstracting users from direct control of their private keys. This trust is rarely questioned during normal operations but becomes critically exposed during a wind-down. The situation underscores the limitations of simple Proof of Reserves, which shows "what we have" but not the crucial "what we owe." True financial credibility requires transparent, auditable data on assets, liabilities, and segregated user funds. BitMart's situation reflects a broader, often overlooked issue in the crypto industry: while there is extensive focus on growth mechanisms for exchanges, there is little discussion or established protocol for a safe and transparent "exit mechanism." The final measure of an exchange's integrity, the article concludes, is not its user count or trading volume during a bull market, but its ability to ensure every last user can successfully withdraw their assets when the doors are closing. The outcome will be determined not by statements, but by whether the final user's funds securely leave the platform.

marsbitHá 1h

BitMart's Final 9 Days: A True Exchange Crisis Is Never About Shutting Down

marsbitHá 1h

Don't Speculate on 100x Coins, Just Bet on 'Cash Cows': Which Projects Are Worth Dollar-Cost Averaging in the Bear Market?

In a bearish crypto market, finding sustainable investments is more prudent than chasing speculative meme coins. This article analyzes projects generating consistent revenue, highlighting them as potential "cash cows" for long-term dollar-cost averaging (DCA). The top performers are "picks-and-shovels" plays. **Pump.fun**, a Solana-based meme coin launchpad, leads with $415.3M in monthly revenue, profiting from a 1.25% fee on token transactions. Despite market volatility, it has averaged tens of millions in monthly income in 2024. Perpetual DEX **Hyperliquid** stands out as a "bear market star," accumulating ~$352M in revenue over seven months. Its model funnels ~99% of fees into buying back and permanently burning its HYPE token. Established giants are also adapting. **Uniswap**, after enabling its fee switch, now earns protocol revenue (e.g., $5.6M recently), which is used to buy back and burn UNI, giving the token direct value accrual. Similarly, oracle provider **Chainlink** generates stable monthly revenue (~$4.57M recently) from its essential data, cross-chain, and automation services. Its new Payment Abstraction feature automatically converts service fees into LINK, accruing value in its treasury. The core thesis is clear: in a downturn, focus on projects with proven, resilient business models—those acting as essential infrastructure or capturing consistent transaction fees—rather than speculative narratives.

marsbitHá 1h

Don't Speculate on 100x Coins, Just Bet on 'Cash Cows': Which Projects Are Worth Dollar-Cost Averaging in the Bear Market?

marsbitHá 1h

Trading

Spot
活动图片