- Gemini now offers ETH and Solana staking in Europe with no minimum entry required.
- USDC perpetual futures with 100x leverage are available for professional European traders.
- The services operate under MiCA and MiFID II, giving Gemini broad access in Europe.
Gemini has expanded its European services with the launch of Ethereum and Solana staking products and new perpetual futures contracts offering leverage of up to 100×. The rollout follows regulatory approval under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, allowing Gemini to operate across multiple jurisdictions with enhanced compliance.
The exchange affirmed that there is no minimum deposit to be made in its staking service, meaning that users can stake any amount of ETH or SOL. Gemini offers up to 6% APR on SOL staking, while ETH staking provides a variable rate. The company also promised customers that they will keep their assets in the institutional grade of custody and that their money is highly secure.
Alongside staking, Gemini has introduced Gemini Perpetuals, a derivatives product offering contracts denominated in USDC. These futures carry no expiry date and allow professional traders to apply leverage of up to 100×. The service will operate under the company’s MiFID II license, positioning Gemini as one of the few exchanges in Europe delivering a broad suite of regulated products.
A Dual Strategy Targeting Retail and Professional Traders
With staking and futures, Gemini will be able to reach a broad range of users in the European market. No minimum staking options decrease the entry barriers to retail investors who may be interested in earning a passive income on crypto holdings. Conversely, perpetual futures with high leverage can attract skilled traders interested in getting exposure to the movements of ETH and SOL.
Mark Jennings, Gemini’s CEO of Europe, noted in the official release, “We’re on a mission to democratize access to alternative, risk-managed financial instruments, and we’re one of the few European crypto exchanges to offer this diverse suite of products with an intuitive, secure platform.” His statement reflects Gemini’s strategy of providing both accessible entry points for newcomers and advanced tools for professional participants.
These launches are timed with the increasing presence of Europe as a center of digital assets. As MiCA offers regulatory clarity, exchanges are competing to increase product lines and bring in new users. The action of Gemini is an indicator that the region has potential, particularly due to the rising demand in both low-risk yield trades and high-risk leveraged trading.
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Regulation, Market Demand, and User Opportunity
Gemini has expanded into Europe by converting into a cryptocurrency asset services provider (CASP) based in Malta, which has received MiCA approval. This framework enables Gemini to provide its services throughout the European Economic Area, complementing its MiFID II derivatives authorization.
Gemini Perpetuals provides complex strategy tools, such as long and short ETH and SOL positions, to professional traders. A leverage of 100x can lead to high returns, but high losses can also accompany it.
The regulatory development in Europe and investor interest in a wide variety of products are creating a competitive environment. The two-dimensional approach of Gemini raises the larger question: can tradeoffs between retail access and progressive instruments be achieved and remain compliant in one of the most scrutinized crypto markets in the world?
