Gemini in France: A Strategic Move for European Crypto Expansion

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As an analyst with years of experience navigating the ever-evolving landscape of digital assets and financial regulations, I find Gemini’s expansion into France an intriguing move. The company’s strategic alignment with Europe’s growing cryptocurrency market is a smart play, considering the increasing adoption of digital assets among French citizens.

In response to registering as a Digital Asset Service Provider (DASP) with the French financial authority, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), earlier in the year, this action has been taken.

Expanding into France is in line with Gemini’s strategy to capitalize on the burgeoning European cryptocurrency market. As per Gemini’s 2024 Global Crypto Report, an impressive 18% of French residents now hold digital assets, reflecting a 2% growth over the last two years.

French speakers now have the opportunity to use Gemini’s platform for depositing, trading, and storing more than 70 digital assets. They can do this using various local methods such as debit cards, bank transfers, and Apple Pay, with options available in both euros and British pounds. For experienced traders, there is the ActiveTrader platform which offers access to over 80 trading pairs and integrates with Gemini’s APIs. Additionally, institutional clients can take advantage of the exchange’s over-the-counter (OTC) desk and its eOTC solution.

This development precedes the imminent implementation of the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory system. MiCA is designed to simplify processes for crypto businesses throughout the EU by establishing a single regulatory framework, thereby enabling companies such as Gemini to conduct operations across the 27-nation economic union without encountering extra hindrances.

Lately, Gemini’s past has been marked by difficulties arising from regulatory issues. Just this February, the exchange accepted a $37 million fine and vowed to refund approximately $1.1 billion to customers of its defunct lending program in a deal with the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). This settlement aimed to address compliance shortcomings and risky practices tied to its partnership with the bankrupt Genesis Global Capital.

In June, New York Attorney General Letitia James successfully negotiated a $50 million settlement with Gemini. This settlement was to reimburse approximately 230,000 investors who had been defrauded through Gemini’s Earn program. Among these affected investors were around 29,000 from New York. Furthermore, as part of the agreement, Gemini has decided to halt crypto lending activities within the state of New York.

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2024-11-21 13:48