Winklevoss-led Gemini wins MiCA license in historic EU crypto push

The Gemini MiCA license approval in Malta marks a pivotal step for the Winklevoss twins’ exchange, giving Gemini the regulatory green light to expand across Europe’s fast-growing digital asset markets.

Granted by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), the license strengthens Gemini’s compliance footprint under the EU’s new Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework and positions the platform to compete directly with established European players.

The Gemini MiCA license allows the company to operate seamlessly across more than 30 European countries, positioning it as a serious competitor to Coinbase, Kraken, and Robinhood in the region.

“This approval is a critical milestone in our regulated European expansion, enabling us to deliver secure and compliant crypto products to millions of customers.”

Gemini MiCA license strengthens regulatory push

The second paragraph of Gemini’s statement highlights why the Gemini MiCA license is so important: regulatory clarity.

“We believe that clear regulation of the industry is the foundation of global crypto adoption, and MiCA’s implementation has proven that Europe is one of the most innovative and forward-thinking regions,” Gemini emphasized.

Tyler Winklevoss previously argued in a Bloomberg interview that “regulation is not the enemy of crypto, but the pathway to mainstream adoption.”

The Gemini MiCA license proves that message, giving the exchange a significant edge in a post-MiCA Europe.

Tokenized stocks & innovation in the EU

The approval comes just weeks after Gemini introduced tokenized stocks on the Arbitrum blockchain for European customers.

With the Gemini MiCA license in hand, the firm can push these offerings deeper into EU markets.

Unlike traditional equities, tokenized stocks allow investors to trade shares like MicroStrategy (MSTR) on a 24/7 basis, aligning with crypto’s around-the-clock market ethos.

Gemini is not alone in this race. Competitors like Kraken have launched tokenized equities on Solana, while Robinhoodrecently unveiled an Arbitrum-based trading platform in the EU.

Still, the Gemini MiCA license positions the exchange as one of the most compliant and forward-facing players in Europe’s tokenized assets sector.

Gemini’s dual licensing strategy

In May, Gemini secured a MiFID II license, which allows it to provide derivatives trading services across the EU.

Together with the Gemini MiCA license, this dual regulatory approval strengthens its footing as a fully regulated, pan-European crypto powerhouse.

Cameron Winklevoss celebrated the achievement on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

“The Gemini MiCA license is not just a regulatory checkbox — it’s a passport to serve millions of Europeans who demand secure and compliant access to crypto innovation.”

By aligning with both MiCA and MiFID II, Gemini is building what analysts call a “fortress of compliance.”

The European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which took effect this year, has quickly been hailed as a gold standard for global crypto regulation.

By obtaining the Gemini MiCA license, the exchange gains credibility not just in Europe but worldwide.

“Europe is now ahead of the United States in creating a unified framework for crypto,” said Mark Foster, EU policy lead at the Crypto Council for Innovation, in a recent reuters report.

“The Gemini MiCA license is a sign that serious players are ready to embrace compliance for long-term growth.”

Gemini’s broader global moves

The Malta approval also coincides with Gemini’s plans to go public. Just last week, the company filed to list its Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol GEMI.

If successful, Gemini will become one of the few regulated U.S.-born exchanges to achieve a dual presence in both Wall Street and Europe.

The Gemini MiCA license is central to this narrative, as investors increasingly demand compliance-first exchanges after FTX’s collapse.

The Gemini MiCA license is more than paperwork — it’s a strategic win for the Winklevoss twins and a signal that Europe is becoming crypto’s new regulatory hub.

From tokenized stocks on Arbitrum to a potential Nasdaq listing, Gemini is blending innovation with compliance in ways that may set the tone for other global exchanges.

As Tyler Winklevoss put it:

“The future of finance will be built on trust, compliance, and innovation — and the Gemini MiCA license is our foundation for Europe.”

With Europe rolling out MiCA and exchanges scrambling for approval, Gemini may have just secured its most valuable license yet.