Gemini Agrees To $50 Million Settlement With New York AG

As a researcher with a background in finance and experience following the cryptocurrency market closely, I believe that this $50 million settlement between the New York State Attorney General’s Office and Gemini Trust Company is a significant development in the ongoing regulatory crackdown on crypto exchanges. The fact that over 230,000 investors, including 29,000 New Yorkers, were deceived into investing in Gemini’s Earn program through false promises of growing their money speaks to the urgent need for greater transparency and accountability in this industry.


The New York Attorney General’s office has reached a $50 million settlement with crypto exchange Gemini Trust Company LLC (Gemini). This is the latest update in a significant legal dispute between the New York AG, Gemini, their former business partner Genesis Global Capital, and other involved parties.

Gemini Banned From Running Crypto Lending Program

In a press release on Friday, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the successful recovery of $50 million from Gemini targeted at compensating victims who lost money to the exchange’s popular earn program. 

Approximately 230,000 investors, among whom were around 29,000 residents of New York, were reportedly misled into putting their funds in Gemini’s Earn program, a joint venture between Gemini and the now-bankrupt Genesis Global.

The attorney General said: 

Approximately 29,000 New Yorkers, among many others, were deceived and lost their savings due to Gemini’s misrepresentation of its Earn program. While marketed as a method for investors to expand their wealth, the reality was that Gemini falsely advertised and restricted access to investor accounts.

After Genesis filed for bankruptcy in November 2022, my analysis reveals that the Gemini Earn program succumbed to this financial instability, leaving investors without access to approximately $900 million of their funds.

As a crypto investor in October 2023, I came across some disturbing news. The New York Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit against Gemini, Genesis, Digital Currency Group (DCG), DCG’s CEO Barry Silbert, and former Genesis boss Saichiro Moro in New York. According to the reports, the lawsuit alleged unspecified violations of New York’s Martin Act and other laws. The details of the case were not yet clear, but I kept a close eye on developments.

From a researcher’s perspective, I’ve uncovered some significant developments in the ongoing lawsuit against Gemini. Apart from the recent payment made by the company, this legal battle has led to an unprecedented $2 billion settlement agreement with Genesis. This is the largest settlement ever granted to a cryptocurrency firm by a state. As part of the deal, I’ve discovered that Gemini is now prohibited from establishing or operating any crypto lending business in New York. Furthermore, they are obligated to cooperate and provide assistance to the New York Attorney General in the ongoing litigations against other defendants.

Commenting on her most recent victory, Letitia James said: 

Today’s resolution will fully compensate swindled investors, serving as a stern warning to crypto businesses: deceiving investors is unlawful and intolerable in my jurisdiction.

As a researcher focusing on the regulatory landscape of cryptocurrencies, I cannot help but acknowledge the significant strides made by New York Attorney General Letitia James in this arena over the past few years. Her efforts have garnered widespread attention due to her unwavering commitment to enforcing regulations against perceived wrongdoings in the crypto industry. Two notable examples of her actions include filing lawsuits against KuCoin and Nexo, leading to impressive settlements valued at $22 million and $24 million respectively.

Crypto Market Overview

Recently, the cryptocurrency market experienced a 1.05% decrease within the past day, resulting in an approximate total market capitalization of $2.4 trillion. Among the top players, Bitcoin continues to reign supreme with a market value of $1.4 trillion. Ethereum ranks second, boasting a market cap of $445.27 billion and representing 18% of the entire crypto market.

Gemini Agrees To $50 Million Settlement With New York AG

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2024-06-15 23:11