Cryptocurrency exchange Gemini is preparing to offer prediction-market contracts, according to a Bloomberg report citing sources familiar with the matter. These contracts would allow users to wager on outcomes such as economic data releases, political events and financial markets — an expansion that could shift dynamics in the crypto derivatives world amid broader regulatory and institutional shifts.
Market Reaction
The news of Gemini’s planned launch of event-driven contracts has sparked heightened attention across both crypto and institutional investor circles. Platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket, already operating in the prediction-market segment, logged surge volumes this year — Kalshi reportedly hitting around **$4.4 billion** in monthly trading volume in October. Gemini’s stock (ticker GEMI) has fallen about **40–55%** since its September IPO, according to recent data, as investors weigh whether the new contract business can meaningfully diversify revenue.
Regulatory & Technical Implications
The move into prediction markets places Gemini at the intersection of crypto innovation and regulated derivatives. The company filed an application in May with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) seeking designation as a contract market to lawfully offer derivatives contracts — a process often taking months to years. While major crypto exchanges have previously deployed tokenised event contracts, Gemini’s emphasis on regulatory approval suggests an institutional-grade bridge between TradFi derivatives and decentralised finance (DeFi). That said, state regulator questions — particularly around whether such products constitute betting or regulated securities — remain unresolved. The success of the initiative hinges on technical infrastructure, data feeds, risk-management controls and cross-jurisdiction compliance.
Investor Sentiment and Strategic Perspective
For institutional crypto investors and hedge funds, the development signals a new frontier in “event-based” exposure — where beyond spot trading in crypto assets, participants can hedge or trade real-world outcomes via on-chain or hybrid frameworks. The psychology of investor behaviour in this space appears to shift from pure speculation to calibrated exposure, with one strategist noting that “prediction markets offer a way to monetise macro views in crypto-native venues”. Meanwhile, retail sentiment may also evolve, with retail volumes from platforms like Polymarket suggesting broad appetite. But scepticism remains: execution risk, regulatory overhang and competition from incumbents such as Kalshi could hinder volume growth and monetisation potential.
Looking ahead, the key questions will revolve around the timeline and approval path at the CFTC, a launch that can scale liquidity, and whether Gemini can demonstrate sufficient trading-pool depth to compete. The rollout also offers a test case for how crypto exchanges can integrate fully regulated derivatives with crypto-native architecture, potentially creating a template for institutionalised event-based trading in the digital-asset economy.
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