Gemini Exchange Review

Eric Huffman

Verified by Ilija Rankovic

Last updated

November 21, 2025 02:46 EST

20min read

Share

Founded in 2014, Gemini’s strong regulatory framework makes it one of the safest crypto exchanges. It offers spot and futures markets across dozens of pairs, and an advanced trading dashboard with powerful tools. This Gemini exchange review helps traders assess whether it’s the right crypto platform for you.

Our extensive research process tested every element of the exchange, from account onboarding, payment processes, and commissions to trade execution, analysis features, and core markets. Read on to explore the Gemini exchange in great detail and make an informed platform decision.

What is Gemini?

Gemini is a crypto exchange and brokerage platform with over 10 years in the market. Based in the U.S., Gemini has an extensive range of licenses in multiple global markets, including North America, Europe, and Asia.

While Gemini is popular with retail investors, institutional clients also use the platform due to its robust security framework. It provides custodian services for tier-one financial institutions, FinTech startups, and high-net-worth clients.

Founded by the ‘Winklevoss Twins,’ Gemini offers a significant selection of products. Beginners use its brokerage platform to buy cryptocurrencies instantly with traditional payment methods, while day traders use the spot exchange for more advanced trading tools. Gemini also offers perpetual futures with leverage, as well as stablecoins, credit cards, and staking.

In compiling this Gemini exchange review, we found a disparity in available features by location. UK traders, for example, cannot access derivative products, and those in the U.S. face restrictions on certain crypto holdings. As such, some segments of this review may not apply to your country of residence.

Gemini Supported Coins and Trading Pairs

Gemini supports over 70 coins and tokens, which is significantly lower than many exchanges. It focuses on markets with deep liquidity and high trading volumes, so most available cryptocurrencies have large market capitalizations.

Although market choice is modest, one of Gemini’s biggest advantages is its fiat-denominated pairs. Instead of trading the best cryptocurrencies against stablecoins, pairs incorporate USD.

It also pairs major digital assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) with other fiat currencies such as EUR. GBP, and SGD. This benefits non-U.S. investors, since they buy and sell cryptocurrencies without facing currency exchange fees.

Regarding meme coins, the exchange features dogwifhat (WIF), Book of Meme (BOME), Shiba Inu (SHIB), Dogecoin (DOGE), and other market leaders. Note that all supported assets are available via the instant buy feature, plus the more advanced spot exchange.

Experienced traders seeking cross-currency pairs will find a limited offering. Markets include ETH/BTC, DOGE/BTC, and LTC/BTC.

Gemini Trading and Investing

Gemini appeals to long-term investors and day traders alike, making the platform suitable for all strategies and financial goals.

Investors who simply want to purchase cryptocurrencies with convenient payment methods use the instant buy feature. It eliminates the need to match orders on the spot exchange, as investors select their preferred digital asset, payment method, and purchase amount.

Payment types include debit cards, Google/Apple Pay, and PayPal. As we explain later in this Gemini exchange review, platform users also deposit funds from a bank account, which requires them to buy cryptocurrencies manually once the funds arrive.

Gemini Spot Trading

Gemini’s spot exchange offers powerful trading tools, custom orders, and a large selection of technical indicators. It’s the best option for short-term day traders who seek deep liquidity and advanced charting features.

Traditional investors also use the spot trading platform, since commissions are significantly lower compared with the instant buy tool.

Futures

Gemini offers derivative trading products via perpetual futures. Just 25 futures markets are listed, including BTC, Pepe (PEPE), Solana (SOL), and Hyperliquid (HYPE). Each futures pair contains the Gemini Dollar (GUSD), rather than the Tether (USDT), like on other platforms.

The maximum leverage is 100x, yet the exchange lowers limits on pairs with less liquidity depth. Traders go long or short without asset ownership, and they face liquidation if positions decline below the maintenance margin.

Our Gemini crypto exchange review 2025 found that the derivative platform offers competitive funding fees, yet average trading volumes are low at under $68 million per week. In contrast, other tier-one exchanges often handle tens of billions of dollars per day.

Note that futures trading is available in limited countries and does not include major markets like the U.S., the UK, and the European Union. Those based in an unsupported nation may consider CoinFutures. It’s one of the best crypto futures trading platforms without KYC, and it offers leverage of up to 1000x on all markets. Learn more about the platform in our extensive CoinFutures review.

Staking

Gemini offers an in-house staking service, yet it falls short in several key areas. First, the exchange supports just two staking cryptocurrencies: ETH and SOL. At 1.16% and 0.11%, respectively, APYs are some of the lowest in the industry.

Staking assets directly on the Ethereum and Solana blockchain offers significantly higher rates. More competitive APYs are also available at the best crypto staking platforms, which typically have low minimums and flexible withdrawal terms.

Gemini also charges extortionate staking fees, since users forfeit up to 30% of their rewards.

Gemini Tokenized Stocks

In addition to cryptocurrencies, Gemini also offers tokenized stocks. These financial instruments are digital representations of company equities, and they’re traded and stored on the blockchain. This structure means holders do not own company shares. Rather, traders gain exposure to stock price movements.

Dinari Inc. provides the tokenized stock service and offers access to approximately 50 companies. This includes large-cap tech stocks like Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon, as well as blue-chip firms such as Costco, Bank of America, and Coca-Cola.

Like most Gemini products, the exchange charges substantial commissions on tokenized stock trades. Users pay 1.49% per side, yet traditional brokerages typically offer commission-free access. The service is available in the European Union only, although Gemini plans to add additional jurisdictions in the near future.

Recurring Buys

Long-term investors who employ the dollar-cost averaging strategy use Gemini’s recurring crypto purchases feature. Users select the crypto, timeframe, and purchase amount, such as buying $150 worth of Ethereum every Tuesday. Gemini places those orders automatically, assuming the account has sufficient funds.

In addition to Gemini’s standard trading commission, recurring buys incur a 1% convenience fee.

Gemini Basic vs Gemini ActiveTrader

Gemini’s basic dashboard appeals to casual investors with limited trading experience. The dashboard is simple, clear, and user-friendly, and available on desktop browsers and an iOS/Android app.

Beginners will prefer the basic platform, as they only input the investment coin or token, and the purchase amount. Gemini executes the trade instantly via its brokerage service at the next best available price. Fees are significantly higher than ActiveTrader, since users pay a 1.49% commission and a 1% convenience fee. Placing a limit order eliminates the convenience charge.

Gemini ActiveTrader is a proprietary trading dashboard for experienced crypto traders. It provides everything traders need to make informed decisions, and tools include bespoke execution and order types, customizable charts, and analysis indicators.

The platform supports spot and futures trading, and it uses the maker-taker model to determine commissions. The drawback is that ActiveTrader is a browser-based dashboard, so it lacks native software for Windows and Mac.

Gemini Credit Card

Gemini offers one of the best crypto credit cards in the market. Available exclusively for U.S. investors, MasterCard issues the card, so holders may use it at millions of online and in-store merchants.

Cardholders avoid annual fees and foreign exchange charges, and first-time applicants receive a $200 welcome bonus. Gemini pays the bonus in the user’s preferred digital asset once they spend $3,000 in the first 90 days. Over 50 cryptocurrencies are available, including BTC, ETH, and GUSD.

As a rewards credit card, users earn crypto cashback on all purchases. Cashback rates range from 1% to 4%, and gas and transit purchases offer the highest amounts. The exchange offers two different cards with the same terms: a black classic card and an exclusive XRP edition.

Note that applicants follow traditional credit card processes. They complete an online application, and Gemini runs a hard credit check. Credit limits and APRs vary depending on the applicant’s creditworthiness, which ranges from 19.24% to 35.24%.

Read our review on Gemini Credit Card.

Gemini for Institutions

Large-scale institutions and private business clients use the Gemini exchange for their crypto needs. They trust the platform for its robust security and strict licensing framework, as well as its deep liquidity and regulated custodianship.

Here are some of Gemini’s core institutional products and services:

• Institutional-Grade Exchange: Gemini offers a separate exchange platform for its institutional clients. Firms may create flexible user roles with varying account permissions and segregate portfolios based on internal requirements. The API feature ensures industry-leading spreads and execution speeds.
• OTC Services: The over-the-counter (OTC) service allows clients to make bespoke crypto purchases and sales. They get one-on-one solutions for institutional-grade investments, and Gemini ensures clients get the best market prices with minimal slippage.
• Asset Custody: Financial institutions and other large companies rely on Gemini’s custodian service to safeguard their assets. The platform has secured U.S. government-level security ratings and a $100 million cold storage insurance coverage.

Gemini Fees

Gemini charges varying fees depending on the trading product, order type, and the user’s account tier.

The instant buy feature is the most expensive service. Gemini charges users a 3.49% transaction fee when they use debit cards and e-wallets like Google/Apple Pay. They also pay a 1.49% trading commission, plus a 1% convenience fee.

Bank deposits via ACH, SEPA, and local networks are free. However, users must pay a 1.49% trading commission when buying and selling cryptocurrencies.

Using the ActiveTrader platform, while more complex, is significantly cheaper. The entry-level commission is 0.4% for market takers (market orders) and 0.2% for makers (limit orders). ActiveTrader provides traders with lower commissions when they meet 30-day trading volumes. Reaching $10,000, for instance, reduces maker and taker fees to 0.15% and 0.3%, respectively.

Note that while ActiveTrader commissions are lower than the basic platform, they’re still higher than the industry average. Some of the lowest fee crypto exchanges like Binance, OKX, and KuCoin charge just 0.1% per side, and less on larger volumes.

Gemini’s derivative exchange has a separate pricing structure. Makers and takers initially pay 0.02% and 0.07% per side, with discounts after users trade over $10,000 within 30 days.

Gemini charges derivative fees in GUSD, since the stablecoin pairs with all perpetual futures markets. Liquidated orders are charged 0.5%, and a 0.0175% management fee applies every 12 hours. Derivative traders also pay hourly funding rates, depending on whether they’re long or short.

Gemini Payment Methods

Our Gemini exchange review found that users easily deposit funds with traditional payment methods. The most cost-effective option is transferring funds from a bank account. ACH and other local methods are fee-free, and usually credited on the same day.

Once the funds arrive, users buy cryptocurrencies in the respective pair. For example, a European trader may deposit EUR via SEPA and buy Bitcoin through the BTC/EUR pair.

Some users prefer to buy digital assets instantly using debit cards and e-wallets like PayPal, Google Pay, and Apple Pay. These are the fastest and most convenient methods, but also the most expensive. Note that Gemini does not accept credit cards or prepaid cards.

Another option is to deposit cryptocurrencies into the Gemini account from a private wallet. Gemini generates a unique deposit address for incoming payments, and it charges no fees.

Regarding withdrawals, users cannot cash out funds back to a debit card or e-wallet. The exchange limits fiat withdrawal payments to bank transfers. You can also withdraw cryptocurrencies to an external wallet without additional charges, as Gemini uses the actual network fee.

Gemini Exchange Review: User Experience and Ease of Use

The user experience varies widely depending on the Gemini platform.

The basic platform, which is available on desktop browsers and as the Gemini mobile app for iOS and Android, offers a beginner-friendly experience. First-time crypto investors can buy and sell cryptocurrencies without a learning curve. They simply input the crypto and amount, and Gemini processes the trade instantly.

Intermediate-to-advanced traders prefer the ActiveTrader platform. In addition to lower fees, it offers a comprehensive charting dashboard with customization tools. While beginners may find the ActiveTrader layout intimidating, it offers industry-leading spreads and execution speeds in milliseconds. However, ActiveTrader is available on browsers only. This drawback means traders must use their mobile browser when they place positions on the move.

Gemini Customer Support and User Reviews

Our Gemini cryptocurrency exchange review found that the platform offers subpar customer service. The “live chat” icon connects with an automated bot only, and when requesting a live human, users must submit a support ticket. The exchange uses the same support ticket system when users click the “Contact Us” button. While it offers a U.S. telephone number with 24/7 availability, it’s only available for Gemini credit card holders.

In terms of reputation, Gemini has mixed reviews in the public domain. It has a 4.3/5 and 4.8/5 score for the mobile app on Google Play and the App Store across 150,000+ reviews. Yet, Gemini’s Trustpilot score is just 1.4/5. Many negative reviews are because of compliance requests. User complaints often concern additional KYC documents or information requests on crypto wallet withdrawals.

Fees are another common issue. Some users feel Gemini lacks transparency on its instant payment charges.

Where Can Gemini Improve?

In our view, Gemini could improve the customer support experience by adding a live chat feature. It should also extend its U.S. telephone service to non-credit card holders. Otherwise, the only way to contact Gemini is via its online ticket system. Replies usually arrive on a same-day basis, although delays are likely during busy periods.

We also find Gemini’s fee structure extortionate, especially when users trade via its basic platform. It charges a 1.49% standard trading commission, plus 1% convenience fee. There are no discounts on large trading volumes unless using the ActiveTrader dashboard. Derivative fees for market takers are also costly. Takers also pay 0.7% per side unless trading $10,000 in a 30-day period, which is much higher than the industry average.

Another drawback is market access for traders in certain regions. Gemini futures are unavailable throughout the U.S., as well as the European Union and the UK.

Best Gemini Alternatives

Gemini excels in several key areas, including regulation, safety protocols, and the overall trading experience. However, compared to the industry average, it falls short in fees and market accessibility.

Here’s how Gemini compares with other popular crypto exchanges.

CoinFutures

CoinFutures is one of the best crypto futures platforms in the market. It’s a no-KYC platform that’s available globally, so users register with an email address only. This makes CoinFutures a solid Gemini alternative for traders in the U.S., Europe, and the UK.

The futures platform offers leverage of up to 1000x on Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin, and other popular altcoins. Other key features include instant payments, audited proof of reserves, and a minimum trade requirement of just $1.

Coinbase

Coinbase is one of Gemini’s main competitors in the U.S. market. Just like Gemini, Coinbase has a robust security framework, global licensing, and specialist services for institutional clients. It offers instant crypto purchases via debit cards and e-wallets, and fees average 3.99%.

While Coinbase is also a high-fee exchange, it offers a much larger range of markets. Gemini lists about 70 coins and tokens, while Coinbase has over 300. The exchange is also rolling out Base network support for Coinbase account holders, giving them access to millions of additional tokens.

OKX

OKX is a tier-one exchange with regulatory licenses in multiple regions. It recently secured U.S. approval, allowing it to legally operate in 46 states. OKX fees are a fraction of Gemini’s, with spot trading commissions capped at 0.1% per side.

Non-U.S. users also access a comprehensive derivative ecosystem. OKX offers hundreds of perpetual and delivery futures markets, as well as deep options chains for BTC and ETH.

Binance

While Binance lacks the same regulatory foundation as Gemini, it recently reentered the U.S. market after an 18-month suspension. It lets U.S. clients deposit USD via ACH without fees, yet maker and taker commissions are high at 0.4% and 0.6%.

Binance’s main global platform, which is the largest crypto exchange for trading volumes, offers more competitive prices. It charges an entry-level commission of 0.1%, and reduces fees when users hold BNB or trade large amounts.

How to Get Started With Gemini

Here is a step-by-step walkthrough on how to use Gemini.

Step 1: Open a Gemini Account

Visit the Gemini website to open an account.

Gemini complies with U.S. anti-money laundering regulations, so it must collect personal information. Enter your full name, nationality, date of birth, and social security number (or local equivalent).

Step 2: Complete KYC Onboarding

You can’t deposit funds until you complete the KYC process. Upload a government-issued document like a passport, driver’s license, or state ID card.

Non-U.S. clients must also provide proof of address. Our research shows that most Gemini users get verified in minutes. In rare cases, the exchange may require a few days to verify documents.

Step 3: Deposit Funds

Once your Gemini account is verified, you can deposit funds. We recommend using local banking methods, since they’re fee-free. U.S. clients use ACH or domestic wires, while Europeans use SEPA. UK traders deposit via the Faster Payments Network.

Gemini provides its bank account details and your unique customer reference. Ensure you provide the reference when you make the transfer to avoid delays.

Account holders may also deposit crypto. Click the crypto and network, and Gemini generates a unique deposit address.

Step 4: Buy Crypto

While the basic Gemini platform offers the most beginner-friendly experience, we recommend using ActiveTrader. You save significantly on fees, as the basic platform charges 2.49% (trading commission and convenience fee). On ActiveTrader, the maximum commission is 0.4%.

Click the “ActiveTrader” button followed by “BTCUSD” to view available markets. Search for the digital asset you want to buy and select the preferred currency pair.

The order dashboard is located to the right of the pricing chart. Beginners may change the order type from “Limit” to “Market”. Then enter the total purchase amount and confirm.

The order executes instantly, so go back to your Gemini account to view the purchased cryptocurrency.

FAQs

Eric Huffman

Eric Huffman's background includes a decade plus in business management as well as personal finance industry experience in insurance and lending. A strong understanding of consumer finance combined with a consumer advocate stance brought Eric to the crypto industry, where he writes articles and guides aimed at making crypto easier to understand.

Read More