Gemini is the NYDFS-regulated conservative US exchange. Explicit insurance on custody, ActiveTrader for reasonable pricing at scale, and a clean regulatory record. Best for US users who prioritize institutional-grade compliance over broad asset selection.
What Gemini is
Founded by the Winklevoss twins in 2014, Gemini operates as a NY-chartered trust company under NYDFS supervision. This is a more restrictive regulatory setup than typical MSB registration — Gemini is subject to bank-like custody rules.
Fees
- Simple mobile/web: high spread — avoid for real trades
- ActiveTrader: 0.20% maker / 0.40% taker at low volume, scales down significantly
- Withdrawal: first 10 withdrawals free monthly, then fees per asset
Like Coinbase, always use ActiveTrader — the Simple interface pricing is expensive.
Who should use Gemini
- Conservative US users prioritizing trust-charter custody
- Institutional users needing insured cold storage
- ActiveTrader users seeking competitive fees
Verdict
Gemini is the US conservative alternative to Coinbase. NYDFS trust structure + insured custody + ActiveTrader for competitive fees. Not the largest, but arguably the safest US venue.