Gemini

Gemini is a U.S.-regulated cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2014 by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss. It holds New York BitLicense registration, is a SOC 1 and SOC 2 Type 2 certified custodian, and was one of the first major exchanges to obtain a New York Trust Company charter — a regulatory footprint that explicitly positions it as the institutional-grade option in a category often criticized for operating in gray zones. The platform serves over 13 million users globally and custodies approximately $15 billion in crypto assets as of 2024.

The platform offers two distinct interfaces: the basic Gemini app (best for beginners buying BTC, ETH, and other major coins) and Gemini ActiveTrader (a professional trading platform with advanced charting, order types, and lower fees for experienced users). The basic app's convenience fee structure is among the highest in the industry — a 1.49% fee on trades over $200 plus a per-transaction fee of $0.99 to $2.99 on smaller orders, making it expensive for casual users. ActiveTrader's maker/taker fees are more competitive (tiered from 0.40%/0.60% down to 0.00%/0.03% at the highest volume tiers), but still lag behind Coinbase Advanced and Kraken on high-volume pricing.