Gemini, the New York-based bitcoin platform operated by the famed Winklevoss twins will soon allow traders to buy and sell Ethereum’s native cryptocurrency Ether.
According to reports, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, the men who were indirectly responsible for the creation of the social media giant Facebook, have received the approval to trade Ethereum on Gemini Bitcoin Exchange from the New York State Department of Financial Services .
Ether’s emerging popularity has got many Bitcoin exchanges and trading platforms to include it in their established services. Following the announcement, Gemini simply joins the list of many. However, the US Bitcoin exchange has become the first licensed digital currency trading platform to support Ethereum trading.
In a statement to Bloomberg, the twins were quoted saying – “Their (NYSDFS) approval of Gemini as the first-ever licensed platform to support Ether trading demonstrates their commitment to being global thought leaders in financial regulation that both protects customers and fosters innovation.” However, they seem to have forgotten to factor in the fact that many digital currency platforms have already implemented ether trading. It has already made them the leaders in “ innovation ” as the brothers have put it. Also, the whole reason behind bitcoin was to keep the governments and other institutions at arm’s length when it comes to individuals’ finances.
Many digital currency businesses – doing perfectly well – have already mentioned that the strict BitLicense regime is not really conducive to innovation and growth of cryptocurrency industry. It is worth remembering that the introduction of BitLicense led to a mass exodus of some of the notable cryptocurrency platforms from New York.
Currently, there are only a handful of Bitcoin companies that are operating in the state by gaining BitLicense approval. Many, on the other hand, has left the scene citing unaffordable regulatory and compliance fees to […]
