Winklevosses’ Crypto Exchange Gemini Loses Three Top Executives
Watch on YouTube ↗  |  February 17, 2026 at 21:27 UTC  |  2:35  |  Bloomberg Markets
Speakers
Nick — Anchor
Reporter — Financial Correspondent

Summary

  • Gemini (Winklevoss twins' crypto exchange) is facing severe internal turmoil, losing three top executives including the COO, and laying off 25% of its staff.
  • The company is grappling with negative free cash flow and earnings losses, exacerbated by declining transaction volumes and the devaluation of its own Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings.
  • Analysts (specifically from Truist) have raised concerns about Gemini's solvency due to the combination of executive departures and persistent cash burn.
  • Gemini is attempting to pivot to "Prediction Markets" as a growth driver after acquiring a US license, but analysts remain skeptical that this alone can stabilize the balance sheet.
Trade Ideas
Ticker Direction Speaker Thesis Time
AVOID The reporter notes that Gemini is "still not profitable," has "negative free cash flow," and is seeing the "fair value of Bitcoin and Ethereum decline." Furthermore, a Truist analyst stated that the departures and cash flow issues raise "investor concerns about solvency." Solvency rumors regarding a major US-based exchange (Gemini) create systemic contagion risk. If a "regulated" entity like Gemini faces a liquidity crisis, it undermines trust in the entire asset class, leading to potential panic selling in major assets (BTC/ETH) and dragging down public proxies like Coinbase (COIN) due to sector-wide volume compression and reputational damage. AVOID the crypto sector until Gemini's solvency status is clarified. The risk-reward is skewed to the downside given the "solvency" keyword usage. Gemini could successfully restructure or raise capital, proving the solvency fears wrong and leading to a relief rally in the sector. 1:00
WATCH Gemini gained a US license to offer prediction markets and hopes this will be a "growth driver." While this is a strategic pivot, the reporter explicitly states, "that's not alone gonna be able to kind of drive enough growth at this point." WATCH. Do not buy into the "Prediction Markets" narrative as a savior for distressed crypto firms yet. The segment is growing but insufficient to plug the hole created by negative free cash flow in the core exchange business. Prediction markets could see explosive adoption faster than anticipated, becoming a significant revenue stream. 1:47