Crypto Exchange Gemini To Lay Off Additional 10% Of Workforce

Gemini Exchange has begun its third wave of employee layoffs, which will result in a 10% reduction in the size of the company’s staff.

Gemini, a cryptocurrency exchange based in the United States, has announced that it will be dismissing ten percent of its working personnel. The company claims that the layoffs are entirely the fault of “bad actors” working in the cryptocurrency business industry.

On January 24th, Gemini co-founder, Cameron Winklevoss wrote an internal message to its employees regarding its latest wave of layoffs:

“It was our hope to avoid further reductions after this summer, however, persistent negative macroeconomic conditions and unprecedented fraud perpetuated by bad actors in our industry have left us with no other choice but to revise our outlook and further reduce headcount.”

The cryptocurrency exchange is currently going through the third round of laying off a number of their staff members. Gemini terminated the employment of 10% of its workforce in May of last year, and then another 7% in July.

About Gemini

Gemini is a cryptocurrency exchange and custodian that allows customers to buy, sell, and store digital assets. The exchange was founded in 2014 by the Winklevoss twins (Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss), who are also known for their involvement in the development of Facebook. The exchange offers a range of features, including low fees, security, and compliance with regulations. Gemini also has a mobile app that allows users to access the exchange on the go. Additionally, it has a feature of staking and earning rewards for holding certain crypto currencies on their platform.

In addition to buying and selling cryptocurrencies, Gemini also offers a range of other services such as institutional-grade custody, over-the-counter (OTC) trading and the Earn feature. Gemini’s custody service provides institutional clients with a secure and compliant way to store their digital assets, and the OTC trading service allows clients to make large trades with low slippage. The exchange also provides active traders with a number of tools and resources to help them make informed trading decisions. Gemini is well-known for its commitment to security, with measures such as two-factor authentication, offline storage for the majority of assets, and a bug bounty program.

Gemini also has a strong focus on compliance and regulation, and is one of the few cryptocurrency exchanges that is regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services  (NYDFS). This means that the exchange must follow a strict set of rules and guidelines in order to operate, which can provide peace of mind for customers who are concerned about the security and safety of their assets. Gemini also has a strong focus on education, with a range of resources and guides available on its website that can help users learn more about cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.

Factors for laying off employees

There are numerous contributing causes to the decision that Gemini has made to lay off its staff. These issues might also be relevant for other prominent crypto exchanges.

First, an increase in interest rates by the Federal Reserve can result in a decrease in economic growth as well as a fall in expenditure, both of which can lead to a decline in demand for a company’s products or services. As a direct consequence of this, businesses may decide to terminate employees in an effort to reduce expenses while simultaneously preserving their profitability. In addition, increased interest rates can make it more expensive for firms to borrow money, which is one reason why enterprises are finding it difficult to maintain their financial stability.

Second, a decline in the price of cryptocurrencies causes a corresponding decline in the value of the assets held by a cryptocurrency business. Because of this, the company might see a drop in revenue, which would make it challenging for them to keep their current level of profitability. Because of this, businesses may need to reduce their workforce in order to save money and maintain their viability. Additionally, as prices plummet, there is also a drop in investor and consumer confidence. This can lead to a decline in investment and adoption, which can further have an impact on the companies that deal in cryptocurrencies.

Third, Genesis Trading on Gemini offered consumers the ability to earn interest by lending out their cryptocurrency assets. This was made feasible by the Gemini Earn program. The fact that Genesis momentarily halted processing withdrawals on its platform prevented more than 340,000 Gemini Earn members from accessing nearly $900 million in assets last year, Gemini is currently demanding Genesis the funds that the users lent to them.

Lastly, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC) has filed a lawsuit against Gemini and Genesis on the grounds that they sold unregistered securities (referring to the Gemini Earn program). According to the US SEC, crypto lending platforms and interest bearing accounts are deemed to be a form of security and would need to comply with the requirements of the government agency. While Genesis has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Gemini may be laying off some of its employees in order to better prepare for the pending legal action.

Conclusion

The current economic downturn is making it increasingly challenging for businesses in the technology sector to remain profitable. The unstable status of the global economy is making it difficult for businesses to remain solvent, and as a result, customers are becoming more frugal with their spending. This, in turn, is resulting in a decline in the demand for technological goods and services. 

As many businesses are reducing their workforces and expenses, there is less money available for research and development. This makes it more difficult for technology companies to innovate and bring new products to market. Because of the ongoing uncertainty brought on by the recession, it is difficult for technology companies to both obtain cash and secure funding for new projects. This further hinders the companies’ capacity to compete and expand. It is uncertain how effectively the technology industry will be able to weather the storm of the current economic climate, which presents enormous hurdles for the industry as a whole.