Gemini Urges CFTC to Repeal Rule on Crypto Prediction Markets

Gemini, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange, has urged the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to retract a contentious proposed rule. 

According to Gemini and its co-founder, Cameron Winklevoss, this rule threatens to outlaw such platforms, aligning them with Coinbase in this resistance.

Challenging the proposed regulation

Gemini’s pushback was formalized through a letter dated August 8, addressed to CFTC Secretary Christopher Kirkpatrick. The document stresses the negative implications of the proposed rule on prediction markets, especially those that forecast significant events like elections. Gemini argues that these markets, particularly decentralized ones, play a crucial role in public discourse and have substantial utility.

Gemini asserts that prediction markets serve the public interest. Source: Gemini

Cameron Winklevoss emphasized the need for participants in these markets to have “skin in the game,” ensuring higher engagement and integrity than other platforms. His concerns were reiterated in a post on X on August 9, highlighting the overarching impact of the CFTC’s stance on event contracts within the U.S., pointing out that the move could eliminate all such contracts, affecting platforms like Polymarket.

Coinbase joins the fray

Echoing Gemini’s sentiments, Paul Grewal, Chief Legal Officer at Coinbase, has also publicly criticized the CFTC’s approach. Taking to X, Grewal articulated his disapproval of the rule, which he believes would unjustifiably ban many prediction contracts. He noted that the rule’s broad definitions could disrupt contracts on various events, from the Nobel Prizes to the Oscars, underscoring a significant overreach.

The debate over the proposed rule has also attracted political attention. A group comprising five U.S. Senators and three House representatives recently renewed calls for the CFTC to regulate more stringently betting on the 2024 presidential race. In a letter sent on August 5, they expressed concerns that such markets could compromise election integrity and diminish public trust in democratic processes.

These politicians argue for the CFTC’s more proactive role in maintaining election integrity, suggesting that without proper oversight, the agency’s role could pivot to that of an “election cop.”

The Role and Popularity of Prediction Platforms

Platforms like PredictIt, Polymarket, Zeitgeist, and Kalshi, which allow users to speculate on the outcomes of real-world events, including elections and policy changes, have seen growing popularity within the crypto community. This growth underscores the community’s appetite for innovative financial instruments that mesh with their interests and the global events landscape.

The confrontation between crypto exchanges and the CFTC underscores a critical discussion about the future of prediction markets in the U.S., highlighting the complex interplay between innovation, regulation, and public interest.

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