The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reached a preliminary settlement with billionaire twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss’ cryptocurrency platform Gemini Trust.

The SEC accused the cryptocurrency platform of failing to register a cryptocurrency asset lending program before offering it to retail investors. According to reports, the settlement resolves the agency’s lawsuit over the Gemini Earn program.

The settlement still needs to be approved by SEC

In a letter filed on Monday in a Manhattan federal court, lawyers representing both parties indicated the settlement would “completely resolve” the lawsuit but still subject to SEC approval.

The lawyers reportedly asked the US District Judge Edgardo Ramos to give them up to December 15 to submit their final paperwork, and to put all deadlines on hold.

The exact terms of the settlement remain confidential pending a final approval from commissioners. However, experts familiar with similar cases are projecting the penalty will be in the region of $10 million to $20 million, which is far less severe than initially feared. These are also significantly lower penalties than those that were imposed during the previous administration.

The settlement was revealed four days after Gemini raised $425 million in an initial public offering, valuing the New York based firm at about $3.3 billion in its market debut.

According to a Reuters report, Gemini shares closed up 52 cents at $32.52 on Monday, which was 16% above the $28 IPO price.

Gemini Earn, which launched in 2021 allowed customers to lend bitcoin and other crypto assets to the cryptocurrency lender Genesis Global Capital in exchange for interest payments, with Gemini Trust taking fees as high as 4.29%.

Gemini paused withdrawals in November 2022, the same month that Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX cryptocurrency exchange collapsed before filing for bankruptcy two months later. The exchange held $900 million assets from about 340,000 Gemini Earn customers at the time.

In January 2023, the SEC sued Gemini and Genesis on allegations that they bypassed disclosure requirements for Gemini Earn that were meant to protect investors. Genesis accepted a $21 million fine to settle without admitting any wrongdoing.

The SEC – Gemini settlement signals regulator’s softer approach to crypto

The SEC has stopped oversight of the cryptocurrency industry since Donald Trump became president in January and appointed crypto-friendly officials to lead the agency including the new chair, Paul Atkins, who has called for clearer guidelines rather than enforcement actions.

So far, the SEC has created a Crypto Task Force designed to develop appropriate frameworks for digital assets and has halted several investigations into major industry players.

The resolution of the Gemini Trust case is not unique as it follows a similar pattern to other crypto settlements recently reached. These include cases against Ripple Labs, which was finalized with a leaner penalty as well as more favorable terms for the cryptocurrency firm.

Industry experts view these developments as a sign that the US is becoming more receptive to cryptocurrency innovation while still maintaining consumer protections.

According to Namecoin News, this also to be a shift from viewing most digital assets as securities that require strict registration to recognizing that different types of cryptocurrencies may need different regulatory treatments. And for an average crypto user, this settlement also means that established firms like Gemini can continue operating with greater regulatory certainty.

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