U.S. judge rejects Gemini’s appeal to void $5 million settlement despite CFTC backing

A U.S. federal judge rejected an unusual joint request from crypto exchange Gemini and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to overturn a $5 million settlement, even though the regulator said the case should not have been brought.

Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein ruled Thursday that the CFTC’s decision to reverse its position on the case was not enough to undo Gemini’s January 2025 settlement. He also rejected Gemini’s argument that it had been coerced into settling by regulators.

Gemini, founded by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, has already paid the $5 million. The ruling also keeps the exchange under a court order prohibiting it from misleading the CFTC or publicly denying the settlement's findings.

The decision is significant because it shows that a friendlier approach to crypto regulation in Washington D.C. is not retroactive. It does not automatically erase earlier court judgments, even though the regulator and the company agree they should be withdrawn.

Gemini can still operate in the U.S. and introduce new products, but the ruling means it must live with the terms of its 2025 settlement as it shifts its business toward the American market.