The wave of cryptocurrency-linked companies hitting the public markets this year gained fresh momentum on Friday, as Gemini Space Station made its long-awaited debut on the Nasdaq.
Shares in the exchange, founded by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, opened at $37.01 after its initial public offering was priced at $28. Within minutes, the stock soared above $45 before retreating to trade around $35 by mid-afternoon. Even after paring gains, Gemini shares were still up more than 20% from their offering price, valuing the company at roughly $1.5 billion.
The trading session wasn’t without drama. A sharp spike in volatility triggered an automatic 10-minute halt shortly after the open, a common safeguard for new listings experiencing outsized swings.
The offering itself raised approximately $425 million, reflecting robust investor demand. Pricing came in well above early estimates of $17 to $19, which were later raised to $24 to $26. By the time Gemini hit the market, enthusiasm had pushed the IPO into the upper range of expectations.
Gemini enters public trading during an especially fertile period for crypto-related IPOs. In June, stablecoin operator Circle Internet Group priced its shares at $31 before closing its first day at $83. Two months later, fintech exchange Bullish went public at $37 and ended its first session near $68. Just yesterday, Figure Technologies, another blockchain player, surged more than 40% in its debut.
These strong first-day performances reflect a broader investor appetite for digital-asset infrastructure, even amid lingering questions around regulation and long-term adoption. Data shows tech IPOs overall have averaged a 36% first-day return over the past year, but crypto-linked listings have consistently outpaced that benchmark.
For Gemini, the IPO marks both a validation and an expansion opportunity. The firm currently manages more than $21 billion in assets and serves approximately 10,000 institutional clients worldwide. Beyond its core exchange platform, the company has diversified into stablecoins, a U.S. credit card product, and a studio dedicated to nonfungible tokens (NFTs).
The timing is strategic. With digital assets edging closer to mainstream financial adoption and institutional participation rising, public investors are eager to gain direct exposure to companies positioned at the center of this ecosystem. Gemini’s listing provides exactly that.
The company’s trajectory also underscores how far the Winklevoss brothers have come since their early public battles in the tech world. Once known primarily for their legal dispute with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, the twins have steadily built Gemini into a brand synonymous with regulatory compliance, security, and user trust in crypto markets.
As the stock settles in the days ahead, traders and analysts will be watching closely to see whether Gemini can maintain momentum — and whether this latest IPO is another signal that crypto finance is entering a new phase of market maturity.