Gemini eyes further staff cuts to control costs amid crypto winter Gemini eyes further staff cuts to control costs amid crypto winter
Reportedly, crypto exchange Gemini is going for the second round of layoffs by firing 15% of staff to further cut costs.
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Updated: Jul. 19, 2022 at 12:47 pm UTC
Cover art/illustration via CryptoSlate. Image includes combined content which may include AI-generated content.
Seven weeks after announcing a 10% headcount reduction to survive the winter, crypto exchange Gemini is going for the second round of layoffs to fire another 15%, to cut the costs even more, TechCrunch reported, citing sources.
Sources told TechCrunch that 68 people — roughly 7% of staff — have been removed from the company’s Slack group. Gemini founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss did not comment on the subject yet.
Second round of layoffs
An internal re-planning document was leaked to an anonymous website on July 14, and it outlined a plan to reduce headcount by 15% to 800 from the current 950.
The leak was also noticed by Cameron Winklevoss, who sent a reprimanding message to the company’s Slack group. He wrote:
“It’s come to my attention that at least one team member thinks it’s a good idea to post a snippet of our technology operating plan on a third party website (Blind). Wow, super lame … if you are leaking company information, you are exhibiting a low level of consciousness and respect for your fellow team members who greatly benefit from the openness we are trying to create and foster here.”
He also added that Gemini was aiming for the moon and needed a cosmic consciousness to do that. Winklevoss warned all employees without such an approach to “level-up or respectively bow out.”
Gemini in winter conditions
A firing spree in the cryptosphere started with Gemini’s first layoff announcement in early June. Soon after, many crypto companies announced they were downsizing, including Coinbase, Crypto.com, Robinhood, BlockFi, and Bitmex.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced it is on the lookout to hire people who a crypto firm recently laid off.
Even though Gemini is said to go for a second firing round now, the Winklevoss twins appeared very bullish on their investments during the early days of the bear market.
In May 2022, the twins said they have been investing in new start-ups despite the bearish sentiment. Even though they knew most of these investments would go to waste, they continued regardless because the ones that survived would provide great returns.
The brothers posted tweets promoting Bitcoin, while Cameron Winklevoss said:
“We believe in investing in the next generation of builders and visionaries who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.”
The twins have a combined fortune of $6,4 billion and have never had to reduce staff since 2014 when they launched Gemini.
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Zeynep Geylan
Zeynep is an academic who turned to crypto in 2018. Originating in social sciences, she is especially interested in the social impact of blockchain and cryptocurrencies and strongly believes in their transmuting power.
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In this article
Gemini
Gemini is a regulated digital asset exchange and custodian that allows customers to buy, sell, store, and stake digital assets in a regulated, secure, and compliant manner.
Cameron Winklevoss, a renowned figure in the cryptocurrency sector, is a Harvard University graduate with a degree in Economics and holds an MBA from Oxford University.
Tyler Winklevoss, known for his pioneering role in the cryptocurrency realm, is a Harvard University alumnus with a degree in Economics and holds an MBA from Oxford University.
