Crypto Powerhouse Gemini Signs in Chicago’s Loop Downtown, Big Local Hiring Plans

Gemini Exchange, the pioneering crypto enterprise founded by social media early movers the Winkelvoss twins, has signed at 1 S. Wacker Drive for 17,000-sf with plans to hire more than 100 workers, a source at Gemini who wished to remain anonymous confirmed to ConnectCRE. News of the company’s big Chicago lease was first reported by the Chicago Business Journal.

The high profile Winkelvoss twins were among the very earliest movers in the crypto space – the company was founded in 2014 – and Gemini has emerged as among the most successful and high powered enterprises in digital blockchain finance.

The company started off as a crypto exchange where people could buy and sell digital currencies, but has since branched off into offering banking type services like credit cards. Gemini was among the very first crypto concerns to seek regulatory licensure and has gone to great lengths to bring crypto into the mainstream.

Gemini has had a presence in Chicago for a number of years working out of a co-working space. CBRE’s Brad Serot and Tony Coglianese represented Gemini in the lease deal, according to the Chicago Business Journal. 

After a lengthy legal dispute with Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg, Gemini founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss took a $65 million settlement – cash and Facebook stock – based on their claim that Zuckerberg stole the ConnectU social media idea developed by the Winklevoss’ while they attended Harvard.

They were very early crypto enthusiasts. From the Facebook settlement proceeds, the Winklevoss’ initial $11 million, 2013 crypto stake made them the first crypto billionaires by 2017.