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Bitcoin-Backed Bet Sends Gemini Shares Soaring 20% After Hours

Last updated: 2026-05-18 03:50:14 Intermediate
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Stock Surges on $100M Bitcoin Investment

Gemini Space Station (NASDAQ: GEMI) shares jumped more than 20% in after-hours trading Thursday after co-founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss announced a $100 million strategic investment into the company — funded entirely with Bitcoin. The shares closed at $5.26 Wednesday, then hit $6.33 after the news.

Bitcoin-Backed Bet Sends Gemini Shares Soaring 20% After Hours
Source: bitcoinmagazine.com

The move, combined with a stronger-than-expected first-quarter earnings report, pushed the stock up over 30% Friday morning before settling. The Winklevoss Capital Fund purchased 7.1 million shares at $14 per share — nearly triple the stock's recent market price of around $4.92 — signaling deep conviction in both the company and the cryptocurrency itself.

Earnings Show Revenue Growth, Narrowing Losses

Gemini reported total revenue of $50.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, a 42% year-over-year increase. Services and interest income surged 122% to $24.5 million, while credit card revenue skyrocketed 300% to $14.7 million. The net loss narrowed to $109 million from $141 million in the same quarter last year.

The earnings highlight a rebound from a turbulent period, even as trading volumes dropped sharply to $6.3 billion from $13.5 billion a year earlier. That decline was largely driven by a steep Bitcoin downturn earlier this year.

Bitcoin Context: Recovery from a Bruising Selloff

Bitcoin has stabilized in recent weeks, trading around $80,000 after crashing more than 40% from its October 2025 peak of $126,000 to a low near $60,000 in February. That volatility rattled Gemini's exchange business and led to a series of cost-cutting measures.

The Winklevoss twins themselves were caught in the selloff. Blockchain analytics firm Arkham flagged a $130 million Bitcoin transfer into Gemini in March, widely interpreted as a sale. They later withdrew $42.77 million in BTC in April, rebuilding their position as prices stabilized.

Background: A Tough Quarter for Gemini

The earnings come after months of turmoil. In February, Gemini cut 25% of its global workforce, exited the UK, EU, and Australian markets, and lost its COO, CFO, and Chief Legal Officer in a single week. Those events triggered a wave of shareholder class action suits alleging the company misled investors in its September 2025 IPO, which was priced at $28 per share but later traded as low as $4.92.

The twins' bold investment — paid in Bitcoin at a price nearly triple the market — aims to restore confidence. Tyler Winklevoss, the company's CEO, said in a statement: “We believe the market has significantly undervalued Gemini, and that this investment will allow us to set up the company for its next phase of growth.”

What This Means

The $14 entry price, paid in Bitcoin, signals that the Winklevoss twins see substantial upside for both their company and the flagship cryptocurrency. By injecting capital at a premium, they are effectively betting that Gemini's stock will eventually reflect its true value — and that Bitcoin's recent stability is the foundation for a new rally.

For investors, the move could be a turning point. The stock's after-hours surge suggests the market is reassessing Gemini's potential. However, with ongoing legal challenges and a still-volatile crypto environment, long-term gains are far from guaranteed.

Related: Background on Gemini's recent struggles | What the investment means going forward