Gemini security features: what it protects and what it does not
Gemini offers two-factor authentication, hardware keys, withdrawal allowlists, cold storage, and state-regulated custody for crypto balances.
Vahe HakobyanEditor-in-chief
Updated Oct 6, 20262 min readFact-checked
On this page
Some risks still fall outside these controls, so it helps to know where each feature starts and stops.
What account security features can you enable?
Gemini says it offers two-factor authentication and hardware security keys for logins. A hardware security key is a physical device that proves it is you when you sign in. Gemini also offers withdrawal address allowlists and hold periods. An allowlist is a saved list of approved addresses.
How does Gemini protect stored crypto?
Gemini says most customer crypto sits in offline cold storage, separate from company funds. Cold storage keeps the keys that control the crypto off the internet, so an online breach does not reach them. Gemini Trust is regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services.
What are the limits of Gemini's protections?
Crypto balances at Gemini are not FDIC-insured. Gemini says its insurance for crypto held in hot wallets has coverage limits and policy terms. A confirmed blockchain withdrawal is usually irreversible.
How is Gemini different from a bank?
A bank takes deposits and lends them. A crypto custodian at Gemini holds assets for you. The protections around each come from different regulators.
Frequently asked questions
You usually sign in with a backup code or recovery key, then add a new device. If you have no backup, contact Gemini support.
Gemini says you can create API keys with set permissions, such as read-only or trading, and restrict them by IP address. Store it securely.
A SIM swap targets SMS-based two-factor checks. Whether Gemini covers the loss depends on the policy terms and the type of loss.
