A US federal judge denied a joint Gemini-CFTC bid to undo a $5 million settlement, according to multiple news reports. The Block reported the denial on 16 October 2026 at 05:44 UTC, and CoinDesk reported it at 09:36 UTC. The reports state that the judge rejected Gemini's appeal to void the settlement despite CFTC backing. The news was first reported by The Defiant at 00:39 UTC on the same day. [1] [2] [4]

The story is labeled Unverified, meaning it is reported by an established outlet or several sources but not confirmed at the source. It has been reported by CoinDesk, The Block, Decrypt, The Defiant, and Cointelegraph. No official court document or statement from Gemini or the CFTC is included in the material provided. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

The judge ruled that a shift in the CFTC's enforcement priorities and misconduct allegations against its enforcement division were not enough to reopen the deal, according to Decrypt. Cointelegraph reported that the judge ruled changes in CFTC enforcement priorities and allegations of misconduct by its enforcement division were insufficient to overturn Gemini's January 2025 settlement. The court found that Gemini voluntarily settled three weeks before trial and that policy changes do not warrant reopening the judgment. [3] [5]

Gemini has already paid the $5 million penalty, according to The Defiant. A permanent injunction and restrictions on publicly denying the case's findings remain in place, The Defiant reported. The CFTC had backed the effort to undo the settlement, saying the case should never have been presented, but the settlement's injunction and restrictions remain in place. [4]

It remains unconfirmed whether the judge's decision is final or if further appeals are possible. The material does not include any comment from Gemini or the CFTC on the denial. The exact date of the ruling is not specified in the claims, though reports were published on 16 October 2026. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]