The recent announcement of former SEC Chairman Gary Gensler's return to MIT has elicited a strong response from the crypto exchange Gemini and its co-founder Tyler Winklevoss.
Gemini's Decision
Gemini's co-founder Tyler Winklevoss announced that his company would cease hiring graduates from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in response to Gary Gensler's return. According to him, as long as MIT maintains ties with Gensler, Gemini will not hire graduates from this institution, including for the summer internship program.
Gary Gensler's Return to MIT
On January 29, 2025, MIT announced Gary Gensler's return as a professor at the Sloan School of Management. He will also serve as a co-director of the FinTechAI initiative at the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.
Crypto Industry Reaction
The crypto community is actively discussing this decision. For instance, UniSwap executive Devin Walsh expressed skepticism over Gensler's return, seeing it as a misstep for students eager to explore new financial technologies. Not only Gemini, but other companies, including Coinbase, have also declared cutting ties with firms linked to former SEC staff appointed under the Biden administration.
Gemini's decision highlights the current tension between traditional educational institutions and the crypto industry, whose views are not always aligned. This confrontation raises questions about the role of education in shaping future professionals.
