Under the EU & EEA’s Travel Rule requirements (refer to EU & EEA Travel Rule Requirements for more information), you must prove that you control any self-hosted wallet address before withdrawing crypto to it, by using a Signature Test  or Small Deposit Test.

What is a Signature Test?

A Signature Test is a secure, cryptographic proof that you own a self-hosted wallet address. It involves connecting your external wallet (such as a browser extension or hardware wallet) and signing a unique message generated by Gemini. By successfully signing this message, you confirm that you control the private keys for that address. Gemini has partnered with Reown, a third-party wallet verification service, to facilitate the Signature Test. Reown provides the interface and technology for securely generating and verifying cryptographic signatures.

How do I complete a Signature Test? 

On Gemini Web:

1. Navigate to Address Book.
2. Click Add a self-hosted wallet address.
3. Complete the address attestation.
4. Under Actions, click Verify and select Signature Test.
5. Follow the prompts to connect your external wallet (e.g., via a browser extension) and complete the Signature Test.
6. Once the signature is verified, the status of the address will update to either:
7. Active, or
8. Hold Period (if you have Withdrawal Protection enabled - refer to Withdrawal Protection for more information).

On Gemini Mobile App

1. Open the Gemini mobile app and ensure it is updated to the latest version.
2. Tap the profile icon in the top-left corner.
3. Go to Address Book.
4. Tap Add New in the top-right corner.
5. Enter the Scope, select the correct network, and input the self-hosted wallet address.
6. Confirm the address details.
7. Tap Verify, then select Self-Hosted Wallet as the wallet type.
8. Choose Signature Test as the verification method.
9. Follow the prompts to connect your external wallet (e.g., via wallet app or browser extension) and complete the Signature Test.

What is a Small Deposit Test?

A Small Deposit Test (SDT) is a verification process used to prove that you control a self-hosted wallet address before it can be approved for withdrawals. After adding an external wallet address to your Gemini Address Book, you must send a small deposit (at least $1 USD notional of supported crypto) from that wallet to your Gemini deposit address. Gemini then reviews the transaction and confirms that the sending address matches the one you added. Once verified, the address status is updated to Active and becomes eligible for transfers. This process helps ensure the security of withdrawals and is separate from Deposit Attestation, which only applies to incoming funds.

How does the Small Deposit Test work?

To prove control of the wallet address, please follow the following steps:

1. Add an address in your account settings here: Address Book. 
2. Once the address is added, send a deposit of at least $1 notional worth of supported crypto from the wallet you want to whitelist, to your Gemini Deposit address. 
3. We will review your deposit and if the sender's address matches the external wallet address you added, the status of your address will be updated to 'Active' once verified.

How Long Does the Small Deposit Test Take? – How long does the process take?

Typically, a Small Deposit Test takes up to 15 minutes to complete, though the exact time may vary based on network traffic and other factors. However, while your wallet is approved for transfers as soon as the Small Deposit Test is complete, the entire process—including whitelisting—typically takes about seven days. We recommend initiating this process as soon as possible to avoid any delays in transferring funds from Gemini to a self-hosted wallet.

How do I complete the Small Deposit Test if my sending address keeps changing?

The Small Deposit Test (SDT) is not currently compatible with self-hosted wallets on the BTC or BTC Fork Networks that utilize rotating addresses.

Should your wallet use rotating addresses, the Coin Control feature on your wallet (if available) may potentially simplify the deposit process by allowing you to set a fixed address to complete the Small Deposit Test. We advise you to check if the Coin Control feature is available within your wallet.

I have already completed the Deposit Attestation, why isn’t my address approved for withdrawals? Isn’t it the same as proof of control?

Successfully providing information for an incoming deposit (Deposit Attestation) is not the same as successfully proving control of the address you have whitelisted (via Small Deposit Test or signature test).

Signature Test Vs Small Deposit Test