What is “Verify yourself instantly with your Plaid account” in US onboarding?
This feature allows eligible users to quickly create their Gemini account by confirming personal information already saved through Plaid, using a secure integration powered by Layer. If you’ve previously used Plaid and meet eligibility requirements, you may be able to skip manual data entry and verify your identity in just a few taps. Additionally, you will be able to select which bank accounts to link within the experience so you can start trading crypto right away!
Why should I use this option?
“Verify yourself instantly” provides a faster, more seamless onboarding experience. Rather than entering your name, address, date of birth and Social Security Number manually, we’ll use information you’ve previously shared via Plaid to pre-fill those details. You will also be able to see your linked bank accounts previously connected through Plaid. You can review and confirm the information or make edits as needed. This helps reduce errors and gets you started trading within Gemini instantly.
How do I verify myself instantly with Layer?
If you're eligible, after entering your phone number during sign-up, you’ll see an option to “Verify yourself instantly with your Plaid account”
- Tap the “Continue” option to begin.
- Confirm your phone number by entering a 6-digit code sent to your phone number.
- Review the personal and bank information retrieved securely from Plaid through Layer.
- Edit any details if something’s out of date or incorrect.
- Submit your info to proceed directly to identity verification.
If you're not eligible or choose not to use this option, you can continue onboarding by entering your information manually.
Am I eligible to verify myself instantly with Layer?
To be eligible, you must:
- Be a U.S. resident
- Have previously linked a financial account using Plaid
- Have complete identity data available from Plaid (name, address, DOB, and SSN)
- Use the same phone number during login as what’s stored in Plaid
If your data doesn’t meet these criteria, you’ll be guided through the standard manual onboarding flow instead.
Can I edit the information pulled from Layer?
Yes. You can update any personal information retrieved from Layer before submitting. Your updated info will be used for identity verification and onboarding.
What if I don’t have a bank account linked through Plaid?
If your Plaid data does not include bank account information, you can add a payment method after onboarding—just like in our current experience. However, if you have a linked bank account, it will automatically appear in your Gemini payment methods once onboarding is complete so you can begin trading right away.
What happens if there’s an issue during Layer verification?
If there’s a technical issue while retrieving your Plaid identity data, you’ll receive an error message and be redirected to continue onboarding through the standard manual onboarding flow.
What if I drop off after confirming my phone with Layer?
Even if you don’t complete the full onboarding after confirming your phone number, your phone will still be marked as verified in Gemini’s system. You can return at any time to continue with identity verification through the manual onboarding flow.
What if my address puts me in a different regulatory category?
In some cases, updated address information from Layer may change your assigned regulatory entity within Gemini. If this happens, we may need to collect your full Social Security number during onboarding to comply with regulatory requirements.
Where can I see this information in my account?
Once your account is created, you’ll be able to view your linked bank account under Payment Methods if one was available through Plaid. Additionally, your personal information will appear within Settings > Account and can be reviewed or updated as needed.