Polymarket Receives CFTC Authorization, Paving the Way for Institutional Crypto Trading in the United States

Polymarket, recognized as the leading crypto-powered prediction market globally, has obtained regulatory clearance to restart its U.S. operations under the supervision of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The CFTC

on November 25, 2025, permitting the platform to operate as a fully compliant exchange and to support intermediated trading through futures commission merchants (FCMs) and established market systems. This development is a major milestone in Polymarket’s re-entry into the American market after a two-year pause that followed a 2022 agreement with regulators.

With this authorization, Polymarket can now directly integrate brokerages and clients, embedding itself within the U.S. derivatives sector. Participants are able to trade via FCMs, gaining access to custody, reporting, and market infrastructure that decentralized platforms previously lacked. "People turn to Polymarket because we bring clarity to uncertainty," stated Shayne Coplan, the company’s founder and CEO. "This approval empowers us to operate with the professionalism and openness required by U.S. regulations."

To comply with CFTC standards, Polymarket has enhanced its platform with advanced monitoring systems, improved market oversight, and upgraded regulatory reporting tools.

will be put in place before the official rollout. The platform continues to be governed by the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC rules, including self-regulatory duties.

The compliance journey included

, a CFTC-approved contract market and clearinghouse, for $112 million in July 2025. This purchase gave Polymarket a regulated base for its U.S. comeback. The CFTC also ended its ongoing probes into the company, indicating a more favorable regulatory climate.

This approval sets Polymarket up to compete more directly with Kalshi, another prominent player in the prediction market space. Kalshi recently secured $300 million in funding at a $5 billion valuation and is planning international expansion. At the same time, Polymarket has drawn notable institutional attention,

from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange. According to , this deal could value Polymarket between $8 billion and $10 billion.

The platform’s user numbers have also grown, now supporting direct

deposits in addition to stablecoins such as and . At 27, Coplan has become a billionaire through his own efforts, following investments from firms like 1789 Capital, which is backed by Donald Trump Jr.

The CFTC’s move signals a broader regulatory shift under the Biden administration, which has shown greater openness to crypto-related innovation. Polymarket’s return to the U.S. also reflects the increasing institutional embrace of prediction markets, as seen in partnerships with organizations like the NHL and UFC.

As Polymarket readies for its full-scale launch, experts point to the likelihood of greater liquidity and more institutional involvement. "Intermediated trading brings Polymarket into the mainstream, providing broader market access and stronger consumer safeguards," one analyst commented. This approval may also drive further advances in crypto-based financial offerings, especially as prediction markets become more popular in areas like sports betting and political predictions.