Polymarket, a prediction market giant, is gearing up for a new funding round that could propel its valuation to between 12 and 15 billion dollars. A meteoric rise for Shayne Coplan’s startup, which was barely worth 1 billion in June.
From 1 to 15 Billion: Polymarket’s Rapid Rise
Founded in 2020, Polymarket allows users to bet on real events, such as elections, sports results, economic decisions, or cultural trends, via “yes” or “no” tokens. A simple yet remarkably effective approach that is attracting an increasingly diverse audience at the intersection of trading, entertainment, and information.
Last summer, the platform raised 150 million dollars from Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, valuing the company at 1.2 billion. A few months later, a massive investment, up to 2 billion dollars, from the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) group, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, propelled Polymarket’s post-money valuation to 9 billion dollars. This move made Shayne Coplan, a young self-taught billionaire, the world’s youngest billionaire at the time.
Prediction Markets Emerging as a New Frontier
Interest in prediction platforms is skyrocketing. Its American competitor Kalshi, regulated by the CFTC, has also recently raised over 300 million dollars, reaching a valuation of 5 billion, before receiving new investment offers evaluating the company up to 12 billion.
Expansion on All Fronts and a Anticipated Return to the US
To sustain this momentum, Polymarket has expanded its infrastructure to Ethereum, Polygon, Base, Arbitrum, and Solana, while also accepting bitcoin deposits. The platform has also launched new financial markets allowing betting on the rise or fall of stocks and stock indices: sort of perpetual contract without liquidation. Perfect to attract individuals.
But the biggest turning point is yet to come: Polymarket’s imminent return to the American market. After two years of absence due to regulatory uncertainties, Shayne Coplan confirmed that the company has received the green light to relaunch its activities in the United States. A reintroduction that could single-handedly boost market liquidity.
Towards Integration at the Heart of Sports and Entertainment
On Wednesday, Polymarket also announced that it will become the official clearinghouse for DraftKings in the future, where the sports betting giant would launch its prediction market after acquiring Railbird. Furthermore, the National Hockey League (NHL) has signed multi-year licensing agreements with Polymarket and Kalshi, paving the way for direct integration of predictive betting in major sports competitions.
Polymarket is no longer just a crypto betting platform: it reflects a new paradigm where collective data, speculation, and decentralization merge. If valuations are confirmed, the prediction market sector could well become the next major pillar of Web3 finance.
