Polymarket is entering a new era. The blockchain-based prediction platform, once sidelined by regulators, has now reached a staggering $9 billion valuation following a $2 billion investment from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) - the owner of the New York Stock Exchange.
Insiders say the company plans to introduce a native crypto token, but the launch won’t happen until next year. Before that, Polymarket wants to solidify its comeback in the U.S. market – a space it was forced to exit in 2022 after the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) banned its operations.
Wall Street Meets Web3
The ICE partnership marks one of the clearest signs yet that traditional finance is warming to decentralized prediction markets. Through ICE’s global infrastructure, Polymarket’s market data will soon be available to thousands of financial institutions, effectively merging crypto forecasting with conventional market tools.
The company’s turnaround has been dramatic. Just over a year ago, it faced scrutiny from regulators and law enforcement. Despite that, founder Shayne Coplan continued expanding operations, attracting backers like Coinbase, Founders Fund, and Point72. His recent social media tease – the ticker “POLY” placed beside Bitcoin and Ethereum – sent speculation about an upcoming token into overdrive.
Rivals and Regulation
Prediction markets have grown into one of 2025’s hottest sectors. Combined trading across Polymarket, Kalshi, Limitless, and Myriad surpassed $1.4 billion in a single week. Kalshi currently leads the U.S. market with a $5 billion valuation after raising $300 million, while Polymarket controls roughly one-third of total global volume.
Following the CFTC’s green light via its subsidiary QCX, Polymarket is now preparing to reopen to U.S. users for the first time in years. A waitlist launched in early October quickly filled as traders anticipated the platform’s return.
The Next Chapter
Though details remain secret, sources suggest Polymarket’s token could be used to verify market outcomes and reward active users. Some investors have already secured token warrants through earlier funding rounds, giving them early access when it eventually launches.
For now, Polymarket’s focus is clear: rebuild in the U.S., expand globally under ICE’s wing, and prove that prediction markets can operate within a regulated framework. If successful, its token debut in 2026 could mark the moment DeFi and Wall Street finally converge.
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