- Prediction markets surge as institutions and sports firms chase new financial frontiers.
- Major valuations jump, signaling rising investor confidence in event-based trading.
- Politics, media, and sports converge, expanding prediction markets into mainstream arenas.
Prediction markets are moving from niche curiosity to mainstream financial battleground as major exchanges, venture firms, gambling companies, and political players chase a rapidly expanding industry. The shift gained momentum over the past two months as major investments, new alliances, and regulatory openings pushed event-based trading into the center of market discussions.
This surge has created a competitive environment where traditional finance executives, crypto founders, and sports organizations now seek a stake in an emerging sector that blends forecasting with real-time speculation.
Big Investors Accelerate the Market Shift
Major institutions now view event contracts as a potential new asset class. According to Bloomberg, ICE CEO Jeffrey Sprecher recently backed Polymarket after recognizing its potential to reshape how traders analyze future outcomes.
Besides that, Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour raised expectations by predicting that the sector could grow into a trillion-dollar industry. The rush for influence has drawn major players like CME Group, Flutter Entertainment, DraftKings, and Penn Entertainment into the mix. These companies are strengthening their positions as sports and finance move closer together.
Moreover, Kalshi’s valuation jumped from $2 billion to over $10 billion within months. Polymarket followed with a surge toward a valuation above $12 billion after acquiring QCX to secure access to regulated U.S. markets. These valuations reflect rising confidence among institutional investors, who now see prediction markets as a strategic frontier rather than a regulatory risk.
Sports and entertainment companies are now exploring direct involvement. The NHL recently worked with both Kalshi and Polymarket as leagues test how prediction products fit into fan engagement.
Additionally, Polymarket secured partnerships with PrizePicks and the UFC, helping the exchange bring fan-driven forecasting into mainstream broadcasts. CME’s Terry Duffy also advanced the trend by building a sports-focused trading application with Flutter, showing a broader shift toward merging speculation and entertainment.
Political figures have also joined the race. Donald Trump Jr. advised both major exchanges, while Trump Media partnered with Crypto.com to launch its own prediction platform. Consequently, the industry now spans finance, gambling, sports, technology, and politics.
Related: Can Polymarket’s $9 Billion Valuation Redefine How Wall Street Sees DeFi?
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