US-based prediction market platform Polymarket intends to re-enter the American market following a partnership deal with QCEX.
Polymarket Returns to the U.S. Market as a Fully Regulated Platform
After a three-year regulatory hiatus, Polymarket, a prediction market platform, is officially resuming operations in the United States. This comeback is made possible by the strategic acquisition of QCX’s holding companies for $112 million, which hold Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) licenses as a derivatives exchange (DCM) and a derivatives clearing organization (DCO).
The acquisition clears the legal path for Polymarket’s U.S. return. QCX, a licensed derivatives exchange and clearinghouse with CFTC approval, provides the regulatory framework for derivatives trading and clearing under CFTC oversight.
Polymarket has been trying to position itself as a go-to platform for current events and financial markets. To achieve this, it has partnered with various entities to build relevance at the center of politics, media, and real-time information.
The journey to Polymarket’s return began in early 2022 when it exited the U.S. following a CFTC investigation and a $1.4 million fine for operating an unregistered derivatives market. During the hiatus, it continued international operations with some U.S. activity circumventing geo-blocking without official endorsement. By mid-2025, Polymarket resolved outstanding regulatory issues, and the DOJ and CFTC formally closed their investigations into whether U.S. users had accessed the platform post-2022 settlement.
The platform’s CEO, Shayne Coplan, described the acquisition as laying the foundation for a fully regulated and compliant platform in the U.S., enabling Americans to trade prediction market contracts with confidence and legal clarity. The platform has demonstrated strong growth, having processed $6 billion in predictions during the first half of 2025, reflecting growing market interest as it prepares for expanded U.S. operations.
With QCEX's licenses, Polymarket aims to make prediction markets more mainstream and accessible in the United States. The platform's founder, Sergei Dobrovolskii, is confident that this move will further solidify Polymarket's position as a leader in the prediction market industry.
In summary, Polymarket’s current status is that it has resumed U.S. operations legally and compliantly by leveraging its acquisition of QCX’s licensed entities, successfully resolving prior regulatory challenges, and regaining access to the U.S. market under CFTC oversight.
Technology played a crucial role in Polymarket's return to the U.S. market, as the platform has partnered with various entities to build relevance and remain at the forefront of political, media, and real-time information. With the acquisition of QCX’s holding companies, Polymarket can now offer technology-driven prediction market contracts to Americans in a fully regulated and compliant manner, making it easier for users to trade with confidence and legal clarity.
