prediction markets

World Cup drove $20B in crypto prediction market bets, Chainalysis reports

The 2026 FIFA World Cup generated $20 billion in blockchain prediction market volume from January through the tournament's conclusion, according to a July 30 report from Chainalysis. The figure marks one of the largest single-event contributions to onchain trading activity…

World Cup bettors wagered $14B on prediction markets as manipulation concerns mount

Football fans wagered more than $14 billion on the 2026 FIFA World Cup through prediction markets Polymarket and Kalshi, according to an analysis published Wednesday by Bellingcat, underscoring the explosive growth of an industry now facing mounting questions about its…

Spain, Argentina clash in World Cup final today at MetLife Stadium

As Spain and Argentina prepare to meet at MetLife Stadium on Sunday for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, prediction markets have made the European champions a clear favorite — and shattered every previous trading record in the process.

Council of Europe accuses FIFA of enabling World Cup fraud

The Council of Europe on Sunday accused FIFA of opening "the door wider" to fraud at the 2026 World Cup by welcoming a prediction market as an official tournament partner, escalating a confrontation between European regulators and the global football…

France orders Polymarket blocked nationwide

France's national gaming authority ordered the blocking of Polymarket's website on French territory on Friday, escalating enforcement against the prediction market platform even as users continued to place bets despite an existing ban. The move reflects a broader international crackdown…

Spain leads prediction markets at 58% ahead of World Cup final

Spain has emerged as the clear favorite to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with prediction markets pricing La Roja at 58% after both semifinal results confirmed a Spain-Argentina final on Sunday in New Jersey. The tournament's betting markets have…

England, Argentina meet in World Cup semifinal in Atlanta

England and Argentina met Wednesday in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with prediction markets reflecting one of the tightest matchups of the tournament. On Polymarket, England was priced at roughly 55% to advance to…

France, Spain meet in World Cup semifinal that fueled record betting volume

The 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal between France and Spain is set to kick off Tuesday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, capping a tournament that has driven prediction market trading to unprecedented heights. Polymarket's World Cup winner market alone…

ESMA says prediction market contracts fall under EU binary options ban

The European Securities and Markets Authority issued a public statement on Friday reminding firms that products marketed as "event contracts" qualify as binary options under existing EU regulations, effectively barring their sale to retail investors across the bloc.

World Cup drives prediction markets to record $44.8B June volume

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has turbocharged prediction markets to unprecedented heights, pushing Kalshi and Polymarket to a combined $44.8 billion in trading volume during June — a 75% surge from May's $25.66 billion, according to data from The Block's…