Prediction market Polymarket plans token release and airdrop with US comeback

Prediction market Polymarket confirmed that it will release a native token and conduct an airdrop once it completes its US relaunch.

“There will be a token, there will be an airdrop,” said Chief Marketing Officer Matthew Modabber, adding that the rollout will follow the company’s return to US operations through its newly acquired CFTC-regulated exchange, QCX.

US relaunch in progress

Polymarket’s return to the US comes after its 2022 settlement with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which resulted in a $1.2 million fine for alleged violations of “swap data reporting and recordkeeping regulations.” The settlement required the company to restrict access to US users.

In July 2025, Polymarket acquired QCX, a CFTC-registered derivatives exchange, for $112 million to comply with US regulatory requirements. The CFTC later issued a no-action letter to QCX in September, allowing it to operate under existing rules.

A regulatory filing dated September 30 stated, “The Exchange intends to list the Product(s) no earlier than October 2, 2025,” suggesting the US version of the platform could launch at any time.

Focus on relaunch

Speaking on the Degenz Live podcast, Modabber said the company’s immediate focus is on ensuring a successful US launch before introducing the token.

“Right now, our core priority is launching in the US and making a big splash there. After we take care of business on the US app and US launch, there will be a focus on the token,” he said.

Modabber also said Polymarket wants the token to have “true utility” and “longevity.” He noted that while the company is preparing for the rollout, the timing will depend on the completion of the US relaunch.

“We just want to make sure that when we do shift our focus to a token, it is one of our core priorities. Right now, our core priority is launching the US,” he added.

Token plans and community activity

Although details of the POLY token have not been released, speculation has grown since Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan posted the ticker symbol on X earlier this year. In June, The Information reported that the company offered token warrants to investors in its July funding round, giving them the right to purchase POLY if it launches.

Users have reportedly been farming for a potential airdrop since 2024, employing increasingly complex methods to conceal activity and influence possible allocations. Following Modabber’s statements, odds on Myriad increased from 11% to 29% for an official token announcement before the end of 2025.

Polymarket allows users to trade shares on real-world outcomes—such as elections or sports events—through tokenized “yes” or “no” markets. The company continued to grow internationally even after the 2022 CFTC settlement.

Last year, Polymarket drew attention after reports that CEO Coplan’s home was raided by the FBI, during which his phone and other electronic devices were seized.

Earlier this month, Polymarket’s valuation reached $9 billion following a $2 billion investment from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the owner of the New York Stock Exchange.

“Jeff [Sprecher, the CEO of Intercontinental Exchange], he is a big believer in tokenization,” Coplan said in an interview with TBPN. “Polymarket is the biggest consumer product that’s built on tokenization. Under the hood, every prediction market is actually tokenized—there’s a yes token and a no token. So there are a lot of ideas we’ve kicked around there.”

Modabber also cited Hyperliquid as an example of a well-structured project that achieved sustainable token use. “Teams like Hyperliquid, who really thought it through, will be around forever as a result,” he said.

For now, Polymarket’s efforts remain directed toward completing its US rollout before shifting attention to the token launch and user airdrop.