Polymarket gains CFTC approval to operate regulated US prediction market

Polymarket is returning to the US market with new regulatory approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, following a year that included partnerships with X, Google, the NHL, and the UFC and weekly trading volume passing $1 billion.

The company announced it has secured an Amended Order of Designation allowing it to operate an intermediated contract market platform in the United States. The authorisation permits Polymarket to directly onboard US customers and brokerages. It is also now allowed to collaborate with futures commission merchants and engage with infrastructure used in US futures trading.

Polymarket exited the US in 2022 after paying a $1.4 million penalty for operating without proper registration. At the time, the firm shifted its operations offshore despite being headquartered in New York City.

Investigations by the CFTC and the US Department of Justice into whether Polymarket continued serving US users ended in July. The company’s acquisition that same month of a CFTC-regulated American derivatives exchange supported its application to return.

Under the amended order, Polymarket said it has put in place surveillance systems, market supervision rules, clearing procedures, and part-16 regulatory reporting measures applicable to designated contract markets. Additional rules and processes required for intermediated trading will be in place before its official launch in the regulated environment.

The company said it remains subject to the Commodity Exchange Act and all CFTC requirements governing designated contract markets, including self-regulatory duties.

Trading volume on Polymarket passed $1 billion in a single week last month, driven by activity covering politics, entertainment, current events, and other public topics. The company also reported that billions of dollars of predictions have been made on its platform in 2025.

In August, Donald Trump Jr. became an investor and joined the advisory board.

"People rely on Polymarket because we provide clarity where there is confusion and accountability where there is ambiguity," said Shayne Coplan, Founder and CEO of Polymarket. "This approval allows us to operate in a way that reflects the maturity and transparency that the US regulatory framework demands. We're grateful for the constructive engagement with the CFTC and look forward to continuing to demonstrate leadership as a regulated US exchange."