Polymarket seeks approval to bring margin trading to U.S. customers
CoinDesk 2026-07-10 09:35:21
Context: Polymarket, a prediction market platform, has applied for a license to offer margin trading to U.S. users, allowing them to place bets with less upfront capital. The company's U.S. affiliate, Coming Home GBA LLC, filed for a futures commission merchant license with the National Futures Association, and will also require authorization from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for changes to its rulebook. This move comes as prediction markets continue to grow, with volumes hitting $51 billion last year and expected to reach $240 billion in 2026.
Key Facts
- Polymarket's U.S. affiliate, Coming Home GBA LLC, filed for a futures commission merchant license with the National Futures Association to offer margin trading to U.S. users.
- The company will also require authorization from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for changes to its rulebook that would allow trading without fully collateralized positions.
- Prediction market platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi offer yes-or-no wagers on the outcomes of events, such as weather, sports, and elections, and margin trading lets investors open positions with less upfront capital.
- Volumes in prediction markets hit $51 billion last year and are on pace to reach about $240 billion in 2026, with Wall Street broker Bernstein expecting volume to rise to $1 trillion by 2030.
- Polymarket's application comes four years after the company agreed to stop serving U.S. customers as part of a $1.4 million settlement with the CFTC, which alleged it had offered unregistered event-based derivatives.