Blockchain.com Pursues CFTC Licences for US Prediction Markets

Blockchain.com is applying for two licences from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission that would allow it to operate regulated prediction markets in the United States. The move signals a broader push by crypto-native platforms into the regulated prediction market space.

Prediction markets let users trade on the outcome of real-world events, from elections to economic data releases. They have grown rapidly on decentralised platforms, but those venues operate in a regulatory grey area that limits their reach.

A CFTC licence would change that. It would allow Blockchain.com to offer prediction market contracts to US customers through a regulated venue, with the consumer protections and market oversight that come with federal licensing.

The application reflects a wider trend. Several crypto exchanges have moved toward prediction markets as a way to expand beyond spot and derivatives trading into new product categories that attract a different user base.

The regulatory path is not straightforward. The CFTC has taken an increasingly active interest in how prediction markets are structured and marketed, and the licensing process requires demonstrating robust market surveillance and compliance systems.

If the licences are granted, Blockchain.com would join a small group of regulated platforms offering prediction market contracts in the US. The opportunity is significant, but so is the compliance burden that comes with it.