Opinion raises $20 million as prediction markets draw capital in a weak crypto market

Finance Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Opinion raises $20 million as prediction markets draw capital in a weak crypto market The blockchain-based platform says it handles a third of global prediction-market volume, betting that onchain settlement and category diversification can sustain growth. By Jamie Crawley | Edited by Sheldon Reback Feb 4, 2026, 1:00 p.m. Make us preferred on Google Prediction market Opinion said it raised $20 million. (Gerd Altmann/Pixabay modified by CoinDesk) What to know : Opinion said it raised $20 million in a pre-Series A funding round backed by firms including Hack VC and Jump Crypto. The platform settles markets entirely onchain, positioning itself closer to Polymarket than centralized rival Kalshi. Opinion says it has grown rapidly since October, with $130 million in open interest and strong activity across macro and regional events. Blockchain-based prediction-market platform Opinion said it raised $20 million in pre-Series A round, underscoring that some corners of the crypto economy can still attract sizeable funding even when broader markets are depressed. The round included backing from Hack VC, Jump Crypto, Primitive Ventures, Decasonic and others, according to an emailed announcement on Wednesday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW Don't miss another story. Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today . See all newsletters Sign me up By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk products and you agree to our terms & conditions and privacy policy . Opinion operates more like Polymarket — with markets settled on-chain — than a centralized exchange such as Kalshi . “Our settlement works entirely onchain,” the Opinion team told CoinDesk via email. The company handles about a third of all prediction-market volume globally and carries more than $130 million in open interest, it said citing Dune Analytics. Binance Research estimated total December trading volume of around $7 billion, pointing to rising demand as regulatory and political uncertainty intensified. The firm’s rise dovetails with broader structural growth in the prediction-market industry. U.S. bank Citizens has noted that prediction markets, once niche, are evolving into a new asset class , with monthly trading volumes around $10 billion as platforms expand beyond sports into macroeconomic and policy outcomes. The fundraise also suggests that even in a muted crypto cycle, blockchain-native infrastructure addressing real demand such as event trading continues to draw investor capital. Opinion’s pitch is diversification. While rivals draw most activity from sports and politics, Opinion spreads trading across macro, pre-token generation events, culture and crypto, covering everything from CPI prints to geopolitical outcomes. Founder and CEO Forrest Liu said the funding will be used to deepen the company's regional presence and expand globally ahead of the 2026 World Cup and elections. Prediction Markets Funding Rounds