This news concerns prediction market platforms (kalshi and polymarket) and their fundraising efforts. while these platforms deal with event-based trading, the direct impact on major cryptocurrencies like bitcoin or ethereum is minimal. the growth of prediction markets could indirectly benefit crypto if they integrate more closely or attract new users to the broader digital asset space, but this is a secondary effect.
The information is sourced from the wall street journal (wsj), a reputable financial news outlet, and references information from sources familiar with the business. the article also cross-references data from dune analytics and mentions established institutions like the cftc and intercontinental exchange.
The news is about fundraising and valuation of specific platforms, not a direct catalyst for price movement in major cryptocurrencies. while it indicates growth and potential future interest in decentralized finance or event-driven markets, it doesn't provide a clear buy or sell signal for existing crypto assets.
The potential impact is long-term, as the success and growth of prediction markets could lead to increased adoption of related technologies and financial instruments over time, potentially influencing the broader crypto ecosystem.
Finance Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Kalshi, Polymarket seeking $20 billion valuations in fundraising talks: WSJ Kalshi, approved by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, was last valued at $11 billion, while Polymarket was valued at $9 billion. By Francisco Rodrigues | Edited by Aoyon Ashraf Mar 7, 2026, 4:30 p.m. Make us preferred on Google What to know : Kalshi and Polymarket are exploring fundraising rounds that could value each company at approximately $20 billion, doubling their valuations from late 2025. Kalshi, approved by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, was last valued at $11 billion, while Polymarket was valued at $9 billion. Both platforms are leading the prediction markets sector, with Kalshi's open interest at over $400 million and Polymarket's at $360 million, alongside notable weekly volume figures. Prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket are discussing potential fundraising rounds that could value each company at about $20 billion. If completed at that level, the deals would roughly double their valuations from late 2025. The discussions remain early and may not lead to finalized investments, according to the Wall Street Journal. Prediction markets allow users to trade contracts tied to real-world events, with categories including sports, politics, elections, and more. Traders buy and sell those contracts based on what they think will happen. Essentially, it allows users to monetize information on world events. Kalshi already operates in the United States under approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Founded in 2018 by Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara, raised $1 billion at an $11 billion valuation in December last year. The company recently reached an annualized revenue run rate of about $1.5 billion, according to the WSJ report citing people familiar with the business. Polymarket, founded in 2020 by Shayne Coplan, was valued at $9 billion in October after Intercontinental Exchange agreed to invest up to $2 billion in the platform. None of the platforms immediately responded to requests for comments from CoinDesk. Both platforms are leading in the sector, as prediction markets have become the latest hype for traders. According to a Dune dashboard , open interest on Kalshi is hovering over $400 million, while on Polymarket it’s at $360 million. The third-largest market, Opinion, is at $36 million. Similarly, the weekly notional volume (total underlying value of all prediction contracts traded) on Polymarket was $1.9 billion last week, and on Kalshi, $1.87 billion, according to Dune data. Opinion saw weekly volume of $150 million, down from over $1.2 billion ahead of its token launch. The sector has become so popular that companies, including Coinbase and Robinhood, have entered the prediction market. In fact, Wall Street giants Nasdaq and Cboe recently said they are considering rolling out yes-or-no " binary bets " for traders on the direction of traditional markets, similar to prediction-market betting. Read more: Prediction market firms could be making $10 billion in yearly revenue by 2030, Citizens Bank says Kalshi Polymarket Prediction Markets Fundraising More For You Pudgy Penguins: Challenging the Pokemon and Disney Legacy in the Global IP Race By CoinDesk Research Feb 27, 2026 Commissioned by Pudgy Penguins CoinDesk Research looks into how Pudgy Penguins disrupts traditional toys market via a phygital model. With 2M+ units sold, they scale via global partnerships and events. 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