Fanatics Teams Up With Crypto.com in Major Fanatics Markets Launch

Sports merchandise giant Fanatics just made a power play into digital assets—partnering with crypto exchange titan Crypto.com to launch its new Fanatics Markets platform.

The New Arena for Digital Collectibles

This isn't just another licensing deal. It's a full-scale integration that merges physical fandom with digital ownership. Think jerseys and trading cards, but with blockchain provenance and a global, liquid market. The partnership bypasses traditional financial gatekeepers, creating a direct pipeline from fan engagement to asset ownership.

Why This Move Cuts Through the Noise

While legacy finance debates ETF fees, real adoption is happening at the intersection of culture and technology. Fanatics brings a massive, pre-qualified user base—collectors and fans already primed to value digital scarcity. Crypto.com delivers the infrastructure and regulatory savvy. Together, they're building a marketplace that could redefine what 'collectible' means.

The Cynical Take from the Sidelines

Let's be real—this is also a brilliant hedge. If traditional markets wobble, Fanatics now has a stake in an alternative asset class beloved by the next generation of consumers. A move so strategically obvious it makes you wonder what took them so long, and how many boardroom decks were sacrificed to the gods of 'web3 synergy' before the deal got done.

The launch signals a maturation. No longer just speculative tokens, crypto is becoming the backbone for new commerce models. Watch this space—the next battleground isn't on the trading floor, but in the hands of every fan.

The Fanatics-Crypto.com Partnership Explained

Fanatics Markets is the direct result of a strategic partnership between Fanatics and Crypto.com. The platform taps into Fanatics’ well-established sports fanbase, offering users easy access to real-time prediction markets built on Crypto.com’s secure, regulated trading infrastructure.

Specifically, Fanatics Markets has integrated Crypto.com | Derivatives North America (CDNA), a CFTC-compliant exchange and clearinghouse, and an affiliate of Crypto.com. CDNA specializes in prediction markets, which have generated over $27.9 billion in trading volume from January to October 2025.

What Users Can Trade on Fanatics Markets

Through Fanatics Markets, sports fans and mainstream users in the U.S. can easily access intuitive prediction trading. Markets covered include sports, finance, economics, culture, and more.

While Crypto.com’s U.S. derivatives exchange facilitates the pricing for event contracts, it is ultimately the Fanatics Markets userbase that determines a contract’s price at any given time. This model makes the platform the first fan-led prediction market, where prices reflect participants’ supply and demand.

In practice, trading event contracts on Fanatics Markets is simple: users choose either “Yes” or “No” contracts on available events. The price of each contract ranges from $0 to $0.99, and if the user predicts the correct outcome, the contract settles at $1. If they buy the wrong outcome, the contract expires without a payout.

Crypto.com’s Role in Prediction Market Infrastructure

After obtaining the full suite of U.S. CFTC derivatives licenses this year, Crypto.com has become one of the industry’s leading providers of prediction markets. In addition to Fanatics, the crypto exchange has partnered with Underdog, Truth Social, Hollywood.com, and MyPrize to offer federally compliant event contracts.

Crypto.com’s prediction market partners all benefit from the digital asset platform’s industry-leading crypto security, regulatory compliance, and asset protection. Clients’ crypto holdings are stored in institutional-grade reserves, backed 1:1 to ensure funds remain fully accessible.

Fanatics Markets Current Availability Across U.S. States

Fanatics Markets launched on December 3 following a regulatory-compliant rollout, initially making it available in 10 U.S. states.

Currently, the platform is live in 24 states: Alabama, Alaska, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Why This Partnership Stands Out

Partnering with Crypto.com, Fanatics provides U.S.-regulated event contract trading to millions of mainstream sports fans and users. According to the official Fanatics website, the global sports platform reaches over 100 million sports fans and hundreds of professional leagues and teams. With the platform’s user-friendly interface, people can engage in fan-led trading markets without any crypto trading experience.

Meanwhile, CDNA offers real-time sentiment analysis and pricing for event contracts with clear terms and settlement processes. It also builds Fanatics Markets’ regulatory foundation in the U.S., allowing Fanatics to introduce sports finance prediction markets to previously unserved states.

Upcoming Features in Phase Two

Fanatics Markets launches in two phases, with the first phase already finished. The initial phase established the main prediction markets trading experience with live contracts across sports, finance, economics, and political events.

The second phase, scheduled for early 2026, will introduce additional contract categories. Upcoming market coverage includes crypto, equities, IPOs, climate, technology developments, pop culture, films, and music-related outcomes.

Fanatics Markets Risk and User Protection Tools

The Fanatics Markets platform launched with responsible risk management tools to help all users stay in control of their trading. The app encourages users to utilize these tools and resources as needed.

Deposit limits allow users to set boundaries on the amount of money they can add to the platform. Fanatics Markets also offers in-app session limits, allowing users to control how much time they spend on the platform.

Users can also reduce usage and exposure to Fanatics Markets using the platform’s timeout and self-exclusion features. During timeouts, users’ accounts are temporarily disabled for a period of 3-365 days. Self-exclusion offers a longer break from the platform, allowing users to block access for 1 year, 5 years, or “Lifetime.”

Insights from Crypto.com and Fanatics Leadership

Executives from both Crypto.com and Fanatics shared their ideas and insights on the recent strategic partnership and Fanatics Markets.

Travis McGhee, Crypto.com’s Global Head of Predictions, emphasized the company’s early entry into regulated prediction markets and its focus on compliance. In summary, Crypto.com views the partnership as an extension of its licensed derivatives capabilities, providing Fanatics users with regulated access to event-based contracts.

Matt King, CEO of Fanatics Betting and Gaming, described Fanatics Market as a platform focused on accessibility and engagement. He emphasized its function in providing fans with a simple and rewarding way to profit from sports and culture outcomes if their predictions are correct.

Fanatics’ Digital Markets Expansion Strategy

Before it became the popular global sports platform it is today, Fanatics was an e-commerce sports merchandiser and retailer that had partnered with teams and leagues. In recent years, the company expanded into live events, gaming, collectibles, and fan experiences.

Earlier this month, Fanatics reached a $31 billion valuation in its latest funding round, according to The Wall Street Journal.

With Fanatics Markets, Fanatics adds another channel for fans to engage with their favorite teams and for mainstream users to participate in prediction markets. This platform is integrated into the broader Fanatics ecosystem, enabling current users to log in and access the same wallet across other products.

How to Access Fanatics Markets

Here’s how you can get started on Fanatics Markets:

Final Thoughts

In partnering with Crypto.com, Fanatics has launched Fanatics Markets to capture the growing interest in prediction markets. It offers a secure, compliant, and fan-led event marketplace for moments in sports, economics, culture, and more.

Supported by Crypto.com’s CFTC-regulated derivatives platform, Fanatics Markets invites fans worldwide to participate in sports prediction markets as part of the broader Fanatics sports ecosystem.