Polymarket Acquires CFTC-Licensed Exchange for $112 Million to Re-Enter U.S. Market

Polymarket, the world's largest prediction market, has secured a strategic path back into the U.S. market with its $112 million acquisition of QCEX, a CFTC-licensed derivatives exchange and clearinghouse. The MOVE follows a 2022 settlement with regulators that barred the platform from operating stateside.

The deal grants Polymarket critical regulatory infrastructure, including derivatives clearing organization and designated contract market licenses. "We are laying the foundation to bring Polymarket home," said CEO Shayne Coplan, positioning the platform as a compliant venue for Americans to trade event-driven contracts.

This acquisition marks a pivotal rehabilitation for a company that previously faced regulatory scrutiny, demonstrating how crypto-native firms are increasingly pursuing licensed pathways to mainstream adoption.