Polymarket and Kalshi Ramp Up Global Expansion and Web3 Play
The prediction-market platforms Polymarket and Kalshi are accelerating their expansion strategies, targeting international reach, Web3 integration, and major data and sports partnerships as they compete to define the next era of event-based financial products. Their moves reflect a broader trend in which prediction markets are transitioning from niche platforms into institutional-grade trading venues.
Kalshi recently closed a 1 billion funding round, valuing the platform at approximately 11 billion and boosting its ability to scale new product lines. Polymarket, meanwhile, is reportedly pursuing a valuation above 12 billion as it expands its presence across global markets. Both firms aim to capture a larger share of demand for regulated access to event-driven contracts.
Breaking past domestic boundaries
Kalshi, known for offering CFTC-regulated U.S. markets tied to elections, macroeconomic indicators, and global events, is laying groundwork to expand beyond domestic regulation. Polymarket, which previously faced scrutiny in the United States, has since acquired access to a licensed U.S. derivatives venue while broadening its product suite internationally.
A notable development was a private meeting between Polymarket founder Shayne Coplan and Intercontinental platform CEO Jeffrey Sprecher, indicating institutional interest. Additionally, the National Hockey League has signed licensing agreements with both platforms, providing league data access and expanding fan engagement channels within prediction markets.
Web3 integrations and infrastructure
Both platforms are moving toward deeper Web3 alignment, exploring cross-chain market design, token-based participation models, and decentralized liquidity frameworks. Reports suggest that Google may surface live probabilities from both platforms in search and finance products, potentially integrating prediction data into mainstream digital platforms.
Kalshi aims to leverage its regulatory approvals as a competitive advantage when launching products in new jurisdictions. Polymarket emphasizes its global architecture covering politics, sports, crypto events, and macroeconomic outcomes, supporting a multi-vertical expansion strategy.
Despite growth momentum, each platform faces regulatory friction. Kalshi must navigate state-level challenges that classify certain markets as unlicensed betting products. Polymarket continues to operate in legally amlargeuous spaces and has faced questions surrounding market integrity.
Maintaining compliance while scaling internationally will require consistent regulatory coordination, improved transparency, and potentially new licensing regimes. Failure to establish robust frameworks could sluggish expansion or limit product offerings.
For the broader digital asset and derivatives ecosystem, the rise of large-scale prediction markets signals growing investor confidence in event-based financial infrastructure. As Kalshi and Polymarket expand globally, form high-profile partnerships, and integrate with Web3 ecosystems, they set a higher competitive bar for platforms building around event-driven trading.
The rapid pace of growth also suggests that investors view prediction markets as a scalable sector with potential to rival traditional derivatives and sports wagering. However, this transformation depends on regulatory approval, product execution, and market integrity.
Looking ahead, both platforms are expected to continue scaling aggressively as institutional capital flows into event-based markets. Their next phase of development may determine whether prediction markets become a durable part of global financial infrastructure or remain constrained by regulatory limits and operational risk.
