Polymarket just took a major step toward mainstream legitimacy. The prediction market platform received an Amended Order of Designation from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, officially allowing it to operate as a fully regulated U.S. exchange.
The approval, granted Monday and announced Tuesday, clears the way for traders to access Polymarket through traditional brokerage channels and futures commission merchants.
The move comes after Polymarket had restricted U.S. user access in 2022.
Founder and CEO Shayne Coplan said the approval reflects growing regulatory recognition of prediction markets as mature financial products. Coplan added that Polymarket helps people cut through uncertainty by providing clarity where confusion often reigns.
Under the new designation, Polymarket will comply with the full CFTC regulatory framework, including enhanced market surveillance, clearing procedures, and Part 16 reporting obligations. The platform can now operate transparently and confidently in the U.S., aligning with standards applied to federally supervised exchanges.
The approval follows a challenging period for the company. Five months ago, the CFTC and Department of Justice closed an investigation into whether Polymarket had accepted trades from U.S. users.
As part of that probe, federal agents reportedly raided Coplan’s home and seized electronic devices.
Looking ahead, Polymarket plans to onboard brokerages and traders directly under the new framework. The platform’s return is a big moment for prediction markets in the United States, which have long faced regulatory hurdles despite growing popularity among traders and analysts seeking real-time insights on elections, macro events, and market sentiment.
The approval also comes amid broader regulatory shifts. The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on Michael Selig’s nomination as the next CFTC chair, while the regulator continues to operate with four vacant commissioner seats.
Even with leadership changes, Polymarket’s U.S. launch signals that prediction markets are moving into the mainstream financial ecosystem.
