Key Moments:
- Polymarket has introduced “up/down” markets allowing users to wager on the movements of stocks, indices, and commodities.
- ICE, the owner of the New York Stock Exchange, has pledged to invest up to $2 billion in Polymarket, valuing the company at approximately $9 billion.
- Polymarket and its competitor Kalshi processed about $1.4 billion in trading volume last month, highlighting institutional interest in prediction markets.
Polymarket’s Expansion Into Traditional Asset Classes
Polymarket has unveiled a new feature enabling users to bet on whether various stocks, indices, and commodities will rise or fall. This update represents the platform’s entry into traditional financial instruments, moving beyond its long-standing focus on political and cryptocurrency-related events.
The newly launched “up/down” markets cover an extensive range of assets and events, such as individual equities, corporate earnings, market indices, commodities, mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, interest rates, and Treasury bonds. Participants can speculate on these markets without needing a brokerage account or utilizing margin trading.
Most contracts settle within a 24-hour period, catering to those seeking fast-paced, short-term trading opportunities.
📈 POLYMARKET EXPANDS TO STOCKS!@Polymarket launches up/down equity markets, letting users bet on stock prices. pic.twitter.com/pmlDq5iFcz
— Altcoin Daily (@AltcoinDaily) October 16, 2025
Partnerships and Product Developments
Polymarket has formed alliances with established financial entities, including The Wall Street Journal and Nasdaq, to access reliable data for market resolution. This approach is aimed at enhancing transparency and ensuring the accuracy of outcomes.
Following the recent introduction of markets on company earnings reports, Polymarket’s rollout marks a transition toward event types related to individual companies and core financial products. This initiative comes amid the company’s reentry into the US market.
Strategic Investments and Platform Enhancements
ICE, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, has committed up to $2 billion in investment, placing Polymarket’s valuation at approximately $9 billion. As an additional development, users can now interact with the platform through MetaMask, allowing for direct predictions using the digital wallet.
Polymarket now also provides annualized returns as high as four percent for certain open positions, positioning itself competitively within the prediction market industry.
Growth in Prediction Markets and Regulatory Momentum
Recent months have seen strong performance across the prediction sector. Together, Polymarket and competitor Kalshi reported processing around $1.4 billion in trading volume last month, indicative of a heightened level of institutional attention.
The company has broadened its advisory board, bringing in Donald Trump Jr. to help guide its efforts in both US political and financial arenas.
After receiving a no-action letter from regulators several weeks ago, Polymarket resumed US operations under defined parameters, a development that may have broader implications for other Web3 companies seeking similar guidance for offering compliant financial products.
Industry Outlook and Competitive Dynamics
Market analysts believe that Polymarket’s broadening of its market offering marks a significant evolution in the role of prediction markets, serving as a conduit between speculative trading and established financial products. The combination of rapid market settlement, vetted data sources, and flexible platform integration aims to attract increased liquidity and diversify the user base.
While some traditional gaming providers have shared concerns about the proliferation of prediction-based platforms, Polymarket’s institutional partnerships, ongoing wallet integrations, and expanded product scope are positioning it at the intersection of Web3 and mainstream financial services.
| Key Development | Details |
|---|---|
| New Feature | Introduction of up/down markets on stocks, commodities, and indices |
| Major Partnerships | Collaboration with The Wall Street Journal and Nasdaq for market data |
| Investment | Up to $2 billion from ICE, valuing Polymarket at about $9 billion |
| Trading Volume (Last Month) | Approximately $1.4 billion (combined with Kalshi) |
| Market Settlement | Most contracts settle within 24 hours |
| Yield Offering | Up to 4% annualized returns on eligible positions |
- Author
Daniel Williams
