Key Moments:
- Polymarket has launched a Chinese-language site and brought in Mandarin-speaking staff
- China-specific prediction markets have gone live, generating significant trading activity
- No licensing updates or official mainland China expansion announced yet
Polymarket Targets Chinese-Speaking Participants
Crypto-based prediction market Polymarket, headquartered in New York, has launched a Mandarin-language version of its website and expanded its team with Mandarin-speaking personnel. This development highlights the company’s growing interest in attracting Chinese-speaking users internationally.
The Chinese interface is accessible using a dedicated “/zh” URL, and the platform has begun offering contracts focused on Chinese cultural events. While company leaders describe China as a “very important geography,” there has not been any formal statement regarding direct entry into the mainland.
Mandarin Platform Integrates Cultural Events
Polymarket debuted the new platform at the start of the Lunar New Year 2026, immediately introducing several China-centric prediction contracts. Notably, one contract speculated on which robot brands would appear at the 2026 gala, drawing nearly $600,000 in trading volume and accurately forecasting several participants. In another example, a market centered on whether Li Guyi, a veteran singer, would perform drew over $40,000 in trades before resolving as negative.
| Contract | Trading Volume | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Robot brands at 2026 gala | $600,000 | Accurate predictions |
| Li Guyi performance | $40,000 | Did not occur |
Other contracts with broader appeal, such as the likelihood of the US attacking Iran or questions about religious events, are also available. Polymarket’s representatives indicate they actively monitor trends from Chinese-language searches to guide their market offerings and ensure relevant local content.
Operational and Regulatory Considerations
Polymarket provides contract settlement via USDC, a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar. In the United States, the company operates under a separate entity, Polymarket US, which is regulated by the CFTC. The international platform serves users in regions outside those regulations.
Despite these international efforts, gambling is prohibited in mainland China except for government lotteries. Cryptocurrency trading faces additional restrictions, compounding the legal challenges for platforms like Polymarket. Access to foreign online financial services is also tightly restricted, and Polymarket’s site remains blocked within the mainland. Users would need to adopt technical workarounds to bypass such blocks, which carries its own risks under Chinese law.
Company representatives emphasize that current outreach is aimed at overseas Chinese communities rather than mainland residents. While precise user numbers within China are not disclosed, the company notes that Asia represents millions of monthly visits and a notable share of trading activity on the platform.
Ongoing Caution Around Expansion
At this stage, no announcement has been made regarding potential licensing, nor has a mainland office been established. Clear disclaimers separate the operations of the international site from its American counterpart. The possibility of further expansion remains uncertain, likely hinging on regulatory decisions rather than user adoption.
Analysts observe that Chinese-speaking communities show persistent interest in speculative products, often transcending regulatory barriers, especially as cross-border technologies make participation easier. However, the use of prediction contracts and dollar-based stablecoins brings Polymarket into potential conflict with Beijing’s strict financial rules and crypto bans, keeping the company’s strategy cautious as it evaluates regulatory responses.
- Author
Daniel Williams
