Polymarket Seeks New Funding to Boost Valuation

TLDR

• Polymarket targets a valuation between $12 billion and $15 billion.
• Over $8 billion was staked on Polymarket during the 2024 elections.
• Intercontinental Exchange invested up to $2 billion in Polymarket.

Polymarket, a major player in the blockchain prediction markets, is in early-stage talks to raise new funding, targeting a valuation between $12 billion and $15 billion. This potential funding round represents a significant leap from its previous valuation of $1 billion in June 2025 when it secured $200 million led by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund. The discussions were first reported by Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Shayne Coplan, Polymarket’s founder and CEO, is at the forefront of these negotiations. Since directing Polymarket through regulatory challenges, Coplan has played a pivotal role in expanding its market offerings, including the notable event of more than $8 billion being staked on the platform during the 2024 U.S. elections. As Coplan stated last month, the company has been given the “green light to go live” again in the U.S., following its temporary withdrawal in 2022 due to regulatory uncertainties.

Institutional Backing and Market Position

The last funding round led by Founders Fund highlights the strong institutional investor interest in Polymarket. Alongside this, Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of NYSE, agreed to invest up to $2 billion, which reportedly positioned Polymarket’s valuation near $9 billion earlier this month. These investments underline the expanded scope and appeal of Polymarket’s platform in the trading and betting industry.

The startup is reportedly seeking to capitalize on increasing trading volumes and new licensing agreements, notably with the National Hockey League. These moves aim to reinforce its role as a designated clearinghouse for DraftKings, enhancing its operational and strategic prowess in the regulated betting space.

Asset Integration and Platform Evolution

Polymarket operates primarily on the Polygon network but has expanded its asset support to include Ethereum, Bitcoin, Arbitrum, Solana, and Base networks for trading and settlements. This strategic broadening of cross-chain functionality seeks to cater to a varied user base and boost overall platform liquidity.

The potential introduction of a POLY token has been mentioned, though no official announcement has been made. This prospective initiative comes amid rising trading volumes and market creations, as the platform enhances its offerings and attracts more liquidity.

Sector Dynamics and Comparisons

In the broader context, Polymarket’s competitor, Kalshi, recently raised $300 million at a $5 billion valuation and is discussing potential investments totaling upwards of $10 billion. Such activities highlight a sector-wide influx of capital and growing legitimacy among institutional investors towards prediction markets.

Both Polymarket and its rivals have activated substantial partnership deals, reflecting a focus on mainstream adoption. These developments suggest an overlapping trajectory with traditional sports and regulated betting ecosystems, further embedding prediction platforms into the mainstream financial landscape.

Community and Regulatory Outlook

No direct public statements or regulatory announcements from bodies like the SEC or CFTC have been made regarding this latest move. However, Coplan’s announcement of Polymarket’s re-entry into the U.S. highlights the company’s continued adherence to evolving regulatory landscapes, reinforcing its compliance-driven growth strategy.

Community sentiment on platforms like Twitter, Reddit, and Discord suggests optimism about prediction markets following successful integrations during events like the 2024 election cycle. Official statements from project-specific channels remain pending, yet broader discussions indicate positive expectations around Polymarket’s strategic developments and potential funding accomplishments.