Polymarket is a leading **blockchain-based prediction market platform** founded in 2020 by Shayne Coplan that enables users to speculate on the outcomes of real-world events across politics, finance, sports, and more by trading on event probabilities. It leverages blockchain technology and smart contracts for decentralized, transparent, and non-custodial market operations, allowing participants to profit from their knowledge and insights about future events[2][6]. The platform gained significant traction during the 2024 U.S. presidential election, with trading volumes peaking around $400 million in a single day, establishing Polymarket as a key player in prediction markets and political reporting[3]. Its markets cover a diverse range of topics, from election results and geopolitical events to sports and economic indicators, attracting a broad user base interested in data-driven forecasting. Polymarket has experienced substantial growth and investor interest, highlighted by a landmark **$2 billion investment from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, in October 2025**. This deal valued Polymarket at approximately $8–9 billion and marked a strategic partnership to distribute Polymarket’s data to global financial institutions and explore tokenization initiatives, further integrating prediction markets into mainstream finance[1][2][3][4][5]. The company’s success is driven by its strong liquidity network effects, scalable technology built on the Polygon blockchain, and a growing historical dataset that enhances prediction accuracy. Polymarket is preparing for a regulated U.S. relaunch in late 2025, having acquired QCEX, a CFTC-licensed derivatives exchange, to ensure compliance and expand its market reach domestically. The platform aims to diversify its product offerings with mobile apps, enterprise forecasting, and finance-adjacent contracts, while navigating regulatory challenges and competition, notably from Kalshi in the U.S.[1][4]. Notably, Polymarket’s advisory board includes former CFTC Commissioner J