- Polymarket is seeking CFTC approval to reopen its primary, crypto-native exchange to American traders after a four-year hiatus.
- The company is reportedly discussing merging its blockchain infrastructure with the regulatory licenses of its domestic entity, QCX LLC.
- The decision rests primarily with CFTC Chair Michael Selig, as four of the five commissioner seats currently remain vacant.
Polymarket, the world’s largest decentralized prediction market, has reportedly entered discussions with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to overturn a long-standing prohibition on U.S. users. According to reports from Bloomberg and other industry outlets, the platform is looking to move past a 2022 settlement that forced its main exchange offshore after the agency alleged it was operating an unregistered derivatives facility.
The negotiations center on a proposal to integrate the platform’s on-chain infrastructure—which settles trades in stablecoins on the Polygon network—with the federal licenses held by its domestic arm. In 2025, Polymarket acquired QCX LLC, a CFTC-registered derivatives exchange, for approximately $112 million. While a limited “Polymarket US” beta was launched following that acquisition, it has largely failed to capture the liquidity or contract depth of the main international exchange, which handled over $10 billion in volume in March 2026 alone.
The regulatory path for Polymarket has been smoothed by a shifting tide at the CFTC. Chairman Michael Selig has recently defended prediction markets against state-level gambling bans, arguing that federal oversight is the appropriate venue for such contracts. Because four of the five seats on the commission are currently vacant, Selig effectively holds the sole authority to approve the platform’s reentry, potentially bypasssing the usual administrative gridlock that often stalls crypto-related applications.
Despite the optimistic tone of the talks, Polymarket continues to face scrutiny. U.S. authorities recently charged an Army Master Sergeant with insider trading on the platform, alleging he used a VPN to access the offshore exchange. Such incidents have highlighted the compliance risks associated with offshore access and may serve as a catalyst for regulators to push these platforms into a fully transparent, domestic regulatory perimeter.
“This approval allows us to operate in a way that reflects the maturity and transparency that the U.S. regulatory framework demands,” said Shayne Coplan, CEO of Polymarket, in a previous statement regarding the company’s registration efforts. “We’re grateful for the constructive engagement with the CFTC.”
If successful, the move would allow Polymarket to compete directly with Kalshi, its primary domestic rival, while bringing millions of American retail traders back to a unified, blockchain-native trading environment. However, critics warn that a decision made by a lone chairman could be subject to reversal once the full commission is restored.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. Readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.
