Key Takeaways
- Blockchain.com seeks CFTC approval to offer prediction markets and crypto derivatives trading in the U.S., per a CNBC report.
- The company joins Coinbase, Crypto.com, and others expanding into prediction markets, following the lead of market giants like Kalshi and Polymarket.
- Regulatory uncertainty persists amid federal and state disputes over prediction markets, particularly sports-related contracts.
The cryptocurrency wallet and trading platform has applied for two licenses from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which would allow it to serve both retail and institutional customers, according to a Friday report from CNBC.
Blockchain.com is seeking designation as a designated contract market (DCM), allowing it to operate a regulated futures exchange, as well as registration as a futures commission merchant (FCM), enabling it to provide brokerage services for derivatives contracts.
The company already offers prediction markets through a partnership with Polymarket and perpetual futures trading powered by Hyperliquid to select international customers. Both services debuted earlier this year.
CEO and co-founder Peter Smith said the company wants to bring those services together in a single platform, allowing customers to manage cryptocurrency holdings alongside derivatives and wagers on real-world events.
“Users should be able to manage their digital assets, trade derivatives, and take positions on real-world events easily, without jumping between different apps,” Smith told the publication. “Our DCM and FCM applications build toward that future in the U.S. through the appropriate regulatory frameworks.”
Broader Licensing Push
Blockchain.com joins 11 other companies that have applied for DCM licenses this year, according to the report. The CFTC has approved six new exchanges in 2026, reflecting growing interest in federally regulated prediction markets.
The applications come as companies including Coinbase and Crypto.com expand into event-based trading, challenging established prediction market operators such as Kalshi and Polymarket.
However, regulatory uncertainty remains. The CFTC has asserted federal authority over event contracts, while state regulators argue that certain offerings, particularly sports-related contracts, violate state gambling laws. Conflicting court decisions have left the jurisdictional dispute unresolved.
Blockchain.com’s regulatory push also comes amid its preparations for a potential public listing. The company filed confidentially for an initial public offering in May, Bloomberg recently reported, seeking a valuation between $4 billion and $6 billion. No timetable has been announced for the offering or the company’s proposed U.S. prediction markets launch.
