Polymarket is actively seeking approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to reintroduce its primary prediction market platform to U.S. users, according to recent reports from Bloomberg. This move aims to lift the existing ban on U.S.-based traders, which has been in place since a 2022 settlement with the regulatory body. If granted, this approval would enable Americans to directly access Polymarket's main, on-chain exchange, significantly expanding its U.S. operations.
The company has engaged in discussions with CFTC officials in recent weeks regarding the potential lifting of the prohibition on U.S. customers. As stated in a tweet by CoinDesk, "NEW: Polymarket is seeking CFTC approval to bring its main exchange back to the U.S., per Bloomberg." This development follows Polymarket's 2022 agreement with the CFTC, which included a $1.4 million fine and a mandate to block U.S. users after the regulator charged the platform with offering illegal off-exchange binary options contracts.
Polymarket currently operates a separate U.S.-only platform, Polymarket US, which gained CFTC approval for intermediated access in November 2025 after the company acquired the registered derivatives exchange QCEX. However, this existing U.S. offering is a more limited version compared to its global platform. The new request seeks to integrate the primary exchange's operations and blockchain-based technology with its domestic licenses, allowing for direct on-chain trading for U.S. participants.
The potential approval is viewed as a critical step for Polymarket, positioning it to compete more directly with other regulated prediction markets like Kalshi in the U.S. The CFTC would need to conduct a formal commission vote to remove the existing U.S. block, a process that might be streamlined given the current vacancies in the commission, leaving Chairman Michael Selig as the sole sitting commissioner. Chairman Selig has previously asserted the CFTC's exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets, often clashing with states that view them as unregulated gambling.
Industry observers suggest that full CFTC approval would mark a significant shift for Polymarket, enabling broader business expansion and deeper integration into mainstream U.S. finance. While Polymarket declined to comment on the ongoing discussions, this pursuit underscores the evolving regulatory landscape for crypto-native prediction markets. The outcome of this request will significantly impact Polymarket's future growth and the broader prediction market industry within the United States.
