Polymarket faces renewed CFTC probe over US access to offshore platform

· Finance · United States

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has reopened an investigation into whether Polymarket allowed US users onto its offshore platform, a question the agency had examined in 2024 before dropping the measures in July 2025. The renewed scrutiny comes as prediction markets expand rapidly beyond sports into other event contracts, raising questions about younger traders, market manipulation and how such platforms should be regulated. Industry advocates argue federally regulated platforms should be treated as financial markets overseen by a well-funded regulator. The probe signals that US authorities intend to keep testing whether offshore operators are effectively serving American customers despite restrictions.

Why it matters：Prediction markets are pushing into mainstream finance, and how US regulators treat offshore access will shape whether the sector can scale or faces enforcement-driven fragmentation.

Key points

  • The CFTC previously investigated Polymarket's US access in 2024 and dropped the measures in July 2025.
  • Prediction markets are expanding beyond sports wagering into broader event contracts.

Sources (original reporting)

More stories from this day