TLDR
- Intercontinental Exchange is investing $2 billion in crypto prediction platform Polymarket.
- The investment raises Polymarket’s valuation to $9 billion after the deal.
- ICE will distribute Polymarket’s event-driven data to its global clients.
- Both companies will collaborate on future tokenization initiatives.
- ICE stock rose nearly 3 percent following the announcement of the investment.
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), owner of the NYSE, confirmed a $2 billion investment in crypto prediction platform Polymarket. This move pushes Polymarket’s post-investment valuation to $9 billion, up from $8 billion. ICE also disclosed broader plans to integrate prediction markets into mainstream finance through this partnership.
ICE Bets Big on Prediction Markets with Polymarket Deal
ICE stated that the entire $2 billion investment will be in cash, showing a strong commitment to Polymarket’s model. The NYSE owner also plans to distribute Polymarket’s event-based data across its financial networks. This will offer clients unique insights into market-relevant topics and sentiment indicators.
“Opportunities exist across markets that ICE and Polymarket can uniquely serve together,” said ICE CEO Jeffrey Sprecher. He noted that Polymarket is “pioneering change within the Decentralized Finance Space.” Sprecher emphasized ICE’s confidence in the platform’s long-term value and potential.
This strategic move aligns with rising interest in decentralized prediction markets. Polymarket’s value has surged rapidly in recent months, fueled by market momentum. ICE’s investment follows an earlier round led by Donald Trump Jr.’s VC firm when Polymarket held a $1 billion valuation.
Polymarket Gains Institutional Backing Amid Regulatory Progress
Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan described the ICE partnership as a step toward mainstream financial adoption.
“There’s so much we can build by combining ICE’s institutional scale with our distribution,” Coplan stated.
He said the partnership expands how people and institutions use probabilities to price future events.
The company has also made significant regulatory strides, which has boosted investor confidence. Last month, the CFTC cleared Polymarket to reenter U.S. markets after resolving past concerns. Additionally, the DOJ ended its probe into the platform, signaling legal clarity for its operations.
Polymarket uses USDC as its core token, with support for crypto deposits in Ethereum, Solana, and Bitcoin. The platform aims to give users more access to forecasting tools powered by decentralized finance. Coplan expressed gratitude toward early users, builders, and the broader community for their support since 2020.
ICE Stock Rises After Announcement
Following the news, ICE stock rose nearly 3% in premarket trading, according to TradingView data. Shares climbed from $159 to $164, reflecting strong market approval of the Polymarket deal. Analysts attributed the gain to investor optimism around ICE’s venture into decentralized prediction markets.
ICE also confirmed plans to explore tokenization projects with Polymarket as part of their broader collaboration. These initiatives aim to bridge institutional finance and the blockchain-based prediction ecosystem. The NYSE owner sees Polymarket as a platform with transformative financial applications.
