Prediction markets have completed an impressive journey from an experiment for entertainment to a major platform in global finance. These platforms, which use crowd wisdom and blockchain technology to predict real-world events, saw remarkable growth in 2025.
Last year, the entire sector generated a staggering $44 billion in trading volume. This sharp surge came from regulatory progress and deep integrations with traditional finance systems.
In 2026, the popularity of these prediction markets is about to skyrocket as analysts suggest that this volume could more than double, surpassing $100 billion annually. One of the major factors behind this will be clearer U.S. regulation and the launch of native digital tokens, which will be used for governance and rewarding users. These tokens are expected to attract millions of new participants by providing financial incentives across the growing ecosystem.
The Breakout Year for Crypto-based Prediction Markets in 2025
The year 2025 was when prediction markets truly penetrated deep into the mainstream market. A major factor was adoption by the world’s biggest tech companies.
For example, Google officially integrated data from prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi directly into its search results. This integration has exposed probabilities on elections and sports to millions of everyday internet users. This followed a similar integration by the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Traditional finance media also joined in. CNBC partnered with Kalshi to display live probability tickers on broadcasts like “Squawk Box,” and Dow Jones explored syndicating content from Polymarket.
Behind this series of integrations are regulatory developments around the world. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) approved Polymarket’s return to the American market through an Amended Order of Designation. This ended a three-year period where the platform was unavailable to U.S. users. Meanwhile, Kalshi’s valuation soared to $11 billion after it raised $1 billion in funding, with its weekly volumes hitting $924 million. Major crypto exchanges like Coinbase and stock trading app Robinhood launched their own prediction products.
Top Prediction Markets to Watch in 2026
The year ahead will see prediction markets expand into new areas like geopolitics, artificial intelligence outcomes, and tokenized assets. Many new players are also taking charge with their own unique strategies and upcoming token launches.
1. Polymarket
Polymarket is currently leading the chart of prediction markets as it hit $3.7 billion in monthly trading volume in 2025 and is valued between $8 and $12 billion. Its recent CFTC approval for U.S. operations was a huge event for the platform. The platform is integrated with the MetaMask wallet for easy trading and has partnerships with Dow Jones and Google.
Financial giant ICE has committed $2 billion to help scale and distribute Polymarket’s data to Wall Street. In 2026, Polymarket plans to launch its own native token, which analysts believe that it could become one of the top 10 most valuable tokens by fully diluted valuation. This token will be used for platform governance and user incentives. This was also confirmed by Polymarket CMO Matthew Modabber. “There will be a token, there will be an airdrop,” he said. He affirmed that the platform wants the token to have utility and to “be around forever.”
2. Kalshi
Kalshi also remains the regulated frontrunner in the United States. In 2025, it partnered with Crypto.com to form a coalition and integrated with the TRON blockchain for deposits. Its data is featured live on CNBC.
Apart from this, Kalshi raised $300 million at a $5 billion valuation and expanded to 140 countries. For 2026, Kalshi is expected to focus on integrating AI tools for business clients and expanding its crypto market offerings through exchanges.
While the platform has not officially confirmed a native token launch like Polymarket, its users affirmed that the program strongly hints at a future token generation event, potentially aligning with revenue-sharing trends.
3. BNB Chain and PancakeSwap’s Integration
In 2025, a major integration took place between BNB Chain and PancakeSwap. The leading decentralized exchange on BNB Chain, PancakeSwap, incubated a prediction platform called Probable in late 2025.
Probable is backed by YZi Labs, a team of former Binance Labs executives. It integrates directly into PancakeSwap’s interface, which has a total value locked of $2.3 billion. Another major player on the BNB Chain is Opinion Labs, which achieved $10 billion in volume and holds a 75% market share using AI-based oracles.
In 2026, both Probable and Opinion Labs are expected to launch their own tokens to boost their growth, potentially called OPN for Opinion Labs.
4. Coinbase’s Everything App
Coinbase’s Everything App is another major player that is expected to open doors for major growth. Coinbase launched its own prediction market in December 2025, partnering with Kalshi to offer U.S. users access to events. As part of its Everything Exchange strategy, Coinbase plans to expand in 2026 into predictions for equities, commodities, and tokenized assets through its Coinbase Tokenize service.
Conclusion
With leaders like Polymarket and Kalshi, deep integrations via BNB Chain’s PancakeSwap and Coinbase, and newcomers, the landscape of prediction markets is set to financialize global uncertainty. The launch of various native tokens will be the central theme, aiming to capture value and reward communities.
However, there are still some challenges, including potential regulatory probes into insider trading and the need for fraud-resistant oracles.
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