Polymarket, a decentralized predictions platform, has been making headlines with its impressive performance, particularly as the U.S. presidential race heats up. A decentralized predictions platform like Polymarket allows users to bet on the outcomes of various events using cryptocurrency. These platforms leverage the collective wisdom of crowds to forecast future events, operating without a central authority. Transactions and data are stored on a blockchain, ensuring transparency and security.
In June, Polymarket hit a milestone, surpassing $100 million in monthly trading volume. This surge is fueled by intense interest in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, where over $200 million in bets have been placed on various outcomes. Users can place “Yes” or “No” bets on specific questions, and the aggregated bets help predict the likelihood of different scenarios. For instance, bettors can wager on who they believe will win the election or whether specific events will occur.
Betting on the Presidential Election
The “Presidential Election Winner 2024” market alone has attracted $203.3 million in bets, with former President Donald Trump currently leading with 62% odds. Incumbent President Joe Biden follows, albeit with lower odds that have fallen from 34% to 21% since his underwhelming performance in the first debate. Other notable figures like Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, and Michelle Obama have seen their odds rise as speculations about Biden’s potential withdrawal increase.
Market Reactions and Trends
Biden’s recent debate performance has also led to a significant increase in bets on whether he will drop out of the race. The “Biden drops out of presidential race” market now stands at 43%, while the “Biden drops out by July 4” market is at 9%. Despite some bets on less likely candidates like Kanye West and Elizabeth Warren, these markets show less than a 1% chance of them winning.
Polymarket’s Growth
Polymarket’s success is not limited to political betting. The platform, running on Ethereum’s sidechain Polygon, saw $109.9 million in trading volume in June alone. This marks a 620% increase from the previous five months. The number of active traders also jumped by 115%, reaching 29,266 in June. The total value locked in Polymarket has risen to $40.2 million, a 69% increase over the last 30 days.
Broader Impact
Besides the presidential race, Polymarket has seen significant activity in cryptocurrency prices and the UEFA European Football Championship 2024 markets. Launched in June 2020, Polymarket recently raised $70 million, backed by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Founders Fund. According to Yuga Cohler, an engineering lead at Coinbase, decentralized prediction markets like Polymarket can help cut through misleading narratives and reveal unvarnished truths, preserving freedom and pushing societies forward.
Polymarket’s impressive growth and the high stakes of the presidential race make it a platform to watch in the coming months. Whether it’s predicting political outcomes or other events, Polymarket is proving its worth in the decentralized market space.
