Polymarket Announces Official U.S. Launch, Starting With Waitlist Customers
Polymarket is officially returning to the U.S. today with the rollout of their app to customers who signed up for the waitlist.
This news comes days after their 60 Minute interview, and their odds of launch skyrocketing from ~60% to almost ~95%. The long-anticipated launch marks the prediction market operator’s first legally compliant entry into the American market after years of regulatory hurdles, offshore operations, and rebuilding behind the scenes.
The company’s reentry follows a lengthy process of securing regulatory approval and restructuring its business model to fit within U.S. derivatives rules. Polymarket, founded in 2020, grew rapidly during its early years by offering blockchain based markets on major political events, sports, technology, pop culture, and breaking news. That growth was interrupted in 2022 when the Commodity Futures Trading Commission fined the platform for operating an unregistered marketplace. As part of the settlement, Polymarket was required to block U.S. users and wind down domestic trading activity.
The U.S. ban forced the company to rethink its approach. Over the next three years Polymarket focused on compliance efforts, advisory hires, and building a path back into regulated markets. One milestone was the acquisition of QCX, a regulated exchange and clearinghouse. That move gave Polymarket a foundation for a compliant event contract platform that could eventually operate under U.S. oversight.
What will users be able to access?
Today’s launch begins with a limited rollout to waitlist customers who signed up ahead of the reentry. The phased approach is designed to stress test the new U.S. infrastructure while allowing early users to explore live sports markets. Full public access is expected to expand gradually over the coming weeks.
Early users will find a familiar experience that mirrors Polymarket’s global product, although to start, it will be limited. Markets in this launch phase will only cover sports, then down the line users will have full access to other markets like politics, entertainment, economic indicators, and cultural trends.
Polymarket’s return arrives at a moment when prediction markets are gaining renewed attention. Just yesterday, Kalshi reached an $11 Billion valuation, which ultimately made co-founder Luana Lopes Lara the youngest self-made female billionaire.
For now, Polymarket is positioning today’s launch as the start of a new chapter. The company plans to broaden access, add more markets, and introduce product updates as regulators and users grow more comfortable with event contracts. If today’s rollout runs smoothly, Polymarket could cement itself as one of the first major prediction market operators to regain a foothold in the U.S. market under full compliance.
