Nikolas Sargeant
Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, has made a substantial $2 billion investment in Polymarket, the cryptocurrency-based prediction market platform. The deal values Polymarket at $9 billion post-money, marking one of the most significant investments bridging traditional finance and the cryptocurrency industry. ICE's NYSE is the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization, exceeding $25 trillion as of mid-2024.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are excited to announce that Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) — the parent company of <a href="https://twitter.com/NYSE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NYSE</a>, is making a $2b strategic investment at a $9b post-money valuation. <br><br>Together, we’re building the next evolution of markets.<br><br>A special thank you to all those who have supported us… <a href="https://t.co/y7Z3koj3IU">pic.twitter.com/y7Z3koj3IU</a></p>— Polymarket (@Polymarket) <a href="https://twitter.com/Polymarket/status/1975528768039985449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Polymarket operates as a decentralized prediction market where users trade shares in real-world event outcomes, including elections, sports results, and cryptocurrency prices. The platform settles trades in stablecoins, with market prices reflecting crowd-sourced probability estimates. While Polymarket has gained significant traction globally, US users have faced restricted access due to regulatory complications.
The investment comes as Polymarket prepares for a formal relaunch in the United States, with some reports suggesting the company could reach a $10 billion valuation. The regulatory landscape has shifted considerably, with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission issuing a no-action letter in September that grants Polymarket relief from certain federal requirements. This represents a notable change from previous years when the platform faced regulatory challenges, including a cease-and-desist order in 2022 and an FBI raid on CEO Shayne Coplan's home in November 2024.
Polymarket has taken strategic steps toward US market reentry, including acquiring the US-licensed derivatives exchange QCEX for $112 million in July. The platform has also undergone significant leadership changes, adding Donald Trump Jr. to its advisory board in August following a strategic investment from 1789 Capital. The ICE investment signals growing mainstream financial interest in prediction markets and represents another milestone in the convergence of traditional and crypto-native financial services.
