The share of blockchain prediction platforms in the American sports betting market reached an impressive 27% during the World Cup, according to the reputable Bloomberg news agency. The total trading volume in these markets exceeded $50 billion in the first month of the tournament, which dramatically exceeds the estimates of the traditional sector. For comparison, all legal American sports bookmakers predicted the total volume of bets for the entire championship in the range of 2.8 to 4.3 billion dollars. The Kalshi platform has become the undisputed leader among blockchain platforms, which has processed contracts worth about $40 billion. The company also reported a 36% increase in the daily audience during the tournament, while many traditional betting services recorded a decrease in user activity after the opening matches.

The competing Polymarket platform, operating under the supervision of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, set its own monthly record with a betting volume of $10.8 billion. A separate application for the American market generated an additional $3.5 billion in turnover. Amid the growing interest in this segment, new participants have entered the market. The Rothera platform, launched in June with the participation of Robinhood and Susquehanna, processed $2 billion worth of transactions in the first month, occupying about 7% of the American forecast market. Bloomberg analysts attribute the rapid growth in popularity of such platforms to more accessible conditions for users. In many states, it is possible to trade contracts for the outcome of events from the age of 18, whereas for most betting services the minimum age is 21 years. In addition, prediction markets are available throughout the country, while the activities of traditional online bookmakers are restricted or completely banned in a number of states, including California and Texas.

An additional powerful impetus to the development of the market was given by the growing interest from large institutional investors. Professional trading companies have begun to actively use contracts on prediction platforms in their arbitrage strategies and to hedge financial risks, considering them as a kind of derivatives. This trend confirms the transformation of prediction markets from a niche tool into a full-fledged financial segment. Earlier, analysts of the Lookonchain platform reported that three crypto wallets earned a total of $24.25 million on World Cup-related bets through the Polymarket platform. Such results demonstrate significant earnings potential for experienced market participants who are able to accurately analyze events and effectively manage risks in conditions of high volatility.

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The material has been prepared solely for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice or recommendation.