Prediction markets have emerged as one of many cryptocurrency sector’s most consequential, if not contested, frontiers. As soon as the area of area of interest platforms, they’re now attracting critical consideration from main exchanges, enterprise capital and even conventional monetary establishments.
As prediction markets transfer nearer to the core of crypto’s enterprise mannequin, Crypto.com has sparked questions round equity and market construction after in search of to rent a quantitative dealer for an in-house market-making unit that may purchase and promote contracts alongside different merchants.
In the meantime, Coinbase has signaled a longer-term wager on regulated prediction markets with its acquisition of The Clearing Firm, an onchain prediction market startup backed by a staff with expertise at Kalshi and Polymarket.
Elsewhere, JPMorgan Chase’s reported exploration of crypto buying and selling for institutional purchasers underscores how digital belongings proceed to seep into conventional finance, whilst crypto-native firms like DWF Labs hedge their publicity by branching into bodily commodities.
Crypto.com seeks an in-house market maker for prediction market providers
Crypto.com has grow to be the most recent cryptocurrency change to maneuver into prediction markets, although a latest hiring effort has raised questions on market construction and potential conflicts of curiosity.
In keeping with Bloomberg, Crypto.com is recruiting for a quantitative dealer position tied to an inner market-making desk that may purchase and promote prediction contracts alongside different merchants. The place is reportedly centered on offering liquidity throughout prediction market outcomes.
A Crypto.com spokesperson didn’t dispute the report however mentioned the initiative is designed to enhance market effectivity by growing competitors and liquidity for customers. The corporate emphasised that its inner market maker operates below the identical guidelines as exterior contributors.
The event highlights the rising curiosity amongst centralized exchanges in prediction markets, whilst questions persist round governance, transparency and honest entry in these rising buying and selling venues.
Coinbase expands prediction market push with acquisition of The Clearing Firm
Coinbase is deepening its push into prediction markets with the acquisition of The Clearing Firm, an onchain prediction market startup backed by executives with expertise at Polymarket and Kalshi.
Coinbase advised Cointelegraph that the transaction is predicted to shut in January, although monetary phrases weren’t disclosed. Coinbase Ventures was an early investor in The Clearing Firm, taking part in a $15 million funding spherical earlier this 12 months.
The acquisition aligns with Coinbase’s broader ambition to evolve into what executives have described as an “every little thing change,” encompassing crypto buying and selling, tokenized belongings, inventory buying and selling and prediction markets.
In a latest report, Coinbase recognized prediction markets as one of the important progress alternatives heading into 2026, citing rising person engagement and a shifting regulatory and tax panorama. The corporate famous that proposed modifications in US tax coverage might cut back the attractiveness of conventional playing by limiting tax deductions, probably steering extra exercise towards regulated prediction platforms.
JPMorgan reportedly considers crypto buying and selling for institutional purchasers
JPMorgan Chase is reportedly weighing the launch of digital asset buying and selling providers for choose institutional purchasers, because the banking big seems to be to broaden its choices amid rising demand from skilled buyers.
In keeping with Bloomberg, JPMorgan is exploring crypto-related services and products inside its markets division, signaling a possible deepening of its engagement with digital belongings past custody and blockchain-based settlement initiatives.
The reported transfer comes as institutional curiosity in crypto continues to construct, supported by a shifting political and regulatory backdrop in the US. The Trump administration has signaled a extra accommodative stance towards digital belongings, having signed into regulation complete stablecoin laws often called the GENIUS Act.
If applied, JPMorgan’s growth into crypto buying and selling would mark one other milestone within the gradual convergence between conventional finance and digital asset markets, significantly on the institutional degree.
DWF Labs settles bodily gold
DWF Labs has expanded past digital belongings into bodily commodities, finishing the settlement of a 25-kilogram gold transaction in a transfer that underscores a broader push towards diversification throughout the crypto sector.
Managing accomplice Andrei Grachev mentioned the corporate settled its first bullion commerce as a check tranche, with plans to finally scale into different bodily commodities, together with silver, platinum and cotton. The transaction was not blockchain-based and as an alternative relied on standard settlement infrastructure.
The transfer is notable as an growing variety of crypto-native firms quietly broaden their operations to incorporate conventional belongings, reflecting a extra pragmatic method to income era and threat administration.
DWF’s growth comes at a time when gold continues to draw robust investor demand amid macroeconomic uncertainty, whereas Bitcoin and the broader crypto market have struggled to regain sustained momentum.
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