Polymarket Asks Cftc To Let Americans Back On Its Main International Exchange
Polymarket is in active talks with the CFTC to lift its ban on US traders accessing its main international exchange, a move that could unify liquidity and reshape the prediction market landscape.
@Polymarket is in active discussions with the @CFTC to lift its self-imposed ban on US-based traders accessing the company's main international exchange, Bloomberg reported on April 28. The talks have taken place in recent weeks and, if successful, would mark a significant structural shift in how Polymarket operates in the United States.
A Ban Rooted in a 2022 Enforcement Action
Polymarket's exclusion of American users from its global platform dates back to 2022, when the CFTC fined the company $1.4 million for operating as an unregistered derivatives marketplace. Following that settlement, Polymarket was required to block US users entirely while continuing to build out its platform for international traders.
To re-enter the US market through a regulated channel, Polymarket acquired QCEX — a CFTC-licensed derivatives exchange and clearinghouse — for approximately $112 million. That acquisition led to the company receiving an Amended Order of Designation from the CFTC in November 2025, permitting it to operate a US-based Designated Contract Market. A limited domestic rollout followed in December 2025, though the US venue has not yet fully launched at scale.
Why the Main Exchange Matters
The conversations now underway go further. Rather than funnelling American users through a separate, parallel regulated platform, Polymarket is reportedly seeking approval to bring them directly onto its main international exchange — where the bulk of historical volume and the deepest political and event-contract markets reside. Consolidating liquidity in one venue would avoid the fragmentation that comes with operating two distinct order books for domestic and international traders.
The move would also sharpen Polymarket's competitive position against Kalshi, the CFTC-regulated prediction market that has been the primary legal option for US traders during Polymarket's absence. If approved, onshoring the main exchange would let American users trade directly on-chain rather than through brokerage rails.
The backdrop to these talks includes a broader shift in the regulatory environment under the current administration, which has adopted a more permissive posture toward digital assets and prediction markets. The CFTC and Department of Justice formally ended their separate investigations into Polymarket in July 2025 without bringing new charges, clearing the path for the company's accelerating US push. However, the platform continues to face state-level legal challenges, with Nevada's Gaming Control Board filing a civil complaint in January 2026 seeking to prevent Polymarket from serving Nevada residents without a state gaming licence. Polymarket declined to comment on the Bloomberg report.
Sources:
Bloomberg – Polymarket Seeks CFTC Blessing to Bring Main Exchange Back to US
CoinDesk – Polymarket Seeks CFTC Approval to Reopen Main Exchange to US Traders
Wikipedia – Polymarket
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Author
Jon WangJon studied Philosophy at the University of Cambridge and has been researching cryptocurrency full-time since 2019. He started his career managing channels and creating content for Coin Bureau, before transitioning to investment research for venture capital funds, specializing in early-stage crypto investments. Jon has served on the committee for the Blockchain Society at the University of Cambridge and has studied nearly all areas of the blockchain industry, from early stage investments and altcoins, through to the macroeconomic factors influencing the sector.