Key Points: Blockchain.com has confirmed to that it has submitted license applications to the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), planning to launch event contracts and cryptocurrency derivatives businesses in the United States. The platform already offers prediction markets and perpetual contract trading to certain overseas international clients. A growing number of companies are applying for futures exchange qualifications, with many institutions eager to enter the booming prediction market sector. Peter Smith, co-founder and CEO of Blockchain.
Digital asset trading platform Blockchain.com is looking to enter the hot prediction market sector in the United States. Blockchain.com has revealed that the company has submitted two license applications to the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), hoping to launch event contracts and cryptocurrency derivatives products for US retail and institutional clients. The CFTC is the federal agency responsible for regulating futures and derivatives in the United States.
Blockchain.com is applying for a Designated Contract Market (DCM) license to obtain futures exchange qualifications, while also seeking registration as a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM), which is a derivatives contract broker. Peter Smith, CEO and co-founder of Blockchain.com, said in a statement: "Users should be able to conveniently manage digital assets, trade derivatives, and place bets on real-world events without having to switch back and forth between multiple different applications. Our submission of DCM and FCM license applications is precisely to advance toward this goal in the United States by relying on a compliant regulatory framework."
Blockchain.com had previously launched prediction markets for certain international users through a partnership with Polymarket, while also introducing perpetual contract trading based on Hyperliquid technology, adopting a user self-custody model. A growing number of crypto companies are seeking US licenses for derivatives businesses, and traditional institutions are also entering the crypto space. Multiple digital asset exchanges have built their own event contract trading markets; Coinbase primarily conducts such business through a partnership with Kalshi. Meanwhile, Kalshi and Polymarket are targeting domestic US and overseas users respectively, entering the high-risk mainstream cryptocurrency trading arena. This year alone, multiple institutions alongside Blockchain.com have submitted relevant license applications to regulators. In 2026, the CFTC has already approved six new Designated Contract Markets (DCMs).
The company is also advancing its listing process. It confidentially submitted a draft IPO registration for A-class common shares to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in May this year; Bloomberg reported in September that the company plans to complete its listing this year, with a target valuation of $4-6 billion.