Prediction Markets Hit $701M in a Day as Regulators Tighten Their Grip
Prediction markets are entering 2026 at full speed. New data shows the sector shattered a fresh daily trading record on Monday, reaching $701.7 million in volume even as US regulators intensify efforts to restrict political, sports, and financial event markets.
Kalshi led with $465.9 million — nearly two-thirds of all activity — while Polymarket and Opinion added another $100 million, underscoring the explosive growth of a sector that has become one of crypto’s strongest use cases.
The surge comes just weeks after a controversial high-payout bet on Venezuela’s political upheaval raised concerns about insider knowledge, placing the industry back under the regulatory spotlight. Multiple US states, including New York and Nevada, are now reviewing or enforcing bans on certain markets, while a Tennessee federal judge temporarily halted state action against Kalshi this week.
The regulatory pressure is global: Ukraine recently blocked access to Polymarket, classifying prediction markets as gambling. Yet interest continues to rise, with major exchanges and self-custody wallets preparing integrations that could push adoption even further.