• Polymarket aims to re-enter the US market after acquiring QCEX, a derivatives exchange, according to the company’s latest statement. The company described the QCEX deal as an important move that “marks a significant step toward expanding access to Polymarket’s category-defining platform in the United States.”
• This decision comes only a few weeks after Polymarket got a formal notice from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Justice Department (DOJ), which made headlines in the industry. Polymarket explained that the acquisition arrives shortly after federal agencies ended an investigation into the platform, clearing a path for new business activities in the country.

Polymarket Eyes Regulated Return Amid Rising User Demand

Predictions platform Polymarket confirmed in a statement on Monday that buying QCEX will “expand access” to its specialised US services. The company emphasised this next phase, signalling a return for the platform following regulatory attention. Shayne Coplan, the founder and CEO, shared in a press release that user demand is up, not only in trading volume and new signups, but also among mainstream users who use Polymarket to cut through noise and speculation. Coplan explained that with the QCEX acquisition, the company builds a foundation for returning to the US as a regulated platform, which will allow Americans to trade their opinions.

Bloomberg was the first to report this development on Monday. The media outlet covered that Polymarket received a formal legal notice from the CFTC and the DOJ just weeks before the deal, underscoring the tight regulatory timeline. Back in November 2024, Bloomberg also shared news of a DOJ investigation involving Coplan. In addition, a New York Post report—citing an anonymous source—said the FBI took Coplan’s phone and electronic devices as part of the case.

$112M QCEX Deal Follows 2022 CFTC Settlement

In 2022, Polymarket settled with the CFTC on allegations it operated unregistered binary options markets, agreeing to pay a $1.4 million penalty, close any non-compliant markets, and actively prevent US users from trading. These compliance steps were key parts of the agreed settlement with regulators. Polymarket disclosed that it will pay $112 million for the QCEX acquisition, with Bloomberg stating the CFTC has regulatory oversight on derivatives exchanges, as noted on QCEX’s website.

The CFTC did not immediately offer a public comment about the transaction. In recent election cycles, Polymarket gained attention by letting people bet on US presidential and congressional races using cryptocurrencies. User engagement and trading statistics grew during that election season, especially as the platform focused on applying blockchain to prediction markets.