World Cup Boosts Prediction Markets: Polymarket Trading Surges, Kalshi Open Interest Hits Record High

According to The Block, prediction market platform Polymarket saw over $2 billion in trading volume in the "Soccer" category during the first 10 days of the World Cup, a roughly 300% increase compared to the previous 10 days. The average daily trading volume for this category rose from $53 million to approximately $220 million. Meanwhile, compliant prediction platform Kalshi's aggregated open interest surpassed $1.16 billion for the first time last week, marking a growth of about 350% since the beginning of the year. The report noted that Polymarket's overall open interest remained relatively stable during the World Cup, while Kalshi, regulated by the CFTC and supporting direct USD deposits, is attracting more U.S. institutions and high-net-worth users for long-term positions. Its positioning directly targets compliant sports betting platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel.