Blockchain.com Applies for U.S. Licenses to Offer Prediction Markets and Crypto Derivatives

Digital asset platform Blockchain.com filed for two federal licenses to offer U.S. customers event contracts and cryptocurrency derivatives, marking its latest push into regulated prediction markets.

The firm is requesting a designated contract market license to operate as a futures exchange, alongside registration as a futures commission merchant to broker derivatives contracts. The application places Blockchain.com among 11 other companies that filed this year alone to seek approval for DCM licenses. The CFTC has approved six new DCMs in 2026.

Crypto-related companies have increasingly sought to participate in prediction markets, and vice versa. Competitors like Crypto.com and Gemini Space Station run their own marketplaces, while Coinbase offers them primarily through a partnership with Kalshi. Meanwhile, Kalshi and Polymarket have launched perpetual futures for U.S. and international customers respectively.

The regulatory push aligns with Blockchain.com’s transition to public markets. The company confidentially filed for an initial public offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission in May. Bloomberg reported last month that it was planning to go public this year targeting a valuation between $4 billion to $6 billion.

Blockchain.com earlier this year began offering prediction markets through a partnership with Polymarket to some customers internationally. Chief executive and co-founder Peter Smith said the new applications aim to consolidate services for everyday users. "Users should be able to manage their digital assets, trade derivatives, and take positions on real-world events easily, without jumping between different apps," Smith said. He added that the regulatory filings support that goal: "Our DCM and FCM applications build toward that future in the U.S. through the appropriate regulatory frameworks."