Polymarket has bought QCEX, the holding company of QCX exchange and QC Clearing, for $112 million this week. The move comes just days after US regulators ended their probe into Polymarket’s operations.
The deal gives the decentralised prediction platform a fully licensed US derivatives exchange and clearinghouse. It sets the stage for Polymarket to offer regulated contracts to American users.
Deal Details
Under the terms, Polymarket takes ownership of QCX, LLC and QC Clearing LLC, both licensed by the CFTC. The purchase price of $112 million was paid in cash and crypto.
Polymarket said the acquisition closes immediately and adds the necessary regulatory framework to its global platform.
Last week, US authorities quietly dropped their investigation into Polymarket. That cleared a critical hurdle for the company’s US ambitions.
With QCEX’s CFTC licenses in hand, Polymarket can now lawfully onboard US customers. The acquisition marks the first time a major decentralised prediction market has gained a regulated US foothold.
Leadership Comments
Founder and CEO Shayne Coplan said the deal is a “significant step” toward expanding in the US. He noted that mainstream interest in prediction markets has never been higher.
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Coplan added that trading volume and user growth on Polymarket have surged as people seek clear signals amid global events.
QCEX founder Sergei Dobrovolskii praised the merger as a way to combine Polymarket’s platform with QCEX’s licenses and expertise.
He recalled his four‑year effort to secure exchange and clearinghouse approvals and said the union unlocks the market’s full potential.
Market Momentum
Polymarket boasts over 21,000 open markets and $700 million in active trading volume despite being banned in the US. In the first half of 2025 only, the platform managed to handle nearly $6 billion in predictions all over.
This activity has attracted many investors to actively take part in it. The company is close to a $200 million funding round led by Founders Fund, which if successful, would value Polymarket at $1 billion.
Controversies and Challenges
The platform has faced its share of criticism from many in the industry including notable leaders. This year, Ethereum co‑founder Vitalik Buterin called out a prediction on the platform that speculated on an influencer’s personal life.
Polymarket recently teamed up with X(Twitter) to surface real‑time odds alongside news updates. The partnership aims to draw mainstream audiences who follow politics and finance.
By adding QCEX’s infrastructure, Polymarket plans to deepen institutional ties and offer new products like regulated event futures and hedging tools.
With regulatory approval secured and new licensing in place, Polymarket now turns to integration. The firm will merge QCEX’s trading and clearing systems into its interface.