Blockchain.com seeks US prediction market and derivatives licenses: CNBC

Blockchain.com Pursues Regulatory Licenses for US Prediction Markets and Derivatives

Regulatory Applications

Blockchain.com has applied for two US regulatory licenses to offer prediction markets and cryptocurrency derivatives to retail and institutional customers. The company is seeking designation as a designated contract market, or DCM, which would allow it to operate a futures exchange. It is also pursuing registration as a futures commission merchant, or FCM, the category covering brokers that handle derivatives trading.

Expansion of US Offerings

The applications would expand Blockchain.com's US offerings to include event contracts, which let traders take positions on the outcomes of real-world events, alongside crypto derivatives. CEO and cofounder Peter Smith told CNBC that the company wants users to manage digital assets, trade derivatives, and participate in prediction markets without switching between apps.

Industry Context

Crypto.com and Gemini operate event contract marketplaces, while Coinbase offers prediction markets primarily through Kalshi. Kalshi and Polymarket have also expanded into perpetual futures for US and international customers, respectively. Blockchain.com joins 11 other companies that have filed for DCM licenses this year, CNBC reported. The CFTC has approved six new DCMs in 2026.

IPO Plans

The expansion comes as Blockchain.com prepares for a potential public listing. The company announced on May 21 that it had confidentially submitted a draft registration statement to the Securities and Exchange Commission. It said the offering's size and price range had not been determined and that a listing remained subject to market conditions and regulatory review. Bloomberg reported in September that Blockchain.com was targeting an IPO this year at a valuation between $4 billion and $6 billion, CNBC noted.