Polymarket is a ‘social epistemic tool’ for the public, Vitalik Buterin argues as CFTC scrutiny intensifies

Key Takeaways

• Polymarket’s trading volume surpassed $390 million as interest in election bets grows.
• Vitalik Buterin argues against categorizing Polymarket as gambling.

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Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has come to the defense of Polymarket, a decentralized prediction market platform, as it faces increasing regulatory scrutiny. Buterin’s support comes at a crucial time when the US Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is proposing limitations on such platforms.

Buterin argues that categorizing Polymarket as gambling fundamentally misunderstands the nature and purpose of prediction markets. He emphasizes their role as “social epistemic tool[s]” that provide valuable insights into future events and public sentiment.

“Putting Polymarket into the category of ‘gambling’ is a massive misunderstanding of what prediction markets are or why people (including economists and policy intellectuals) are excited about them,” Buterin wrote on X.

The CFTC’s proposed restrictions, announced in May, aim to curtail prediction markets related to US elections, citing public interest concerns. Senator Elizabeth Warren has backed this stance, signing a motion to ban election-related prediction markets.

Other crypto industry leaders have joined Buterin in opposing the CFTC’s position. Gemini co-founder Cameron Winklevoss praised decentralized prediction markets for their “real public utility,” highlighting their ability to provide valuable forecasts rooted in financial accountability. In comments to the CFTC, Gemini has also urged the regulator to withdraw its proposal.

“Decentralized prediction markets are a significant innovation with real public utility. They provide valuable information on future events rooted in financial accountability,” Winklevoss argued.

Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, expressed concerns over the ambiguous definition of “gaming” in the CFTC’s proposal. These reactions underscore the industry’s resistance to what they perceive as overly broad regulatory measures.

Despite regulatory challenges, Polymarket has seen a surge in popularity, particularly around US election predictions. In July, Crypto Briefing reported that the platform has hit over $100 million in monthly trading volume. Recent data from Dune Analytics indicates that the platform’s monthly trading volume reached over $390 million in August, with a record 53,981 monthly active traders. This growth is largely attributed to increased interest in election-related outcomes.

The platform currently shows Donald Trump and Kamala Harris tied at 50% in presidential race predictions, while Republicans lead Senate predictions with 71% compared to Democrats’ 29%. These figures highlight the platform’s role in gauging public sentiment on political events.

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