TLDR
- Blockchain.com has applied for two CFTC licenses to offer event contracts and crypto derivatives in the US.
- The licenses would let it act as a designated contract market and a futures commission merchant.
- The company already runs prediction markets abroad through a Polymarket partnership.
- CFTC Chair Michael Selig is pushing crypto rules through rulemaking, pointing to the FTX collapse as justification.
- Blockchain.com is also preparing for a possible IPO valued between $4 billion and $6 billion.
Blockchain.com has filed for two licenses with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The company wants approval to offer event contracts and crypto derivatives to customers in the United States.
https://t.co/n0gqcdtUtY wants to bring prediction markets and crypto derivatives to the U.S.
The crypto platform just filed for two CFTC licenses that would let American users trade event contracts and crypto derivatives — all in one #BlockchainCom #PredictionMarkets… pic.twitter.com/IVL27FwaFi
— Quartz (@qz) October 10, 2026
CNBC reported the filing on Friday. The two licenses are a designated contract market license and a futures commission merchant license.
A designated contract market license would let Blockchain.com run its own futures exchange. A futures commission merchant license would let it act as a broker for derivatives contracts.
Peter Smith, the company’s CEO and co-founder, said the goal is to let users trade assets, derivatives, and event contracts in one place. He said the new licenses build toward that goal under proper regulatory rules.
Blockchain.com’s Existing Prediction Market Business
Blockchain.com already offers prediction markets to some customers outside the US. This started in July through a partnership with Polymarket.
The company also offers perpetual futures contracts powered by Hyperliquid. These products are currently limited to international users.
If approved, the new CFTC licenses would let Blockchain.com run its own marketplace for event contracts. This would work alongside its existing deal with Polymarket.
Other crypto companies have moved into this space too. Crypto.com and Gemini Space Station both run their own event contract marketplaces.
Coinbase offers event contracts mainly through a partnership with Kalshi. Kalshi and Polymarket have also launched perpetual futures contracts for traders.
Blockchain.com is one of 12 companies that have filed for a designated contract market license this year. The CFTC has approved six new designated contract markets so far in 2026.
CFTC Regulation Plans and Leadership Comments
CFTC Chair Michael Selig spoke about crypto regulation this week. He said the agency is moving forward with rules instead of waiting for Congress to pass legislation.
Selig pointed to the 2022 collapse of FTX as a reason for the push. FTX filed for bankruptcy that year, and the case led to criminal charges against several former executives, including Sam Bankman-Fried.
In a Wednesday interview with Fox Business, Selig said the proposed rules would bring safeguards to crypto spot markets. He repeated this point in a Friday social media post, saying the rules aim to prevent theft of customer funds.
Selig is currently the CFTC’s only commissioner and chair. The agency has four empty seats, and the White House has not announced any nominees as of Friday.
Selig has said he intends to carry out President Donald Trump’s crypto policy goals. He has also said the CFTC has sole authority over prediction markets.
Separately, Blockchain.com is working toward going public. The company filed confidentially for an IPO with the Securities and Exchange Commission in May.
Bloomberg reported last month that Blockchain.com is targeting a valuation between $4 billion and $6 billion. The company is reportedly aiming to raise $500 million through the offering.
The prediction market industry is also facing legal questions. New Jersey officials filed a petition with the US Supreme Court last month over a case against Kalshi involving state and federal oversight.
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