Polymarket’s Return to the US Market with QCEX Acquisition

July 22, 2025
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Polymarket is making a significant return to the United States by adopting a fully compliant approach this time around.

The blockchain-based prediction market has recently completed the acquisition of QCEX, a Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)-regulated exchange and clearinghouse. This $112 million deal secures Polymarket a legitimate pathway to re-enter the American market.

Reentering the US with Regulatory Approval

Through this acquisition, Polymarket now owns QCX LLC and QC Clearing LLC, both operating under the QCEX brand and regulated by the CFTC. This development enables Polymarket to welcome U.S. users again after being restricted from the country for over three years.

The move follows the conclusion of federal investigations into Polymarket’s past operations. In 2022, the company ceased its services to U.S. customers and paid a $1.4 million penalty for operating an unregistered platform.

This regulatory scrutiny intensified last year when federal agents searched the home of Polymarket’s CEO, Shayne Coplan, partly due to election-related trades on the platform. Coplan described the raid as politically motivated.

Empowering Americans to Participate in Prediction Markets

With legal issues behind them, CEO Shayne Coplan expressed optimism about the future. He highlighted Polymarket’s global standing as the largest prediction market, known for helping users assess the likelihood of real-world events.

Coplan emphasized that the acquisition of QCEX lays the groundwork for Polymarket’s US return as a fully regulated platform, enabling Americans to openly trade their opinions.

Sergei Dobrovolskii, founder of QCEX, shared his excitement about the partnership, pointing out that acquiring DCM and DCO licenses took years and that the prediction market industry is still evolving.

He praised Polymarket’s impact on how people interpret and express views on information, describing it as a cultural phenomenon built by Coplan.

The technical integration between QCEX and Polymarket is already in progress, although no official date has been announced for the US relaunch. Once active, American users will be able to trade predictions with protections similar to those in the commodity futures market.

Meanwhile, Polymarket continues to expand internationally. This year it has processed over $6 billion in wagers, formed partnerships with platforms linked to Elon Musk, and broadened its offerings into politics, sports, and pop culture, all while carefully navigating regulatory landscapes.