Robinhood Wants to Take Prediction Markets Global, Can It Outpace Polymarket

Robinhood Wants to Take Prediction Markets Global, Can It Outpace Polymarket?

Robinhood, the trading platform best known for its commission-free stock and crypto trades, is turning its sights overseas with a new offering.

After launching prediction markets in the United States, the company is preparing to expand the product globally, starting with conversations in Europe and the UK, according to Bloomberg.

Building a global footprint

Prediction markets allow traders to buy and sell contracts tied to the outcome of future events, ranging from elections to economic data releases. JB Mackenzie, Robinhood’s vice president and general manager of futures and international, told Bloomberg that international demand for such tools is growing.

“We’re definitely looking to offer it globally, and my goal or focus is to make sure it’s a regulatory-compliant product everywhere we go,” he said.

To that end, Robinhood has already opened discussions with regulators, including the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, to explore how localized versions might be structured.

The goal is to ensure that the product can be tailored to each jurisdiction while still offering users access to event-driven trading opportunities.

Riding the wave of event-Based trading

The move comes at a time when prediction markets are gaining traction among retail and institutional traders alike. In the U.S., Robinhood entered the space through a partnership with blockchain-based Kalshi, a CFTC-regulated platform that enables users to trade contracts on political outcomes, inflation reports, and other real-world events.

Much of the renewed interest in event-driven markets has been driven by crypto-native platform Polymarket, which handled billions of dollars in wagers during 2024.

Its surge in popularity, particularly during the run-up to the U.S. presidential election, has drawn mainstream attention to prediction markets. Polymarket’s reported consideration of a $9 billion valuation deal further shows investor appetite.

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