Bitcoin News Today: ICE Validates Crypto's Predictive Power with $2B Polymarket Stake

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, has announced a $2 billion investment in Polymarket, a crypto-based prediction market platform, valuing the company at approximately $8 billion to $10 billionBitcoin Magazine^[1]Forbes^[2]Cryptotimes^[3]. The deal, confirmed on October 7, 2025, positions ICE as a global distributor of Polymarket's event-driven data, enabling institutional access to real-time sentiment and probability indicators. The partnership also includes plans to collaborate on tokenization initiatives, signaling ICE's strategic pivot toward blockchain integrationCryptotimes^[3]. Polymarket founder Shayne Coplan, 27, has emerged as the youngest self-made billionaire, with the investment propelling the platform into the financial mainstreamBitcoin Magazine^[1].

Polymarket's recent expansion includes the addition of Bitcoin deposits, allowing users to fund accounts directly with BTC alongside existing options like USDC, Ethereum, and SolanaBitcoin Magazine^[1]Bitbo^[4]. This move aligns with Bitcoin's recent rally to all-time highs above $126,000, with user predictions on the platform showing 83% confidence in BTC reaching $130,000 by year-end and 52% and 35% betting on $140,000 and $150,000 targets, respectivelyBitcoin Magazine^[1]Bitbo^[4]. Total long-term betting volume has surpassed $30.6 million, reflecting growing demand for crypto-native funding optionsBitcoin Magazine^[1].

The platform's growth has been marked by regulatory challenges. In 2022, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) fined Polymarket $1.4 million for unregistered activities, prompting a temporary block of U.S. usersBitcoin Magazine^[1]Bitbo^[4]. The company navigated these hurdles by acquiring QCEX, a CFTC-licensed derivatives exchange, for $112 million in July 2025, securing the necessary regulatory approvals to re-enter the U.S. marketBitcoin Magazine^[1]Bitbo^[4]. The CFTC closed its investigation into the platform in 2025, and the Department of Justice terminated its caseBitcoin Magazine^[1].

ICE's investment follows a broader trend of institutional interest in crypto-based prediction markets. Polymarket has attracted backing from high-profile investors, including Donald Trump Jr.'s 1789 Capital and Peter Thiel's Founders FundBitcoin Magazine^[1]. The platform's valuation surged from $1 billion in August 2025 to as high as $10 billion post-investment, driven by its role in forecasting major events like the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Competitor Kalshi, which recently raised $185 million at a $2 billion valuation, also highlights the sector's institutional appeal.

The partnership between ICE and Polymarket underscores a convergence of traditional finance and decentralized innovation. ICE CEO Jeffrey Sprecher emphasized the potential to "serve markets uniquely" by combining institutional credibility with Polymarket's consumer-driven model. The collaboration could accelerate the integration of tokenized assets and real-time data into mainstream financial systems, with Polymarket's platform already processing over $1 billion in monthly trading volume. As prediction markets gain legitimacy, they are increasingly viewed as tools for risk modeling and macroeconomic forecasting.