Polymarket adds Trump Jr. to board after major investment and CFTC licensing progress

Polymarket has added Donald Trump Jr. to its advisory board following a strategic investment from 1789 Capital, a venture capital firm aligned with “American exceptionalism” and led by Trump Jr. as a partner [1]. The investment, estimated to be in the “double-digit millions of dollars” by Axios, marks a significant step in Polymarket’s efforts to re-enter the U.S. market after years of regulatory hurdles [1]. The firm’s acquisition of QCEX, a CFTC-licensed derivatives exchange, in July 2025 for $112 million, coincided with the resolution of investigations from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Department of Justice [1].

Trump Jr. emphasized in a statement that Polymarket enables users to bypass media bias and “expert” opinion by allowing them to bet on their own beliefs about real-world outcomes [1]. The platform, which launched in 2020, allows users to wager cryptocurrency on political events, celebrity developments, and more. By 2024, it had become one of the world’s largest prediction marketplaces, with over $3.6 billion in bets during the U.S. presidential race, $2.7 billion of which was placed on the Trump–Harris matchup [1]. This level of engagement has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers, with Senators like Elizabeth Warren and Jeff Merkley calling for a ban on election betting in August 2024, citing concerns over integrity and the potential for manipulation [1].

The controversy surrounding prediction markets extends beyond politics. The National Football League has also raised concerns about platforms like Polymarket, warning that they could pose integrity risks due to a lack of the compliance systems required of licensed sportsbooks [1]. Despite these challenges, Polymarket has continued to grow. In July 2025, it was reported to be finalizing a $200 million funding round that would value the platform at $1 billion [1]. The platform also released a U.S. rulebook and launched digital advertising campaigns in August 2025 to promote its return to the American market [1].

The decision to bring Trump Jr. onto the board signals a strategic alignment with U.S. political figures and may influence Polymarket’s regulatory engagement. While the firm has taken concrete steps to comply with U.S. regulations, the presence of a prominent political figure on its board introduces new dynamics, particularly in the context of ongoing investigations and public debates over election integrity. As Polymarket continues its U.S. expansion, its ability to navigate these complex intersections of innovation, regulation, and public perception will be key to its future success [2].

Source:

[1] Cointelegraph - [https://cointelegraph.com/news/polymarket-secures-1789-capital-investment-trump-jr-joins-board](https://cointelegraph.com/news/polymarket-secures-1789-capital-investment-trump-jr-joins-board)

[2] CoinDesk - [https://www.coindesk.com/](https://www.coindesk.com/)