It’s about 16 years since cryptocurrency first became a thing, and yet it’s still viewed as something new, especially by those within the industry. It may be steadily moving closer to the financial mainstream, integrated into several major institutions, but it continues to be positioned as a space for the unconventional, the young, the highly tech-literate, and those with little regard for risk. The difficulty with that narrative is that in reality, crypto’s most important users don’t fit that description at all. They’re over 35. They have stable careers, are risk-averse, and take financial planning seriously. And while they’re comfortable with technology, they’re not immersed in it. What’s more, they also control the majority of investable capital. So, why aren’t crypto platforms doing more to serve them?

The investors making crypto viable

The 35-54 demographic is the obvious target for crypto. This is the group in their peak earning years, and they know what it takes to be financially responsible. They don’t have masses of disposable income, but what they do have, they want to use wisely. That alone makes them natural investors. But beyond that, they have an understanding of the space. They’ve moved into maturity, with crypto as a background. They’ve lived through major economic cycles, from the dot-com boom and bust to the damning impact of the 2008 financial crisis, so they understand volatility and risk, and the impact of both. So, for them, crypto isn’t speculation; it’s a way to diversify their assets and potentially gain a hedge.

In addition to all of that, they also have patience. While younger users typically chase rapid gains, people in their 30s, 40s and 50s are more comfortable with long-term positioning. They don’t need constant updates or validation but are instead willing to wait and let strategies unfold over time. And that’s what makes them such a valuable customer base.

Built for someone else

And yet, as valuable as this demographic might be, most crypto platforms target a very different audience. Gamification, urgency, and slang dominate. Engagement is prioritised over understanding. And support is limited. Many platforms still rely heavily on chatbots or community forums, with few options for escalation. For anyone accustomed to traditional financial services, where accountability, compliance, and support are expected, this doesn’t feel innovative. It feels like carelessness verging on negligence, and that can only negatively impact trust. The problem for platforms is that failing trust will naturally translate into failing user numbers, because this is the generation that has learnt that actions are more powerful than words, so funds will be withdrawn, and users may leave the crypto space entirely.

The cost of inattention

Serving your core customer base is basic business practice. Yet in crypto, it often feels like an afterthought. The industry continues to see itself as youthful, fast-moving, and in constant need of new participants. But what crypto platforms are failing to realise is that attention doesn’t get you very far if it doesn’t lead to capital. Younger users may be highly engaged. They may open accounts, follow markets, and contribute to the culture. But the vast majority lack the financial capacity to participate at scale. They provide visibility, near endless amounts of it. But they don’t provide the stability that platforms and the industry require.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is the 35+ cohort. They’re visible, less reactive, and far less vocal, but they hold the capital and the intent that the market needs to thrive. Ignoring them no longer feels like a simple oversight; it’s a strategic error that could end up setting the industry back a very long way.

What maturity actually looks like

If crypto is serious about becoming part of the financial mainstream, it needs to evolve structurally. The tech is already there; the innovation is built-in. It’s the design that is significantly wanting. With the emphasis on cleverness, newness, and novelty, clarity is almost entirely absent. Usability is rarely even an afterthought. Even the choice of language alienates instead of informing. As for customer service, it’s as close to non-existent as it is possible to be without deliberate choice. What’s needed now is investment in real customer support: clear processes, defined accountability, and accessible human assistance. Chatbots are fine for a first point of contact, but there is never a circumstance in which they should be the entire service provision.

We all know that innovation is at the heart of crypto, and no one is saying that that needs to change. But it is no longer enough. It’s time for the industry to invest in infrastructure that supports its users, rather than simply trying to attract newcomers.

Today’s 35-year-olds may not fit the image the industry likes to project, but they are the users who give the crypto space legs. Many were there at the beginning, so they understand it. But more importantly, they are the group that will drive the space forward. Not just because they have capital today, but because the younger audience being courted so aggressively will eventually expect the same things when they have money to invest: stability, clarity, support, and trust.

And if those needs continue to be overlooked, the genuine investors will quietly take their money elsewhere.

Peter Curk, CEO of ICONOMI

Binance Wallet is embracing the prediction-market craze, announcing that it will bring probability-based markets to its app through an integration with Predict.fun. The exchange said it will cover all trading and settlement fees for users, making the experience effectively gasless on the BNB Smart Chain. The move signals Binance’s intent to capture a share of a rapidly expanding segment that the market data suggests is moving billions of dollars in volume each month.

In a notice issued this week, Binance said the new feature will be delivered via a third-party integration with Predict.fun, with the initial rollout focusing on probability-based markets. By underwriting the costs of trades and settlements, the company frames the service as a frictionless entry point for users seeking to speculate on outcomes in politics, sports, and other topics—without the typical gas fees that can erode returns on decentralized networks.

Key takeaways

• Binance Wallet will offer probability-based markets via Predict.fun, with gasless trading and Binance-funded fees on the BNB Smart Chain.
• The development reflects growing appetite for prediction markets, which have surged in activity and user interest over the past year.
• Industry momentum comes with regulatory headwinds: US agencies have pursued actions against prediction-market platforms over alleged gaming-law violations, even as the CFTC contends it has exclusive jurisdiction over such markets.
• TRM Labs data point to a broader market expansion, with a January estimate of around $20 billion in monthly volume across prediction markets—a sharp rise from early 2025 levels.

Binance’s foray into prediction markets

The Binance announcement frames the integration as a way to widen access to prediction markets for everyday users. By partnering with Predict.fun, Binance is tapping a platform that offers contracts tied to event outcomes—ranging from political developments to other real-world occurrences—while removing traditional cost barriers through sponsor-funded trading and settlement fees on the BNB Smart Chain.

The “gasless” headline is central to the offer. If trades are executed and settled on the BSC network, Binance says it will cover the associated costs, effectively lowering the user’s friction to engage with probability-based bets. While the initial phase centers on Predict.fun, the arrangement positions Binance as a gateway for a broader audience to participate in market-based sentiment around events beyond standard crypto trading.

Beyond the technical convenience, the move signals a broader strategic push by major crypto platforms to explore more specialized markets. Prediction markets, which allow participants to place bets on the probability of future events, have grown in popularity as a way to hedge information or express views on uncertain outcomes. The Binance integration comes amid a broader industry trend of large exchanges taking a more active role in prediction-market ecosystems, sometimes inviting scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers alike.

Momentum, scale, and the regulatory backdrop

Industry data illustrate a market that has accelerated rapidly. According to TRM Labs, monthly transaction activity across prediction-market platforms reached about $20 billion in January, representing roughly a twentyfold increase versus early 2025. The rebound underscores growing user interest in event-based contracts and the potential for new participants to experiment with these markets through mainstream platforms.

However, the regulatory environment remains complex and unsettled. The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission has argued it holds exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets, even as several state-level authorities have pursued enforcement actions against platforms offering such bets, particularly in the sports betting domain. The legal tension reflects broader questions about whether and how prediction markets fit inside traditional gambling frameworks and financial regulation.

Within this context, Kalshi and Polymarket—two notable players in the space—have faced ongoing legal scrutiny and regulatory maneuvering. Kalshi, which has repeatedly argued for a clear regulatory pathway, has encountered actions from state gaming authorities while federal regulators push back on some state-level actions. The CFTC’s stance on jurisdiction has been a recurring theme in industry discussions about what governance looks like for prediction-market ecosystems in the United States.

Amid these dynamics, industry leaders have weighed in on relationships with policymakers and the potential for perceived conflicts of interest. In an Axios interview published this week, Kalshi executives Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara addressed questions about ties to political figures and potential regulatory leverage. Lara stated that Kalshi has not solicited favors and that leadership has not sought regulatory changes in exchange for advantages, while noting that claims of influence over policy are not part of the company’s operating reality. The interview highlighted the broader industry sensitivity around connections in Washington and the importance of maintaining a clear separation between business activity and regulatory advocacy.

Why this matters for investors, users, and builders

For investors, Binance’s entry into prediction markets could unlock new liquidity channels and user engagement metrics. A gasless, fee-subsidized model lowers the barrier to experimentation with event-based contracts, potentially drawing in traders who might not participate in more traditional crypto derivatives. If the model proves sustainable, it could create a competitive dynamic among exchanges to offer similar prediction-market access, reinforcing network effects in user acquisition and retention.

For builders and developers, the Binance-Predict.fun collaboration demonstrates how major platforms are willing to strand- test cross-domain integrations—combining on-chain infrastructure, third-party markets, and user-friendly interfaces. The approach could spur further partnerships, more standardized interfaces for event-based contracts, and clearer product roadmaps that marry traditional finance-style clarity with crypto-native flexibility.

From a risk perspective, the ongoing regulatory scrutiny around prediction markets means participants should remain mindful of jurisdictional differences and potential policy shifts. While the CFTC has asserted its jurisdiction in this space, state actions and evolving enforcement priorities could shape the available landscape for US users. As more platforms experiment with prediction-based products, market participants should watch for changes in compliance requirements, licensing, and potential restrictions on specific contract topics or venues.

Ultimately, Binance’s move to integrate probability-based markets with gasless trading marks another step in the sector’s maturation. It highlights both the appetite for accessible, event-driven financial instruments and the friction points that come with regulatory complexity. As the year unfolds, observers will be watching not only user adoption and volume but also how regulators, platform operators, and industry groups negotiate a path forward for prediction markets within the broader crypto economy.

Readers should keep an eye on how the integration with Predict.fun performs in practice, what contract types gain traction, and whether other major players accelerate similar offerings. The coming quarters could define whether prediction markets become a standard feature in mainstream crypto wallets or remain a niche segment with uneven regulatory clearance.