MicroStrategy chairman Michael Saylor hinted at a potential shift in the company’s Bitcoin strategy, signaling that selling a portion of its bitcoin holdings this year cannot be ruled out as the firm pursues a more dynamic approach to its balance sheet. The comments come as the company leans into a programmatic framework for managing assets, cash, and debt with a long-term horizon.

Speaking on the Coin Stories podcast with Natalie Brunell and published on YouTube on Friday, Saylor described a plan to operate with a “very thoughtful” programmatic approach. He said it could involve selling some Bitcoin between now and year-end, along with a mix of equity and credit, while continuing to manage USD and cash. The goal, he emphasized, is to optimize the company’s outcomes for the long term, extending toward 2033. “Ultimately, the way to think of it is seven years out, we would like to have maximized our Bitcoin per share,” he said, underscoring a shift from Strategy’s historically staunch stance on never selling its digital assets.

Key takeaways

• Michael Saylor indicates it is “not unlikely” that MicroStrategy will sell some BTC between now and the end of the year, marking a notable departure from the firm’s long-standing “never sell” posture.
• The company intends to manage its balance sheet through a programmatic framework that could include sales of Bitcoin, as well as strategic moves in equity and debt, guided by multivariate models with a 2033 horizon.
• MicroStrategy holds 843,768 BTC, purchased at an average price of roughly $75,700 per coin, with Bitcoin trading near $75,958 at the time of publication.
• MicroStrategy’s stock traded at $159.89 at the close of Friday, having fallen about 10.9% over the prior 30 days, illustrating the disconnect that can exist between corporate treasury decisions and equity-market sentiment.
• The remarks follow prior signals from Saylor that a sale could be contemplated to safeguard the asset’s long-term value, a departure from earlier rhetoric and a reminder of the evolving nature of large corporates’ treasury strategies.

Context: a treasury rethink and long-term goals

MicroStrategy’s approach to Bitcoin has always been closely tied to its treasury management narrative, with the company accumulating a substantial stake as a corporate bet on the digital asset. The new comments place emphasis on a disciplined, data-driven process rather than a fixed, unchanging policy. Saylor described the broader plan as “a programmatic fashion where we’re running our multivariate models,” a framework intended to balance growth, liquidity, and risk across both crypto and traditional assets.

In the interview, Saylor reiterated a strategic objective articulated for years: maximize Bitcoin per share over a multi-year horizon. He stressed that the focus is on long-term outcomes rather than short-term price movements, and that any sales would be calibrated to support those outcomes. The timing of possible sales will depend on how the models signal opportunities to optimize the company’s overall performance while preserving the Bitcoin position for future value creation.

Bitcoin position and market context

According to MicroStrategy’s published data, the firm has accumulated 843,768 BTC, purchased at an average price of about $75,700 per BTC. At the time of publication, Bitcoin traded around $75,958, placing the market price near the unit cost basis but subject to the volatility intrinsic to crypto markets. The juxtaposition highlights the complexity of corporate crypto strategy: even when the price posture is near cost basis, the decision to sell or hold can be driven by broader balance-sheet considerations and long-run optimization goals.

MicroStrategy’s stock price, meanwhile, provides a different lens on the story. It closed at $159.89 on Friday, with roughly a 10.9% decline over the last 30 days, according to Google Finance data. The divergence between the equity move and the crypto position underscores a common reality for large treasury holders: corporate governance and investor sentiment can react differently to the same underlying asset, especially when the asset serves as a strategic balance-sheet instrument rather than a pure speculative investment.

Observers have long watched how MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin strategy interacts with broader market dynamics. Saylor’s recent comments add a layer of potential volatility to the company’s treasury decisions, while also signaling a willingness to adapt to changing conditions. The firm’s track record — including public disclosures of its BTC holdings and purchase history on its website — will continue to inform how investors digest any future sale announcements. For now, the plan remains a forward-looking framework rather than a concrete sale timetable, with the caveat that real-time market conditions and model outputs could alter timing and scale.

As coverage of corporate Bitcoin adoption evolves, MicroStrategy’s approach may offer a useful reference for other treasury teams weighing strategic asset management in a volatile macro environment. The combination of a disciplined model-driven process and a horizon extending to 2033 provides a blueprint for balancing exposure, liquidity, and upside potential in a high-beta asset class.

Looking ahead, market participants will be watching for any formal updates to MicroStrategy’s treasury policy, earnings commentary that clarifies sale triggers, or new disclosures that outline how the multivariate framework operates in practice. The evolution of this strategy could shape how other corporations view the feasibility and risk of maintaining large Bitcoin positions as part of their balance sheets.

Readers should watch upcoming investor communications for any concrete sale signals, as well as updates to cost-basis tracking and model-driven asset-management benchmarks. The path from talk to action remains to be seen, and the next steps will help determine whether MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin strategy becomes a recurring source of liquidity or a steady, long-horizon holding.

Strategy chairman Michael Saylor has not ruled out the company offloading some Bitcoin as early as this year, after recently softening his long-held “never sell” stance.

“I think it’s not unlikely that we’ll sell some Bitcoin between now and the end of the year,” Saylor said during an interview with Natalie Brunell published to YouTube on Friday.

Saylor said it is “also likely” that the company will sell a mix of equity and credit and manage its USD and cash holdings. “We do it in a very thoughtful programmatic fashion where we’re running our multivariate models, and we’re literally running them,” Saylor said, noting the company is focused on long-term outcomes out to 2033:

“Ultimately, the way to think of it is seven years out, we would like to have maximized our Bitcoin per share,” Saylor said.

Michael Saylor spoke to Natalie Brunell on the Coin Stories podcast. Source: Natalie Brunell

He added that an objective of the company is: “What is it that we should be doing now that’s going to maximize and optimize the company’s performance so that we’ve maxed out Bitcoin per share seven years from now.”

Strategy’s (MSTR) stock price closed the trading day on Friday at $159.89, down 10.86% over the past 30 days, according to Google Finance. It comes as the price of Bitcoin (BTC) is lower than the average price that Strategy has paid for its Bitcoin, since it began acquiring in 2020. 

Bitcoin is trading lower than Strategy’s average purchase price

At the time of publication, Bitcoin is changing hands at $75,958, while Strategy has acquired its 843,768 Bitcoin at an average price of roughly $75,700 each, according to Strategy’s website and CoinMarketCap data.

Strategy’s buy announcements over the years have often been viewed by the Bitcoin community as bullish signals, but because the company has never announced a sale before, it’s unclear how the community would react.

Related: Saylor signals BTC buy as retail holders get push on STRC dividend vote

It comes just days after Saylor said he raised the possibility of selling Bitcoin during Strategy’s recent earnings call to protect the asset’s long-term interests. 

“We own about $65 billion worth of Bitcoin. If the market thought we would never sell it, the credit rating agencies would say, Well then, I guess it’s not an asset,” Saylor told Scott Melker on The Wolf Of All Streets podcast published to YouTube on May 10.

Magazine: ETH bears growling, Tom Lee’s buying, XRP to ‘explode’: Market Moves

Galaxy Digital founder Mike Novogratz has appeared in court as the company fights BitGo’s $100 million claim tied to a failed $1.2 billion merger.

Novogratz appeared in Delaware Chancery Court this week in the long-running dispute between Galaxy Digital and BitGo. BitGo is asking the court to make Galaxy pay at least $100 million after the crypto investment firm walked away from the acquisition.

The companies agreed to the deal in 2021, when crypto valuations were still high. Galaxy later ended the merger in August 2022, after the Terra collapse and a wider market downturn. Galaxy said BitGo failed to deliver required audited financial statements on time. BitGo said Galaxy wrongly abandoned the deal.

SEC accounting rules sit at center of case

According to Bloomberg’s report, Novogratz testified that he was “pushing to get this deal done,” but said the SEC made approval difficult under then-Chair Gary Gensler. He also said Galaxy itself was not the subject of a government probe.

The accounting issue traces back to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 121. The Delaware Supreme Court said SAB 121 became effective shortly before BitGo’s financial statement deadline and gave guidance for public companies that safeguard digital assets. 

The court also noted that if BitGo failed to submit compliant statements by July 31, 2022, Galaxy could terminate the agreement without paying the reverse fee.

BitGo says Galaxy damaged its reputation

BitGo CEO Mike Belshe testified that the failed deal hurt the company. He said “This was incredibly damaging,” according to the report, while arguing that BitGo had provided the needed information.

BitGo’s side says Galaxy’s public reason for ending the merger suggested that BitGo could not pass an audit. Galaxy disputes that view and says the contract allowed termination without the $100 million fee because the financial statements did not meet the required terms.

Court fight comes as both firms expand

The case returns at a busy time for both companies. BitGo became a public company in January and later reported $3.77 billion in first-quarter revenue, up 112.6% from a year earlier. However, its net loss widened to $60.7 million as Bitcoin treasury marks and IPO costs weighed on results.

Galaxy has also been expanding its regulated U.S. footprint. A recent market update said GalaxyOne Prime NY received both a BitLicense and Money Transmission License from New York regulators on May 18, allowing it to offer trading and custody services to institutions in the state.

The trial is expected to end this week. The judge will decide whether Galaxy must pay the $100 million fee or whether the company had the right to terminate the deal without payment.

Kevin Warsh was sworn in as chair of the United States Federal Reserve, but the market’s focus quickly shifted to the policy path that will shape crypto markets and broader risk assets through 2026. The latest CME Group FedWatch data suggests investors are pricing in virtually no chance of rate cuts this year, signaling a higher-for-longer stance that could influence liquidity and risk appetite across crypto and equities.

During the swearing-in ceremony, President Donald Trump framed Warsh’s tenure as one defined by independence from the Executive Branch on monetary policy, while underscoring a belief that a booming economy should guide growth alongside inflation containment. “We want to stop inflation, but we don’t want to stop greatness,” Trump said, a line that captured the tension between price stability and growth the new administration seeks to navigate.

“We want to stop inflation, but we don’t want to stop greatness.”

Warsh inherits a policy backdrop where inflation, employment, and debt dynamics intersect with a market environment that had been pricing little relief in the near term. The Trump administration’s emphasis on growth as a lever to manage debt sits beside persistent macro uncertainty, complicating how traders read even the first signals from the new leadership at the Fed.

Key takeaways

• No rate cuts expected in 2026, based on CME FedWatch data, reinforcing a higher-for-longer policy trajectory.
• Near-term odds of a 25 basis point hike at the June meeting sit at about 3.5%, with the current federal funds target at 3.50%–3.75%.
• Probability of a rate hike at the July meeting rises to roughly 17%, and about 67% of traders expect a hike at the December meeting.
• The leadership change at the Fed comes amid inflation concerns and growth considerations, with markets parsing how the new chair’s approach will balance these forces.
• Crypto and other risk assets could face headwinds if the expected pause on rate cuts persists, as liquidity and risk sentiment remain sensitive to policy signals.

Fed leadership and policy signals

The swearing-in of Warsh as chair places the Fed at a critical inflection point. While details of his forthcoming policy communications remain to be seen, the market is already responding to the prevailing assumption that monetary easing via rate cuts is unlikely in the near term. In a regime where the Fed’s stance on inflation and growth will guide the tempo of liquidity, crypto traders are attuned to any shift in language or data that might alter the balance between price stability and economic expansion.

Trump’s remarks at the event underscored a deliberate narrative: Warsh’s independence should enable a policy path that prioritizes growth while attempting to keep inflation in check. The president’s framing, coupled with inflation and employment dynamics, creates a backdrop in which the Fed’s credibility will be tested as markets weigh the odds of future policy moves against evolving macro data releases.

Markets, rates and crypto implications

Market pricing through the CME FedWatch tool indicates a remarkably low likelihood of rate cuts in 2026. The immediate implication is a constrained environment for policy ease, which tends to support tighter financial conditions. In practice, this translates into higher real interest rates and a spotlight on the trajectory of inflation, growth signals, and debt sustainability as the Fed’s mandate remains in focus.

The June 17 FOMC meeting is seen as a potential touchpoint for a small policy adjustment, with a 3.5% probability of a 25 basis point rate hike. With the current target range at 3.50% to 3.75%, even a modest move would be read as a continuation of the higher-for-longer theme, rather than the start of a rapid easing cycle.

Beyond June, the odds shift toward a greater probability of action later in the year. A July hike carries roughly a 17% chance, while the December meeting is seen as the more likely period for a rate move, with about two-thirds of traders expecting a hike then. Taken together, the data imply a policy stance that remains tight through the year, creating a backdrop of higher borrowing costs and a slower easing pace than many crypto and equity markets had priced in during earlier cycles.

In the crypto ecosystem, this environment has a nuanced set of implications. Historically, lower interest rates have been supportive of risk-on assets, including Bitcoin and broader crypto markets, by boosting liquidity and search for yield in higher-risk corners of the market. Yet the flip side is that cheap credit can fuel inflationary pressures or misallocation if it leads to a wave of leveraged speculation. As the Fed maintains a careful watch on inflation and growth, crypto traders will be watching not only the headline rate moves but also any shifts in the Fed’s communications that could tilt expectations for the cost of capital and the availability of liquidity.

What this means for investors and builders

For investors, the current outlook reinforces the idea that capital will continue to be priced with an eye toward central bank policy and macro data. Portfolios with exposure to crypto and other risk assets may need to tolerate continued volatility as rate expectations swing with new data releases and statements from Fed leadership. The absence of imminent rate cuts suggests a period of consolidation for risk assets, even as the underlying fundamentals of blockchain networks, DeFi protocols, and institutional involvement in crypto continue to evolve.

For builders and developers in the crypto space, the environment underscores the importance of funding resilience and product-market fit independent of a passive liquidity tailwind. Projects that demonstrate real utility, robust security, and clear paths to revenue may fare better in a regime where liquidity remains tethered to policy signals, rather than a broad, rate-driven liquidity flood.

And for regulators and policymakers outside the Fed, the ongoing conversation around inflation control, debt management, and economic growth will intersect with how the crypto sector is treated within the broader financial system. As policy makers weigh the CLARITY Act and other regulatory contours, the market will assess whether legislative actions could alter the risk-and-reward dynamics that crypto projects navigate daily.

The immediate takeaway is clear: the Fed’s leadership transition arrives at a moment when policy clarity, inflation momentum, and growth trajectories will jointly shape the path of crypto and risk assets. Investors should stay attentive to the Fed’s communications, inflation prints, and any shifts in the rate-path narrative that could alter funding conditions for digital assets and their traditional counterparts.

Readers should monitor upcoming FOMC communications and macro data releases, as any hint of a policy pivot or a renewed emphasis on price stability could recalibrate sentiment across cryptocurrencies and the broader market.

South Korea’s planned cryptocurrency tax has come under renewed political scrutiny after a public petition seeking its repeal cleared the signature threshold required for legislative review.

According to South Korea’s National Assembly petition system, the motion surpassed 50,000 signatures at around 11:23 a.m. local time on Thursday, eight days after submission, automatically sending the proposal to a parliamentary committee for examination.

In the petition, an anonymous author argued that taxing crypto investors while exempting traditional financial investment income creates an unfair imbalance. 

The motion pointed to South Korea’s decision to abolish taxes on gains from stocks and bonds, while virtual asset investors still face a planned 22% levy on annual gains above 2.5 million won, or roughly $1,650.

A translated excerpt of the petition. Source: South Korean National Assembly

Set to take effect from Jan. 1, 2027, the tax includes a 20% income tax and a 2% local income tax under South Korea’s Income Tax Act. 

Earlier this month, Moon Kyung-ho, director of the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s income tax division, said during a National Assembly forum that the government intended to proceed with the tax as scheduled.

At the same time, South Korea’s National Tax Service has continued preparing implementation guidance with domestic exchanges including Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit, and Gopax. Local reports previously said the agency plans to release detailed compliance guidelines later in 2026 before the first full filing period opens in May 2028 for income earned during 2027.

Petition raises investor protection concerns

Alongside criticism over tax fairness, the petition argued that South Korea’s crypto market still lacks sufficient investor safeguards. The motion cited fraudulent activity and poor-quality token listings as ongoing risks that authorities have not fully addressed before introducing taxation.

Translated text from the petition stated that the issue extends beyond tax rates and concerns how the government intends to treat digital assets and the future of the financial industry.

Additional criticism focused on market volatility. According to the motion, the current framework fails to properly account for large price swings that can rapidly alter investor positions.

Political disagreement over the crypto tax has delayed the measure three times already. Per earlier crypto.news reporting, lawmakers postponed implementation from 2025 to 2027 after debates over exchange infrastructure, reporting systems, and whether the 2.5 million won threshold was too low compared with other investment products.

More recently, South Korea’s People Power Party proposed legislation to abolish the tax before its scheduled rollout. However, the Finance Ministry’s latest public comments suggested authorities are still preparing for implementation unless lawmakers amend the law beforehand.

Elsewhere in South Korea’s digital asset sector, regulators have continued advancing new crypto oversight rules ahead of 2027. Earlier this month, the National Assembly passed amendments to the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act requiring firms involved in overseas crypto transfers to register with the finance minister.

Separately, the Financial Services Commission said on May 15 that it plans to release detailed tokenized securities rules in July ahead of amendments to the Capital Markets Act and Electronic Securities Act scheduled to take effect in February 2027. Samsung SDS is also building infrastructure for the Korea Securities Depository’s token securities platform as authorities prepare blockchain-based issuance and settlement systems.

THORChain node operators are voting on ADR028, a recovery plan that would restart the network after a $10.7 million exploit without minting new RUNE.

THORChain said node operators are now voting on ADR028 after the May 15 incident. The proposal sets the direction for recovery, while exact figures remain open to later changes through Mimir governance.

The official exploit report said the attacker drained about $10.7 million from one of five vaults. THORChain said the attacker was a newly churned node operator who exploited a GG20 Threshold Signature Scheme vulnerability. The other four vaults were not affected.

Recovery plan avoids new RUNE

Under ADR028, protocol-owned liquidity would absorb the loss first. Any remaining shortfall would then be shared across synth holders. THORChain said the split is still being reviewed and will be adjusted later.

The proposal says no new RUNE will be minted, no RUNE will be sold, and holders will not be diluted. Protocol-owned liquidity would be reduced to zero, with part of future system income redirected to rebuild it over time.

Moreover, THORChain said GG20 will stay in place for now, but it must be patched and upgraded before trading resumes. The network will also need a successful churn before normal activity returns.

The exploit report said automatic solvency checks detected the vault imbalance within minutes. Node operators then used manual pauses and Mimir votes to halt trading, signing, chain observation, and churning within about two hours of the community alert.

Recent DeFi exploits add pressure

The THORChain vote comes after earlier reports said the protocol halted trading when ZachXBT warned that losses could top $10 million across Bitcoin, Ethereum, BSC, and Base. Related coverage noted that RUNE fell after the alert as users waited for clearer details from protocol operators.

The incident also follows a busy period for crypto exploits. Recent reports said the Verus Ethereum bridge lost more than $11.5 million after attackers used a forged cross-chain transfer message. Security firms linked that exploit to missing validation checks in the bridge process.

April also showed how heavy the pressure on DeFi security has become. Crypto protocols lost more than $606 million in the first 18 days of April, led by the $292 million KelpDAO breach and the $285 million Drift Protocol exploit.

TRM Labs also reported that North Korea-linked actors drove about 76% of global crypto hack losses in the first four months of 2026. The firm put those losses at about $577 million through April.

Attacker faces slashing and bounty offer

ADR028 proposes full slashing for the attacker’s node. THORChain said innocent nodes assigned to the same vault would be protected. Recovered RUNE would be paired with any assets recovered from the affected vault, while surplus RUNE would be burned.

The proposal also offers the attacker a bounty to return the funds. If funds are returned in part, the recovery plan would roll back by the same share. THORChain also said the protocol will remain neutral and permissionless, meaning the attacker’s swaps will not be censored once trading resumes.

The vote now gives node operators a path to approve the recovery direction. It does not finalize every number. The main test is whether THORChain can restart safely, absorb losses without new RUNE, and restore confidence after another high-profile DeFi exploit.

Pi Network is trying to link token design with real product use as PI continues to trade near the lower end of its recent range.

Pi Network said founder Chengdiao Fan’s Consensus 2026 talk focused on a common problem in crypto: the gap between token design and real product innovation. The project said her session, “Aligning Web3, AI, and Blockchain for Utility,” framed tokens as tools for user growth, engagement, and long-term use.

Fan’s presentation also discussed Pi Launchpad, a proposed model for ecosystem tokens and launch mechanisms. The goal is to help products reach real users who can test, give feedback, and use tokens inside actual product experiences, rather than only trading them.

Pi Network’s own blog said Fan argued that AI has made it easier to create applications. That changes the main challenge for builders. In Pi’s view, distribution, verified users, and real usage now matter more than the ability to launch another app.

The Consensus event page used similar language. It said the session would show how Pi combines blockchain infrastructure, verified identity, and a large engaged network to support utility-driven products and AI-era business models.

PI price remains under pressure

Pi Network’s market data still shows a weak price setup. PI traded near $0.152949 on May 22, with a 24-hour range between $0.150275 and $0.153973. The token was down 10.02% over seven days and 10.14% over 30 days, according to crypto.news price data.

The same data showed Pi Network with a market cap of about $1.62 billion and a fully diluted valuation of about $2.49 billion. PI ranked #54 by market cap, with 24-hour trading volume near $11.5 million.

Pi’s longer-term price picture remains weak. The token is down more than 81% over the past year and remains far below its all-time high of $2.99, reached on Feb. 26, 2025. It is still above its all-time low of $0.131244 from Feb. 11, 2026.

Chart signals also point to limited demand. PI/USDT is trading with muted volume, while the price is struggling to reclaim the $0.17 to $0.20 zone. RSI near 35 shows weak momentum, and the MACD remains negative, keeping sellers in control for now.

Protocol 23 keeps ecosystem hopes alive

Pi Network’s utility message follows a major technical phase for the project. Recent coverage said Protocol 23 activated on May 11, shortly after the project’s Consensus 2026 appearance. The upgrade introduced full smart contract functionality to the Pi blockchain for the first time.

Earlier reports also said Pi’s co-founders used Consensus 2026 to discuss AI, online identity, and Web3 use cases. Fan spoke about utility and token design, while Nicolas Kokkalis joined a panel on proving human identity online without exposing personal data.

That timing matters because Pi is trying to move beyond its long-running mobile mining identity. Protocol 23 gives the network a path toward more programmable applications, while Pi Launchpad would support ecosystem tokens and product launches.

Still, the market has not yet priced in a clear recovery. PI needs a stronger move above $0.17 to $0.18 to weaken the bearish setup. A break below $0.15 could expose another move toward lower support.

Token design becomes Pi’s main test

Fan’s message puts Pi Network inside a wider debate about what tokens should do. Many crypto projects have used tokens mainly for fundraising, speculation, or short-term incentives. Pi is arguing that tokens should help products find users and keep them active.

That pitch fits the project’s existing focus on identity. Pi says its verified user network can help businesses reach real people at a time when AI tools can create fake users, bots, and content at scale. The project says this creates value for apps that need trusted human participation.

The challenge is execution. Utility claims only matter if developers build products that users want and if PI becomes useful inside those products. Price action shows traders remain cautious while they wait for stronger signs of demand.

Polymarket has reportedly appointed a Japanese representative as the prediction market platform moves toward securing approval to operate legally in the country by 2030.

According to a Friday Bloomberg report citing people familiar with the matter, Polymarket sees Japan as a long-term expansion market even as the platform remains blocked or restricted across several jurisdictions over gambling and financial compliance concerns.

Polymarket’s list of restricted countries. Source: Polymarket website.

Leading the effort is Mike Eidlin, who Bloomberg identified as the current head of Japan at Jupiter. According to the report, Eidlin has been appointed to oversee Polymarket’s local strategy as the company begins discussions around regulatory access in the country.

At present, Japan remains on Polymarket’s restricted jurisdiction list. The platform’s website states that users from the country are blocked due to “regulatory requirements and compliance with international sanctions.”

Japanese law maintains strict restrictions on gambling activity. Under the country’s Penal Code, habitual gambling can carry prison terms of up to three years, while operating gambling businesses can result in imprisonment ranging from three months to five years. 

Government-approved horse racing and public lotteries remain exempt under existing rules, while pachinko parlors continue operating through a long-standing legal gray area tied to token exchange systems.

Polymarket pushes expansion amid rising regulatory pressure

Outside Japan, regulators have continued increasing scrutiny of prediction market platforms, particularly those tied to crypto-based payments and speculative contracts.

Earlier on Friday, Indian authorities blocked access to Polymarket after the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology instructed internet providers and VPN operators to restrict access to what officials classified as illegal online betting and prediction market services. Local outlet ThePrint reported that authorities are also preparing similar action against Kalshi, a U.S.-regulated prediction platform overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Regulatory documents tied to India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025 have categorized platforms that allow users to place money on uncertain outcomes as prohibited betting services, regardless of whether operators describe them as forecasting tools or researching markets.

Pressure has surfaced in other regions as well. Earlier this year, authorities in Argentina ordered internet providers to block Polymarket after a Buenos Aires court found the platform operated outside the country’s gambling framework. Colombia and Romania imposed similar restrictions last year after classifying the service as unauthorized gambling activity.

At the same time, parts of the U.S. have also moved against prediction markets tied to sports contracts. Minnesota recently became the first U.S. state to ban prediction markets, while the CFTC and the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit earlier this week challenging the state’s legislation.

Even with growing regulatory pushback, Polymarket has continued expanding its institutional presence.

Earlier this month, the company partnered with Nasdaq Private Market to launch prediction markets linked to private-company valuations, IPO timelines, and secondary-market pricing. Under the agreement, Nasdaq Private Market serves as the resolution data provider for those contracts using verified transaction data tied to private companies.

Reuters previously reported that Polymarket has also been exploring a fresh funding round that could value the company at roughly $15 billion.

Back in the U.S., Polymarket has also returned through its acquisition of federally regulated derivatives exchange QCEX. Bloomberg and other outlets have reported that the company remains in talks with the CFTC as it seeks to restore broader access to its main exchange operations in the country.