With this partnership, Intercontinental Exchange will become a global distributor of Polymarket data.
Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE), owner of the New York Stock Exchange, on Tuesday announced a strategic investment in Polymarket, a decentralized prediction market platform.
According to a press release, Ice will invest up to $2 billion and Polymarket is valued at an upfront investment of approximately $8 billion. As part of the transaction, ICE will become a global distributor of Polymarket’s data, providing institutional investors with access to insights on market sentiment.
The two companies also plan to collaborate on future tokenization projects, the release said. This comes as the real-world asset sector continues to expand, recently surpassing $33 billion in on-chain value.
ICE’s investment reflects a growing trend of traditional finance (TRADFI) institutions exploring decentralized finance (DEFI) and prediction markets. It also highlights broader changes in how technology is changing the way people speculate, engage and interact with markets.
“Our investment fuses ice… with the pioneering change of a forward-thinking, innovative company in the decentralized finance space.”
ICE stock is currently changing hands at $161.46, up 2% the day after the news.
era of speculation
Zach Burch, CEO of online social casino MyPrize, called the deal a sign of a “golden age of speculation” in comments shared with Defiant.
“You’re seeing one of the most established financial institutions recognize that passive consumption is dead and that people want to actively participate in the outcomes that are unfolding,” Birch said. “This isn’t just a prediction market. Ice sees what we all see. Speculation has become a social layer that turns content into engagement.”
Founded in 2020, Polymarket allows you to trade stocks based on the outcome of real events. Direct transactions occur between users through smart contracts, and the market expands as more people participate.
Currently, Polymarket is the official prediction market partner of platforms such as X and StockTwits. In recent months, the platform’s DEX trading volume has steadily grown, reaching $1.4 billion in September. This is the highest monthly number per Defillama since December 2024.
Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan revealed on X earlier today that the company received strong backing from top venture investors and angels even before the ICE deal.
Earlier this year, Founders Fund led with $150 million and was valued at $1.2 billion with participation from Ribbit, Valor, Blockchain Capital, Coinbase, and more. And in 2024, Blockchain Capital led a $55 million round that valued Polymate at $350 million.