Blockchain.com Seeks CFTC Approval to Launch US Prediction Markets and Crypto Derivatives

Blockchain.com, a long-established digital asset platform, has moved to secure regulatory clearance that would allow it to expand into US prediction markets and cryptocurrency derivatives trading.

The company informed CNBC that it has submitted applications for two licenses from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the federal agency responsible for overseeing futures and derivatives markets.

The filings request a designated contract market license, which would authorize Blockchain.com to operate as a regulated futures exchange, and registration as a futures commission merchant, the status that permits a firm to act as a broker for derivatives contracts.

Approval of both would enable the platform to list event contracts—instruments that let participants take positions on the outcomes of real-world events—alongside cryptocurrency derivatives for retail and institutional customers in the United States.

Peter Smith, co-founder and CEO of Blockchain.com, framed the applications as part of a broader effort to simplify user experiences.

In a statement, he said customers should be able to manage digital assets, trade derivatives, and take positions on real-world events conveniently without needing to switch between separate applications.