Key Highlights
- Polymarket has teamed up with Circle to make dollar-backed trades faster and more reliable.
- The move aligns with a wider trend of using stablecoins like USDC in finance, following companies such as Visa.
- The platform continues to operate legally after the CFTC withdrew a previous regulatory inquiry and canceled a 2024 draft rule.
Polymarket, one of the world’s largest prediction markets, is moving from using Bridged USDC (USDC.e) on Polygon to native USDC for all dollar-backed trades. The change comes as part of a new partnership with Circle Internet Group, Inc. (NYSE: CRCL).
Native USDC is a digital dollar issued directly by Circle’s regulated companies and can be exchanged 1:1 for real U.S. dollars. The switch is expected to happen in the next few months, according to the press release. It is aimed at making trading faster and easilier to traders using the platform.
Previous history with bridged USDC
Polymarket has relied on bridged USDC since its launch in 2020. The token works across networks but can be slower and less efficient for large trading activity. But with native USDC, the platform can handle more trades at the same time and offer a more stable and reliable experience for users. This update also prepares Polymarket for bigger growth, letting more users join without affecting the system’s speed or security.
Jeremy Allaire, Co-Founder and CEO of Circle, commented on the development, saying, “Polymarket has been at the forefront of innovation in marrying the speed of information with the speed of markets. With this partnership, we bring the utility and speed of USDC to provide the best possible experience for Polymarket users.”
USDC’s surging interest among traditional firms
By adopting native USDC, Polymarket joins a trend of established companies using the stablecoin to set high standards for fair and regulated markets. For instance, Visa, a global payment company, launched USDC settlement for U.S banks last year. Banks such as Cross River Bank and Lead Bank are now able to settle transactions using USDC through the Solana blockchain.
For Polymarket users, the update means their trades will be executed faster and easier to follow. Shayne Coplan, Founder and CEO of Polymarket, said, “Circle has built some of the most critical infrastructure in crypto. Partnering with them is an important step in strengthening prediction markets. Using USDC gives us a consistent, dollar-backed settlement system that improves trust and reliability as more people participate.”
Regulatory update from the CFTC
The move comes as the prediction platform stays clear of a regulatory crackdown. On Wednesday, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) withdrew a previous inquiry into the platform, signaling it is operating within legal limits.
The CFTC, led by newly confirmed Chairman Mike Selig, canceled a 2024 draft rule that would have banned contracts tied to political events. This rule, which was proposed by the previous administration, treated political event contracts as illegal or “against the public interest,” which is similar to contracts connected to war or terrorism.
It would have stopped trading and clearing of these types of contracts on regulated platforms, including prediction markets. However, the draft has been removed, and platforms like Polymarket can now expand their services without the threat of sudden restrictions.
Why it matters
Polymarket’s switch to native USDC represents the market’s approach to offering traders a more reliable way to execute their trades. Users can complete more trades at the same time without delays, and their funds are fully backed by real U.S dollars.
The upgrade also helps prepare the platform for more adoption. As more users trade on the market, the system will be able to handle high volumes of trades without slowing or shutting down. Moreover, traders will be able to track their bets more clearly, and settlements will happen quickly, even during busy days.
Also Read: Jupiter Launches Built-In Prediction Feature via Polymarket
