Prediction market Polymarket has added Donald Trump Jr. to its advisory board following a strategic investment from 1789 Capital, a fund that brands itself as politically aligned with “American exceptionalism.” Axios estimated the deal to be worth “double-digit millions of dollars,” though no official terms were disclosed.
Trump Jr., who became a partner in 1789 Capital in 2024, said in a statement that the platform allows people to “cut through media spin and so-called ‘expert’ opinion” by letting them back what they truly believe will happen.
Aiming for a regulated US return
The move comes as Polymarket intensifies efforts to re-enter the US market under regulatory approval. The company previously faced a $1.4 million fine in 2022 from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for operating an unregistered swaps platform and was forced to block US users.
In July 2025, Polymarket acquired CFTC-licensed derivatives exchange QCEX for $112 million, paving the way for a legal return. That purchase coincided with the closure of CFTC and Department of Justice investigations into its operations.
Rapid growth and mounting scrutiny
Founded in 2020, Polymarket lets users wager cryptocurrency on everything from presidential elections to celebrity gossip. The platform quickly became one of the world’s largest prediction markets, handling millions in daily volume but also attracting scrutiny from regulators.
During the 2024 presidential race, Polymarket processed more than $3.6 billion in bets, with $2.7 billion tied to the Trump–Harris matchup. That surge drew criticism from lawmakers, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jeff Merkley, who urged the CFTC to ban election betting entirely.
Competition and broader concerns
Polymarket’s main US rival, Kalshi, has faced its own regulatory battles, particularly over political event contracts. Questions of conflicts of interest arose in 2024 when Representative Dina Titus pushed for a probe into Brian Quintenz, a former CFTC commissioner serving on Kalshi’s board.
Criticism has also spread beyond politics. The NFL recently warned that unregulated prediction markets pose integrity risks, lacking the compliance and monitoring requirements of licensed sportsbooks.
What’s next for Polymarket?
Despite skepticism, Polymarket’s momentum appears strong. In July 2025, the company was reported to be finalizing a $200 million funding round valuing it at $1 billion. By August, it had launched a US rulebook and began running digital ads promoting its domestic return.
With Trump Jr. on its board and significant new funding, Polymarket is positioning itself not just as a crypto prediction platform but as a political and financial player entering the US spotlight once again.
