Haciyev Reşit 
The United States’ largest derivatives exchange, CME Group, is reportedly planning to introduce financial contracts tied to sports events and economic indicators by the end of the year a move that could put it in direct competition with prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket.
Based in Chicago, CME Group Inc. is preparing to make waves in the financial industry with this initiative. According to sources familiar with the matter, the company aims to roll out new event-based financial products linked to sports outcomes and key economic data. This step would mark CME’s official entry into the rapidly growing prediction markets sector, which has been moving steadily toward mainstream adoption.
Partnership with FanDuel Brings Innovation
The new CME products are expected to be made available to the public through FanDuel, a platform under Flutter Entertainment, as well as via futures commission merchants. The company is also reportedly exploring ways to list these contracts on other retail trading platforms.
Although the plans have not yet been officially announced, insiders suggest that CME aims to make sports-based contracts accessible to retail investors, bridging the gap between traditional finance and the emerging prediction economy.
CME Group CEO Terry Duffy stated:
“If they want me to list them, I’ll list them. I’m operationally ready to do it from day one.”
Duffy added that while FanDuel has expressed strong interest in these sports-based contracts, the company is still waiting for regulatory clarity before moving forward.
Competition Heats Up: Kalshi and Polymarket in the Spotlight
CME’s move places it in direct competition with two leading prediction market platforms: Kalshi and Polymarket. Kalshi gained attention after winning a legal battle with the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) over betting contracts on the 2024 U.S. presidential election, paving the way for prediction markets to gain official recognition as financial products in the United States.
Meanwhile, Polymarket made a major comeback this year despite past regulatory penalties in the U.S. Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) acquired a 25% stake in Polymarket for $2 billion, marking a massive entry into the sector. This investment underscores that prediction markets are now being taken seriously at Wall Street level.
Market Impact: Competition Reflected in Stock Prices
Following Bloomberg’s report, DraftKings Inc. shares fell as much as 3.8% in after-hours trading, though losses later stabilized around 1.3%. Investors believe that CME’s potential sports contracts could strengthen FanDuel while challenging DraftKings, highlighting the competitive dynamics.
CME Group’s new strategy is seen as the beginning of a new era at the intersection of traditional finance and the digital prediction economy. By offering both sports-based financial products and contracts tied to economic indicators, CME is preparing to reshape market expectations, potentially expanding the reach of prediction-based investing for both institutional and retail investors.
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