Donald Trump Jr.’s venture capital firm 1789 Capital is leading a $1 billion funding round in Polymarket at a valuation of $21 billion, according to a spokesperson for the firm. The investment firm is putting in about $300 million, adding to roughly $200 million it had already invested in the prediction-market platform. The new funding values Polymarket about 40% higher than its previous valuation of $15 billion, underlining the rapid growth of prediction markets.
Polymarket and rival platform Kalshi allow users to trade on the outcomes of real-world events. These can range from political developments and statements by public figures to entertainment and even personal events involving celebrities. Both platforms have attracted considerable attention over the past year as prediction markets have expanded beyond their traditional niche.
Venture capital firm 1789 Capital is leading a new funding round for Polymarket that will give the prediction-markets platform a $21 billion post-money valuation https://t.co/x3aGQTHvvH
— Bloomberg (@business) August 31, 2026
The Trump family has also become increasingly involved in the sector. Trump Jr. became an adviser to Kalshi in 2025 and received shares valued at more than $300,000. He separately serves as an adviser to Polymarket.
At the same time, President Donald Trump has taken a favourable position toward the prediction-market industry. Michael Selig, Trump’s appointee to head the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regulates prediction markets, has also spoken positively about the sector.
The administration’s approach represents a notable change for an industry that has faced regulatory challenges in the United States. State authorities have sought to regulate or restrict some prediction-market activities, while federal regulators have taken a different approach. Trump himself highlighted the industry earlier this year, saying prediction markets would thrive under his leadership.
The new Polymarket funding round shows just how quickly investor interest has grown. The company is one of the most valuable private companies in the larger cryptocurrency and digital asset ecosystem, with a valuation of $21 billion.
Prediction markets give investors an opportunity to convert their opinions about what will happen in the future into financial holdings. For regulators, however, the rapid expansion raises questions about where the line should be drawn between financial markets, gambling and event-based trading.
With billions of dollars now flowing into the sector and major investors taking larger positions, prediction markets are becoming increasingly difficult for the financial industry to ignore. Polymarket’s latest funding round is another sign that the business has moved well beyond its early crypto-market roots.
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