Donald Trump Jr. has joined the advisory board of Polymarket, a cryptocurrency-based prediction market, as his venture capital firm, 1789 Capital, makes a strategic investment in the platform. The move signifies Polymarket's intentions to expand its operations in the United States. The financial terms of the investment were not disclosed.

Polymarket is a platform where users can place bets on the likelihood of future events, ranging from political elections and economic indicators to cultural events. Users deposit USDC cryptocurrency and trade shares representing the probability of specific outcomes.

Trump Jr., a partner at 1789 Capital, brings business experience and strategic perspective to Polymarket's advisory board. He stated that Polymarket "cuts through media spin and so-called 'expert' opinion by letting people bet on what they actually believe will happen in the world". Shayne Coplan, Polymarket's founder and CEO, sees the partnership with 1789 Capital as reinforcing the company's position as a trusted information source.

This move also means that Donald Trump Jr. now has a role in each of the two largest prediction markets by global volume. Trump Jr. is already a strategic advisor to Kalshi, a rival prediction market.

Polymarket is preparing to re-enter the U.S. market after regulatory restrictions in 2022 forced it to focus overseas. The company acquired QCEX, a federally regulated derivatives exchange, for $112 million, establishing a legal foundation for resuming U.S. operations. This acquisition allows Polymarket to operate nationally under regulatory compliance, as its contracts are now considered financial instruments regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). In 2022, Polymarket settled with the CFTC for $1.4 million over alleged violations, including offering illegal binary option contracts.

Polymarket's return to the U.S. market coincides with the 2025 NFL season. The platform has launched a national advertising campaign through Meta, targeting messaging to each of the 50 states. Some ads position Polymarket as an alternative to traditional sportsbooks.

Prediction markets like Polymarket gained popularity during the election season, allowing people to wager on the outcomes of specific races using cryptocurrency. In 2024, U.S. elections became the most active market on Polymarket, with over $3.3 billion wagered on the presidential race.

The involvement of Trump Jr. may signal a favorable regulatory environment for crypto-based predictions. Polymarket's valuation is estimated at up to $1 billion, and 1789 Capital may consider taking the company public. Polymarket has also partnered with X as the social media platform's official news and prediction partner.