Donald Trump Jr. Backs Polymarket in Bet on Prediction Markets: Reports

The deal values Polymarket at over $1 billion and places Trump Jr. on its advisory board, according to recent media reports. The investment comes as Polymarket cements its path toward US expansion. The company recently spent $112 million to acquire QCEX, a derivatives exchange with a US government license. 

$6 billion spent on event prediction

Polymarket has hosted more than $6 billion in trades this year, with markets ranging from Federal Reserve policy decisions to the final score of sporting events. 

Supporters argue these markets may provide sharper signals than traditional polls, as the odds on Polymarket and similar platforms are sometimes cited in analysis of current events. Critics warn they blur the line between finance and gambling.

Polymarket “cuts through media spin and so-called ‘expert’ opinion by letting people bet on what they actually believe will happen,” said Donald Trump Jr. in a statement reported by Reuters.

Trump family footprint

For the Trump family, the Polymarket deal aligns closely with their longstanding ties to the gambling and gaming industry, while also extending their footprint into emerging financial platforms. Eric and Donald Trump Jr. have recently expanded their advisory roles and investments across sectors ranging from digital assets, hospitality, telecom, and now prediction markets.

President Trump has also pursued an agenda aimed at boosting innovation, expansion, and profits for the US digital asset industry.

1789 Capital, founded in 2022, previously backed defense startup Anduril and SpaceX. Its Polymarket bet positions the firm in the center of the fast-emerging “event derivatives” market. 

For Donald Trump Jr., and the Trump family business, it’s both a financial and political investment that may hinge on a belief that prediction markets will continue to enjoy popularity among mainstream users, and as a serious tool for current event analysis.