Source: Decrypt
Published by source: Oct 9, 2026, 06:06 PM UTC
Blockchain.com has applied to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for licenses to offer event contracts and cryptocurrency derivatives to US customers, aiming to operate its own regulated marketplace. The company seeks both a designated contract market license and a futures commission merchant license, which would allow it to serve retail and institutional traders directly.
Blockchain.com told CNBC it has filed for two key CFTC designations: a designated contract market license to operate as a futures exchange for event contracts, and a futures commission merchant license to act as a broker for derivatives. If approved, these licenses would enable Blockchain.com to provide regulated prediction markets and crypto derivatives directly to US customers, consolidating services it currently offers abroad through partners such as Polymarket and Hyperliquid. CEO Peter Smith stated the goal is to let users manage digital assets, trade derivatives, and participate in event contracts on a single platform. The application comes amid increased interest in federally regulated event trading, with 11 companies filing for DCM licenses this year and six approvals granted in 2026, according to CNBC. The regulatory environment remains complex, with ongoing legal disputes between state and federal authorities over jurisdiction, and the CFTC recently proposing new rules to the White House to clarify its authority over prediction markets.