Catenaa, Wednesday, October 01, 2025-Robinhood is evaluating an overseas launch of its prediction markets business and has engaged regulators, including the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, to assess potential rules.
In the United States, prediction market contracts are treated as futures. Other jurisdictions classify them closer to gambling, creating varying compliance requirements.
Robinhood executives said they are studying how oversight differs across regions to determine how their platform could operate internationally.
The company’s push comes as CEO Vlad Tenev reported that Robinhood has processed 4 billion event contracts since inception, with 2 billion completed in the latest quarter.
That disclosure boosted company shares Monday, underscoring investor interest in the firm’s expansion.
Earlier this year, Robinhood introduced football-focused markets in partnership with Kalshi, allowing users to trade outcomes of NFL and college games.
The effort placed Robinhood in direct competition with Kalshi and Polymarket, the two largest existing platforms. Both companies use cryptocurrency-based structures, although Polymarket has faced restrictions in the US and is seeking a domestic relaunch after meeting regulatory standards.
Industry analysts said Robinhood’s global exploration highlights growing interest in event-based trading. Competitors such as Coinbase have also expressed intentions to enter the market, adding pressure on incumbents.
Robinhood, widely recognized for disrupting retail stock trading, has steadily broadened into crypto and derivatives. Executives said its overseas prediction markets study reflects the company’s effort to expand user engagement through diverse financial products while navigating international regulations.
