X Teams Up with Polymarket: A Gaming-Infused Social Media Revolution
Predictive Market Partner Affirmed by X
Last Updated: June 6, 2025, 05:31h.
Elon Musk's X and Polymarket Join Forces
In an unexpected yet thrilling announcement today, Elon Musk's social media titan, X (formerly Twitter), announced its collaboration with prediction market place Polymarket. Just under three weeks ago, rumors swirled about a potential deal between X and its rival, Kalshi. However, these speculations were quashed when it was revealed that no agreement was ever in place [1][2].
The X-Polymarket partnership, officially announced on June 6, 2025, unites Polymarket's prediction market platform with X, offering users the opportunity to place bets on event outcomes, such as elections or sports, using cryptocurrency [3][4]. Grok, X's artificial intelligence, elaborated on the details of the partnership. The integration, according to Grok, may boost user engagement, offer real-time insights, and provide earning potential for accurate predictions. However, concerns about gambling-like risks, regulatory challenges, and accessibility for non-crypto users have been raised [3][4].
Though the full scope of the collaboration is yet to be clearly defined, future integration could potentially embed prediction markets into X posts. This would be subject to regulatory approval and user adoption.
Polymarket: A Desired, Less Controversial Partner for X?
Kalshi, the reigning king of prediction markets, has faced scrutiny for its venture into sports contracts, attracting numerous state-level legal challenges. These challenges question whether these derivatives constitute sports wagering and consequently, whether the companies offering these instruments are violating existing state laws due to lacking gaming licenses [5].
Similar to Kalshi and PredicIt, Polymarket garnered attention during the 2024 US presidential election and, like its counterparts, provides sports contracts. However, while Kalshi and PredicIt face stiff competition in the sports derivative market, Polymarket has managed to avoid controversy to date [5]. This might position Polymarket as a less contentious partner for X.
According to a statement issued by Polymarket, the company boasts tremendous growth since its launch in 2020, having facilitated over $8 billion in predictions in 2024 alone [6]. Despite its success, Polymarket has struggled with sports-related legal issues, like its competitors—thereby learning from Kalshi's missteps. Significantly, its press release avoids the usage of the term "sports," focusing instead on its prowess in predicting elections, events, and cultural shifts [6].
Strengthening X's Crypto Ties
With Kalshi being one among a growing number of prediction markets adopting cryptocurrency as a funding mechanism, Polymarket stands out as a veteran in this area. The company accepts USD Coin (USDC), a stable coin pegged to the US dollar, for account funding. Contracts on Polymarket are purchased using Polygon, a cryptocurrency based on the Ethereum blockchain [7].
Polygon addresses pain points common to blockchains, such as high gas fees and slow speeds, without compromising security. It resembles other multichain systems, such as Polkadot, Cosmos, Avalanche, et al., developed by its own creators [7].
The potential integration of Polymarket's prediction platform into X's social media ecosystem could deepen X's ties with cryptocurrency. As a consequence, this could foster widespread cryptocurrency adoption within the prediction market space, Capitalizing on X's vast user base and real-time data capabilities.
Notes:
- Announcement Tweet
- May 20 Tweet by Tarek Mansour
- Official X Announcement
- Grok Response
- Stateline Article
- Polymarket Press Release
- Polymarket Website
- The X-Polymarket partnership allows users to bet on event outcomes, such as elections or sports, using cryptocurrency, combining Polymarket's prediction market platform with X.
- Some concerns about gambling-like risks, regulatory challenges, and accessibility for non-crypto users have been raised regarding the X-Polymarket partnership.
- The collaboration between Elon Musk's social media titan, X, and Polymarket could potentially embed prediction markets into X posts, subject to regulatory approval and user adoption.
- Polymarket, unlike Kalshi, which faces scrutiny for sports contracts, has managed to avoid controversy to date.
- As a consequence, the potential integration of Polymarket's prediction platform into X's social media ecosystem could deepen X's ties with cryptocurrency, fostering widespread cryptocurrency adoption within the prediction market space.
- Polymarket accepts USD Coin (USDC), a stable coin pegged to the US dollar, for account funding and uses Polygon, a cryptocurrency based on the Ethereum blockchain, for contracts.
