Fanatics launches Fanatics Markets prediction platform with Crypto.com in 24 US states
Fanatics has launched Fanatics Markets, a real‑money prediction‑markets app built in partnership with Crypto.com Derivatives North America and rolling out across 24 U.S. states (including CA, TX, FL, WA) on iOS and Android. The product follows Fanatics’ July acquisition of Paragon Global Markets, a CFTC-registered introducing broker, giving the platform regulatory clearance and NFA membership. Initial contracts cover sports and macro/political events and use markets and pricing supplied by Crypto.com; the company says it includes responsible‑trading tools and institutional‑grade protections. Phase Two, planned for early 2026, will expand contract types to crypto prices, IPOs, stocks, climate, tech, entertainment and pop culture. Fanatics positions the app to leverage its large sports and fan ecosystem to mainstream prediction markets and monetize fan engagement, setting it up to compete with incumbents such as Polymarket and Kalshi. For crypto traders, the key developments are the planned addition of crypto price contracts (new), institutional market infrastructure via a CFTC-registered partner, and broader retail access — all of which may increase on‑chain and off‑chain liquidity and interest around event-driven crypto derivatives once those markets launch.
Neutral
The news is neutral for crypto price action because, while Fanatics’ planned addition of crypto price contracts and its partnership with a CFTC-registered exchange partner could expand retail access and interest in event-driven crypto derivatives (potentially increasing demand), no crypto token or specific on‑chain project is directly integrated or launched yet. In the short term, the announcement may slightly raise market attention and speculative interest in crypto derivatives, benefiting platforms that list such contracts, but it is unlikely to produce immediate, sustained price moves for major cryptocurrencies. In the medium to long term, if Fanatics Markets launches high‑liquidity, retail-friendly crypto contracts and drives new retail flow into those instruments, that could increase trading volumes and volatility around referenced assets. However, the effect depends on product design, liquidity, margining, and whether contracts settle in crypto or fiat — factors not yet specified. Therefore the net expected impact on cryptocurrency prices is neutral until concrete crypto contract listings and settlement details are published.