Polymarket plans to enter Japan’s prediction market sector and aims to secure government approval by 2030.
Polymarket is preparing a major expansion into Japan as the company looks for new global growth opportunities. According to Bloomberg, the prediction market platform already has a representative in Japan. The company also plans to work with regulators and officials to gain approval for prediction markets by 2030.
Polymarket Targets Untapped Japan Market
Polymarket currently blocks users in Japan from placing bets on its platform. The company stated that these limitations are due to local regulatory requirements. Polymarket, however, thinks that Japan may be one of its biggest future markets.
Polymarket has appointed a representative in Japan and is preparing to lobby for the authorization of prediction markets in the country, according to sources https://t.co/iJLsZWlCU0
— Bloomberg (@business) May 22, 2026
People close to the situation say that Polymarket hopes to get official approval from Japanese authorities in the next few years. The company sees Japan as a major business opportunity, as prediction markets are not widely available there.
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Prediction markets are markets where users can buy and sell contracts for future events. These can be elections, sporting events, company launches, financial news, or technology advancements. If the user’s guesses are right, they will receive rewards.
Mike Eidlin is leading Polymarket’s Japan expansion efforts. He was previously responsible for the operations of crypto firm Jupiter in Japan. His local business and crypto regulation experience may be beneficial to Polymarket when they meet with Japanese authorities, reports said.
But it may not be a cakewalk for the company to enter Japan. Prediction market platforms may face significant legal hurdles in Japan due to the country’s gambling and derivatives laws. This has led to Polymarket being reported to be taking a long-term approach rather than looking for quick approval.
The company will seek official financial infrastructure authorization. Bloomberg reports that the approval process may take several years to complete before the company is fully operational in Japan.
Meanwhile, Polymarket continues expanding in other areas of its business. The company has recently expanded its partnerships and introduced new products in the prediction market industry due to the competition.
Polymarket Expands Beyond Traditional Prediction Markets
Polymarket has also announced its partnership with Nasdaq Private Market earlier this week, which will enable the creation of prediction markets for private companies. The new markets enable users to trade contracts based on company valuations, IPO timing, and secondary market activity.
This collaboration was one of the first large-scale prediction market products targeting private businesses. Polymarket said the move gives crypto users a new way to follow important company events through tradable contracts.
In addition, the company signed a partnership earlier this year with Dow Jones, owned by News Corp. Through the agreement, real-time prediction market data now appears across major financial media outlets.
These outlets include The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and MarketWatch. The transaction enabled Polymarket to gain more traction from the traditional financial media and investors.
Polymarket’s move into Japan is happening as the company is under growing pressure in various regions. Consequently, the company seems to be playing it safe when it comes to exploring new markets and cultivating relationships with regulators.
Polymarket’s success in Japan could make the nation one of the most significant markets in Asia for the company in the coming decade.
