Polymarket Secures POLY Trademark and Accelerates Toward Token Launch
Polymarket, the world’s largest prediction market platform, officially confirms its entry into the era of native tokens. Blockratize, the parent company operating the platform, has filed trademark applications for the term « POLY » with the USPTO (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office), covering services related to cryptocurrencies, prediction markets, and financial software. This filing marks a crucial step in securing the legal protection for the future digital asset.
Context: Polymarket, Blockratize, and the Path Toward Regulatory Compliance
Polymarket is a decentralized prediction market platform where users bet on the outcome of political, economic, sporting, or cryptocurrency-related events. Operated by Blockratize, a New York-based company, the platform was forced to adjust its business model following a CFTC enforcement action in 2022 regarding unregistered derivatives offerings.
After a period of closure to U.S. residents, Polymarket received conditional approval from the CFTC to return to the United States under a regulated framework. This regulatory evolution provides the ideal backdrop for launching a token that complies with U.S. standards. The trademark filing does not yet launch the token, but it secures its usage and brand identity within a U.S. legal framework—a standard prerequisite before a major token launch.
From Speculation to Confirmation: The Path to POLY
Speculation around a Polymarket token has circulated for months, fueled by hints from founder Shayne Coplan and references to « token warrants » in funding rounds. The major turning point came in October 2025 during the Degenz Live podcast when Chief Marketing Officer Matthew Modabber confirmed: « There will be a token, there will be an airdrop. »
According to multiple crypto-focused sources, POLY’s launch is planned for 2026, once the U.S. application relaunches are fully stabilized and aligned with CFTC frameworks. This cautious approach reflects Polymarket’s commitment to building a sustainable project rather than rushing toward opportunistic deployment.
Expected POLY Features: Much More Than a Speculative Token
The team has repeatedly emphasized the concept of a token with « true utility » and a long-term focus. While complete tokenomics details remain unpublished, several probable use cases are emerging:
- Protocol Governance: POLY holders will be able to vote on which markets to list, platform fees, and the product’s future evolution.
- Market Creation Control: Required staking or enhanced rights to create certain types of markets.
- Liquidity Incentives: Rewards for liquidity providers and traders generating trading volume.
- Alternative Settlement Layer: The ability to use POLY as collateral or incentive layer to increase market depth beyond the current USDC-only approach.
A native token in a prediction market enables alignment of interests between traders, market makers, and the development team through staking programs and revenue-sharing mechanisms—a model proven by other DeFi protocols.
The POLY Airdrop: Criteria, Timeline, and Opportunities
Matthew Modabber confirmed that the launch would be accompanied by a « retroactive » airdrop for long-time platform users, without artificial « farming » phases or speculation-driven mechanics.
Exact criteria haven’t been published yet, but analyses converge on the importance of:
- Trading activity and total volume processed
- Long-term engagement (account seniority)
- Legitimate trading behavior (avoiding wash trading)
Estimates suggest that 5 to 10% of total POLY supply could be dedicated to this airdrop, making it one of the largest token distributions in the prediction market segment. The token launch and airdrop are expected in 2026, following the full U.S. relaunch.
For interested users: Continuing to use Polymarket organically and monitoring official announcements (website, X/Twitter, blog) for snapshot dates and eligibility details remain the best anticipation strategies.
The Strategic and Regulatory Dimension
Polymarket has navigated a turbulent regulatory period since 2022, facing a $1.4 million fine for operating unregistered derivatives contracts. Since then, the project has worked toward a regulated return, culminating in an amended CFTC decision in 2025 that permits the platform to operate certain contracts through regulated intermediaries.
The POLY trademark filing and construction of a compliant utility token represent a major strategic repositioning: Polymarket positions itself at the intersection of regulated derivatives and decentralized finance. The entry of institutional players like Intercontinental Exchange (ICE, parent of NYSE), through a strategic investment in 2025, reinforces this institutional trajectory.
For the prediction market ecosystem, POLY could become a standard: few comparable platforms have a native token well-integrated with governance, incentives, and a clear regulatory framework.
Conclusion: Polymarket Redefines Prediction Markets
POLY’s launch signifies much more than simple tokenization. It represents validation of a long-term strategy combining DeFi innovation with regulatory compliance. With a retroactive airdrop, genuine utility, and institutional partnerships, Polymarket is positioning itself to become the go-to infrastructure for tokenized prediction markets.
