DraftKings and Crypto.com just announced a partnership that expands DraftKings Predictions with new, CFTC-regulated event contracts, including the first player-specific sports prediction markets on the platform.
At first glance, this might sound like just another integration or product expansion. But what's really interesting is where they’re showing up, who they’re being built for, and what this says about the direction of regulated markets in the U.S.
Let’s break it down without the hype.
What Was Announced?
DraftKings has agreed to connect its DraftKings Predictions platform to Crypto.com | Derivatives North America (CDNA), a CFTC-regulated exchange and clearinghouse.
This does a few important things:
- Adds player-specific NFL and NBA event contracts (a first for DraftKings Predictions)
- Expands sports coverage to include soccer, MMA, golf, boxing, tennis, and the Olympics
- Lays the groundwork for future prediction categories like politics, culture, and entertainment
In short, DraftKings is widening both what users can predict on and how those markets are sourced.
Why Player-Specific Event Contracts Matter
Most sports prediction markets focus on outcomes like wins, spreads, or totals.
Player-specific contracts are different. They let users express views on individual performances through market pricing rather than fixed odds.
That matters because it feels more like trading than betting, creates more liquid markets, and appeals to fans who already think analytically about player performance
In other words, this is a subtle but meaningful shift toward treating sports outcomes as tradable probabilities.
Why Crypto.com Is Involved
Crypto.com isn’t just lending its brand here. CDNA is the regulated market infrastructure behind the scenes.
That’s important because DraftKings Predictions operates under CFTC oversight, not state-by-state gaming laws. This means the contracts are federally regulated and available in states like California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas
Crypto.com has been quietly positioning itself as a prediction markets backend, whether through its own OG platform or partnerships like this one.
Why This Is Bigger Than a Sports Integration
The announcement also hints at what’s coming next.
Crypto.com is expected to support DraftKings Predictions as it expands into things like politics, culture, entertainment, and broader real-world events.
DraftKings, meanwhile, plans to integrate Railbird Exchange, suggesting a future where multiple regulated exchanges power a single consumer-facing app.
That’s a familiar pattern from TradFi: users don’t care who runs the exchange, as long as liquidity is deep and the interface is good!
To read more, check out the official press release.
Ready to start your crypto journey? Visit Crypto.com to learn more.
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Prediction markets