Bitnomial Secures CFTC No-Action Letter to Launch Crypto Prediction Markets in the U.S.

Bitnomial has received regulatory clearance to move forward with a prediction markets service for U.S. customers after the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued a no-action letter on Thursday. This development allows the Chicago-based crypto derivatives exchange to legally offer a new class of prediction market contracts without fear of enforcement action from the U.S. derivatives regulator.

According to the CFTC’s posted letter, Bitnomial’s proposed swap contracts will reference digital assets, economic indicators, and broader financial outcomes. The approval is significant because it signals growing regulatory tolerance for prediction markets tied to cryptocurrencies and macroeconomic data, an area that has historically faced scrutiny in the United States. While the no-action letter is non-binding and issued at the staff level, it effectively provides Bitnomial with the green light to proceed.

The decision places Bitnomial alongside other major players that have recently received similar regulatory comfort. DraftKings and Gemini have also obtained CFTC approvals for prediction market-related offerings, while platforms such as Polymarket, PredictIt, and LedgerX received no-action letters last month covering their own prediction market operations. Together, these moves suggest a broader shift in how U.S. regulators are approaching event-based and outcome-driven financial products.

Bitnomial confirmed that all transactions on its registered exchange will be cleared through Bitnomial Clearinghouse, LLC, reinforcing its compliance-focused approach. In a previous company statement, Bitnomial explained that participants will be able to gain exposure to a wide range of outcomes, including crypto price movements and macroeconomic indicators, while using the platform’s integrated product suite to better manage and hedge risk.

The approval follows a notably active period for Bitnomial and the CFTC. In December, under the guidance of then-Acting Chairman Caroline Pham, Bitnomial became the first agency-regulated firm to offer leveraged spot crypto transactions. Although Pham has since handed leadership to newly confirmed CFTC Chairman Mike Selig, the latest approval was issued during Selig’s tenure, underscoring continuity in the agency’s evolving crypto oversight.

Overall, the CFTC’s no-action letter marks another important milestone for Bitnomial and highlights the gradual normalization of crypto prediction markets within the U.S. regulatory framework.