Crypto prediction platform Polymarket surged to the top of Apple’s free sports-app rankings on Monday, a day after founder Shayne Coplan appeared on 60 Minutes, before sliding back to third place behind FanDuel and DraftKings.
Polymarket’s rise came despite its U.S. offering still being in beta, invite-only and limited to sports markets, with a waitlist numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Coplan celebrated the spike in downloads on X, writing, “That was quicker than expected.” The momentum follows a $2 billion investment from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) that valued the company at $8 billion ahead of its expected U.S. relaunch.
The visibility boost coincided with an unusual wave of social media posts promoting Coplan’s interview before it aired. Many came from prominent conservative influencers, including Breaking911, ALX, George Santos, Benny Johnson and Dinesh D’Souza, prompting speculation among users about a coordinated promotional effort. The presence of Donald Trump Jr. on Polymarket’s advisory board added to the scrutiny.
A widely shared post by activist Laura Loomer briefly carried a Community Note on X stating, “There is an influencer campaign happening right now with Polymarket that people are not disclosing…”, though the label was later withdrawn under the platform’s voting system. Some liberal-leaning accounts also circulated the interview clip, making it difficult to determine whether the activity was orchestrated or spontaneous.
Questions around transparency emerged as some users accused influencers of failing to disclose potential paid promotion. A removed Community Note linked to the Federal Trade Commission’s guidelines, which require influencers to reveal any “material connection” to a brand. A review of posts that referenced Polymarket showed no sponsorship labels, and there is no evidence any influencers were compensated, leaving such claims unverified.
Polymarket has been testing a limited U.S. version of its app since Nov. 12 and has pushed several App Store updates in recent days. The company largely operated offshore after a 2022 settlement with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) but reentered the U.S. market after acquiring QCX, a licensed exchange and clearinghouse. Coplan recently named Trump Jr. as a strategic adviser.
On 60 Minutes, Coplan praised Washington’s stance toward the sector, saying, “This [administration] is very pro-innovation, and pro-crypto, and pro-Polymarket, which is amazing,” adding, “I need help navigating that, right? I’m a young entrepreneur.”
Polymarket’s return comes amid intensifying regulatory debate over whether sports-outcome prediction markets constitute gambling. Several states have urged the CFTC to rein in such products, arguing they resemble sports betting and fall under state authority, while prediction platforms contend they are financial instruments regulated at the federal level. Coplan reiterated that Polymarket users “own a share” rather than wager against a house and has previously criticized regulated sportsbooks for “scam-like” pricing.
The market is increasingly competitive, led by rival Kalshi, which has handled $11 billion in sports-market volume since September, 95% of its activity. FanDuel and DraftKings are also preparing to launch prediction markets, setting up a crowded field as Polymarket attempts its U.S. return.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/12/04/116619-polymarket-briefly-tops-us-sportsapp-chart-after-60-minutes-profile
