Fanatics, the leading global sports merchandise and digital sports company, has announced the launch of Fanatics Markets, a new fan-led prediction market platform created through a strategic partnership with Crypto.com. The platform aims to give users a simple and safe way to trade event-based contracts across sports, finance, and culture.
Fanatics said the app is live this week in 24 U.S. states, including California, Texas, Florida, and Washington. The launch marks the company’s entry into a fast-growing sector that combines the enthusiasm of fandom with the dynamics of financial markets.
“Crypto.com was the first to launch sports prediction markets, and our reach continues to grow through innovative partnerships with top-tier platforms such as Fanatics,” said Travis McGhee, Global Head of Predictions at Crypto.com. “We could not be more proud to be the partner of choice for Fanatics, and together we will provide fans with a safe and compliant way to access prediction markets.”
Platform design and regulatory foundation
The new platform integrates Crypto.com’s Derivatives North America (CDNA), a CFTC-registered exchange and clearinghouse. CDNA ensures that Fanatics Markets’ event contracts meet regulatory standards for trading prediction products in the United States.
Fanatics Markets provides a user-friendly interface designed and managed entirely by Fanatics. The platform allows users to trade contracts on real-world scenarios such as whether a team will score beyond a set threshold or how key economic data will unfold. The collaboration leverages Crypto.com’s institutional-grade infrastructure to maintain transparency and security, while Fanatics ensures an engaging experience.
The initial rollout covers ten states — Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Utah. Additional states, including Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Washington, will go live by the end of the week.
Two-phase rollout and future expansion
Fanatics said the launch will take place in two phases. Phase One introduces event contracts that cover sports, finance, economics, and politics. Users can already access these markets through the Fanatics Markets mobile application for iOS and Android.
Phase Two, expected early next year, will expand the platform to include contracts related to cryptocurrency, stocks and IPOs, climate issues, technology and AI, movies, music, and pop culture. The development will broaden Fanatics Markets beyond sports-focused wagers, positioning the company at the center of a growing intersection between entertainment and financial prediction.
“For years, Fanatics has given fans new ways to enhance their fandom through team merchandise, collectibles, tickets, gaming, events and more,” said Matt King, CEO of Fanatics Betting and Gaming. “Now, with Fanatics Markets, we’re giving fans a safe, intuitive and rewarding way to engage with the moments that move sports and culture, and to pick a side and profit along the way if their prediction is correct.”
Fanatics expands its sports ecosystem
Fanatics generated $8.1 billion in revenue in 2024, representing a 15% year-over-year increase. The company holds apparel licenses with major sports leagues and operates divisions in collectibles, betting, and gaming.
The addition of Fanatics Markets complements its existing operations by allowing users to interact across merchandise, collectibles, and event contract trading through integrated digital wallets. Fanatics said users can set up deposit limits, session limits, and timeouts, or opt for self-exclusion to encourage responsible participation.
“These responsible trading tools are core to how we approach gaming and prediction markets,” King told Reuters. “We have been in conversations with all our regulators about the best path forward.”
A new wave in prediction markets
Fanatics’ entry arrives amid rapid growth across the prediction markets sector. Platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket have seen a rise in participation, with combined trading volume nearing $10 billion in November. Broader regulatory attention has turned to these markets, viewed by some analysts as a credible gauge of market sentiment and by critics as a form of speculative wagering.
Despite those differing views, Fanatics and Crypto.com appear aligned in presenting the new platform as a structured, compliant environment. Fanatics Markets will run through a regulated broker, Paragon Global Markets, LLC, which is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as an Introducing Broker and a member of the National Futures Association.
Outlook
With its launch across two dozen states, Fanatics Markets represents one of the largest rollouts of a regulated event contract platform in the United States. It builds on a foundation of fan engagement, industry compliance, and digital innovation backed by two established brands.
The partnership combines Fanatics’ broad consumer reach with Crypto.com’s regulated trading infrastructure, providing a new model that merges fandom with financial foresight. The collaboration seeks to position prediction markets not as fringe products but as accessible tools that reflect the events shaping sports, culture, and the economy.
Oleksii Shumak
Disclaimer: All materials on this site are for informational purposes only. None of the material should be interpreted as investment advice. Please note that despite the nature of much of the material created and hosted on this website, HODL FM is not a financial reference resource, and the opinions of authors and other contributors are their own and should not be taken as financial advice. If you require advice. HODL FM strongly recommends contacting a qualified industry professional.
