JB Mackenzie

Prediction Markets: New Players, New Rules | Future of Finance 2026

Lydia Beyoud, Keli Callaghan, JB Mackenzie, Sean Patrick Maloney, Patrick McHenry

Panelists and regulators discussed the 300x growth of prediction markets as a mainstream tool replacing traditional polls, emphasizing the need for a unified federal framework under the CFTC to prevent a fragmented regulatory landscape. While addressing consumer protection and recent geopolitical contract controversies, the industry advocated for treating event contracts as financial products rather than gambling and supported legislation like Congressman Richie Torres' bill to ban insider trading by government officials. Future developments are projected to shift from binary betting toward AI-driven non-binary liquidity pools and global expansion, driven by technological convergence and a focus on hedging for small businesses rather than sports wagering.