CME Group will maintain its majority 51% ownership in FanDuel Predicts, the event contracts platform operated under Flutter Entertainment’s FanDuel brand. Crypto.com is stepping in to handle sports event contracts under a restructuring that splits the platform’s offerings between two partners.
CME Group will keep its 51% stake in FanDuel Predicts but is handing the sports side of the business to Crypto.com. The crypto exchange platform will operate sports event contracts under a new arrangement, while CME retains financial event contracts.
What Changed in the FanDuel Predicts Structure
The restructuring divides FanDuel’s event contract business into two lanes. CME Group, the Chicago-based derivatives exchange operator, will continue to power contracts tied to economic data, interest rates and similar non-sports outcomes. Crypto.com will take over sports event contracts.
FanDuel Predicts users will interact with different underlying partners depending on the contract type they trade. Financial derivatives stay under CME’s regulated exchange infrastructure. Sports-related contracts move to Crypto.com’s framework.
Why the Split Matters
Event contracts allow participants to take positions on the outcome of real-world events. These products have gained traction in the US following regulatory developments that opened the door for exchange-traded contracts on platforms like Kalshi and FanDuel Predicts.
The decision to divide responsibilities reflects distinct regulatory and operational considerations. Sports event contracts sit in a different regulatory space than financial derivatives, and each partner brings different strengths.
CME operates some of the world’s largest futures and options exchanges and has decades of experience in clearing and settlement infrastructure. Retaining the financial derivatives side aligns with that core business.
Crypto.com has been expanding beyond its cryptocurrency exchange roots into sports and entertainment. The company holds naming rights to the arena in Los Angeles formerly known as Staples Center and has pursued sports-adjacent business lines. Taking on sports event contracts fits that direction.
CME’s Ownership Position Holds
Despite losing the sports business, CME Group’s 51% stake does not change. The company retains majority control of the overall entity and still holds significant influence over how the platform operates.
That creates an unusual dynamic. CME holds the majority stake but will not serve as the exchange partner for what could become the more consumer-facing portion of the platform. Sports contracts tied to NFL games, NBA matchups and other popular events tend to draw broader retail interest than financial derivatives.
What This Means for Users
The practical impact depends on which contracts a user trades. Those focused on financial outcomes should see continuity under CME’s infrastructure. Participants trading sports event contracts will transition to Crypto.com’s systems.
Platform restructurings like this can come with transition periods. Details on timelines and any changes to fees or contract availability have not been fully disclosed.
The Broader Prediction Market Picture
The restructuring arrives during a period of rapid growth for prediction markets. Platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket have attracted significant trading volume, and major financial institutions are paying closer attention.
Regulatory clarity has been a key driver. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has approved certain event contracts for exchange trading, and states have begun developing frameworks for sports-related prediction products.
The involvement of CME Group and a consumer-facing brand like Crypto.com signals that event contract markets are moving further into the mainstream. Specialized partners are handling distinct segments of the business rather than one entity trying to cover everything.
