Polymarket has welcomed a member of the Trump family as an advisor following a strategic investment from a firm connected to them.
Summary
- Donald Trump Jr. has been appointed to Polymarket’s advisory board after a strategic investment from 1789 Capital, where he serves as a partner.
- The platform exited the U.S. market in 2022 following charges from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) related to unregistered event contracts.
- Trump Jr. has indicated he will collaborate with Polymarket to restore access within the United States.
The prediction markets platform Polymarket has officially appointed Donald Trump Jr. to its advisory board. An August 27 press release states that this decision coincides with an investment from 1789 Capital, where Trump Jr. is a partner.
While many details of the investment are confidential, 1789 is characterized as a firm focused on “funding the next era of American exceptionalism.”
Polymarket Founder and CEO Shayne Coplan described the investment as a pivotal moment. “We take pride in welcoming 1789 Capital as a strategic partner and Donald Trump Jr. to our advisory board as we progress in developing our platform,” he stated.
This partnership is especially significant, following recent indications of renewed efforts to re-establish the company’s presence in the U.S. Last month, Polymarket disclosed the acquisition of QCEX, a regulated derivatives exchange with licenses to operate in the United States.
Trump Jr.’s involvement is anticipated to support this endeavor. He confirmed his commitment to collaborating with the company to restore U.S. access.
“Polymarket is the largest prediction market globally, and it’s essential for the U.S. to gain access to this vital platform,” Trump Jr. remarked. “I’m eager to work with the team to further its mission of promoting truth and transparency for everyone, including the U.S.”
Why did Polymarket exit the U.S?
Launched in 2020, Polymarket rapidly became one of the largest prediction markets worldwide. However, in 2022, the company faced regulatory challenges in the United States due to charges from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regarding unregistered event contracts.
This resulted in a $1.4 million penalty and restrictions preventing American users from accessing the platform, forcing operations primarily outside the U.S.
Subsequently, the U.S. Department of Justice initiated an investigation into Polymarket for potential misconduct related to predictions for the 2024 presidential election. This investigation involved a raid on CEO Shayne Coplan’s residence by the FBI, assessing whether the platform had knowingly facilitated illegal trading in violation of the U.S. ban.
However, by July 2025, both the CFTC and DOJ concluded their investigations into the platform. Authorities found no evidence of wrongdoing, thus dropping the investigation and clearing the way for a possible return.
Currently, Polymarket has not officially declared a timeline for re-entering the U.S. market.
