Meta Enters the Forecasting Space with 'Arena'
Mark Zuckerberg is officially steering the world's largest social network into the forecasting sector. According to a New York Times report highlighted by CoinDesk, Meta is developing a standalone prediction market app codenamed "Arena." Unlike crypto-native platforms that rely on stablecoins or fiat, the Meta app will reportedly utilize a points-based system for users to forecast future events.
The initiative, driven by a small internal team, puts Meta on a "direct collision course" with established prediction platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi, as noted by The Defiant. This move follows the company's previous strategic bets on the metaverse and stablecoins.
Kalshi Adds India to Restricted Jurisdictions
As Meta prepares to enter the space, existing regulated platforms are tightening their compliance frameworks. Kalshi has officially added India to its growing list of restricted regions. Cointelegraph reports that this brings Kalshi's total number of restricted jurisdictions to 55. The restriction follows recent warnings from Indian authorities directed at VPN providers facilitating access to offshore trading platforms.
Chainlink Expands On-Chain Pricing for Asian Markets
In infrastructure developments, Chainlink launched APAC Equities Streams on Monday. The new oracle service brings live pricing for large-cap Asian companies—including Samsung, Toyota, and Sony—on-chain. This data is specifically designed to power equity perpetuals, structured products, and prediction markets operating in Asian time zones. For traders looking to leverage these new data streams and track emerging contracts, predictionmarketstools.com provides comprehensive resources and market analytics.
CFTC Weighs Perpetual Contracts for Traditional Commodities
Meanwhile, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is evaluating the expansion of perpetual contracts beyond crypto. While the agency recently issued a request for comment on 24/7 energy futures and perpetual crude oil contracts, officials remain cautious about broader applications. CFTC official Michael Selig told US cotton producers that the regulatory approach to crypto perpetual futures may not be a "natural fit for traditional commodity markets, like agriculture."