Election day frenzy drives Polymarket open interest to record levels News ▸ US ▸ Technology
Election day frenzy drives Polymarket open interest to record levels
Polymarket records $174 million in daily trading volume on Election Day, breaking previous high and setting stage for future growth.
2 min read
Updated: Nov. 5, 2024 at 8:32 pm UTC
Cover art/illustration via CryptoSlate. Image includes combined content which may include AI-generated content.
Polymarket soared to unprecedented highs on Election Day, with open interest reaching $463 million as users flocked to bet on the high-stakes race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
This surge marked a 40% increase in open interest from the previous week, underscoring Polymarket’s growing status as a pulse of political sentiment, based on Dune Analytics data.
Long-term viability
The surge in Election Day activity highlights Polymarket’s growing role in the political dialogue, but insights from industry analysts and crypto leaders suggest its influence will persist well beyond the electoral sphere.
According to Animoca Brands Research, Polymarket’s trading volume has skyrocketed from $40 million in April to $2.5 billion by October, signaling sustained interest that extends beyond election-centric topics.
In fact, about 75% of Polymarket’s users are engaged in non-political markets, betting on a variety of subjects, from sports to global events, reinforcing the platform’s broad appeal.
Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan commented on Polymarket’s growth in a pivotal election year, noting that while political outcomes may impact regulatory sentiment in the short term, the platform’s long-term trajectory appears resilient.
Hougan said:
“Washington can’t stop crypto. It can alter the trajectory… but it can’t stop it.”
He added that applications like Polymarket reflect the potential for blockchain-based platforms to break into the mainstream, even as crypto faces a complex regulatory environment.
Record breaking metrics
In addition to record open interest, Polymarket registered $174 million in daily trading volume on Election Day, surpassing its previous record of $161 million set just the day prior.
Analysts expect this momentum to continue, particularly as the platform is rumored to be exploring its own token launch and potential airdrops, further incentivizing user participation.
Despite its ties to crypto and blockchain technology, Polymarket’s appeal has extended beyond crypto-focused users. With 35 million website visits recorded in October, the platform is gaining traction among mainstream audiences, bolstering its standing in the decentralized betting sector.
As Polymarket’s presence grows, analysts emphasize the platform’s ability to navigate regulatory challenges and diversify its offerings, which are crucial to sustaining its success.\
For now, however, Election Day 2024 stands as a defining moment for Polymarket, marking its evolution from a niche prediction market to a high-profile player in the global betting landscape.
Mentioned in this article
Author 
Assad Jafri
AJ, a passionate journalist since Yemen's 2011 Arab Spring, has honed his skills worldwide for over a decade. Specializing in financial journalism, he now focuses on crypto reporting.
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In this article
Polymarket
Polymarket is a decentralized prediction market platform that enables users to bet on world events using cryptocurrency.
Bitwise
Bitwise Asset Management pioneered the first cryptocurrency index fund and is the leading provider of rules-based exposure to the cryptoasset space..
Dune Analytics
Dune Analytics is a data platform commonly used by crypto-asset investors and analysts to investigate individual projects, specific industries (such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs), decentralized finance (DeFi), and blockchain ecosystems.
Animoca Brands
Animoca Brands, a Deloitte Tech Fast winner and ranked in the Financial Times list of High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific 2021, is a leader in digital entertainment, blockchain, and gamification.
A businessman, politician, and media personality, Donald John Trump served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Kamala Devi Harris (born October 20, 1964) is an American politician and attorney serving as the 49th Vice President of the United States.
Matthew Hougan is one of the world’s leading experts in cryptocurrency, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and financial technology.
