2026 World Cup drives prediction markets to record volume of $5.6 billion

The 2026 World Cup is driving unprecedented growth in prediction markets. In just one month, the weekly trading volume on platforms such as Kalshi, Polymarket and Rotherea surged from $65 million to a peak of $5.6 billion. The figures show just how powerful major sporting events can be as a catalyst for prediction markets.

From $65 million to $5.6 billion in four weeks

On 1 June, the total weekly volume across all platforms stood at just $65 million. A week later, on 8 June, it had nearly doubled to around $340 million. By mid-month, on 15 June, volume reached $2.2 billion. The absolute peak came on 22 June with $5.6 billion in traded volume, before easing slightly to $5.4 billion on 29 June.

According to data from CryptoRank and artemis.xyz, Kalshi played the largest role in this growth. The platform captured the lion’s share of volume and demonstrated that regulated prediction markets are increasingly being taken seriously by the general public. Polymarket follows as the second-largest player, while Rotherea contributes a smaller but visible share.

Sporting events as a driver for prediction trading

The explosive growth during the 2026 World Cup makes clear that major sporting events hold enormous appeal for traders looking to speculate on match outcomes and winners. Where prediction markets were once mainly popular around elections and political events, the World Cup shows that sport can be at least as powerful a catalyst.

Figures from CryptoRank indicate that demand for prediction trading can spike rapidly whenever a globally captivating event takes place. With the World Cup as an example, the sector appears ripe for similar surges around future sporting events. The question, then, is whether platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket can structurally hold on to what they temporarily achieve during such tournaments.