Messari: What does the prediction market still lack before a true explosion?
Betting volume is surging, with new methods such as perpetual contracts and Telegram bots entering the market.Original author: Dylan Bane, Messari analyst
Original compilation: Deep Tide TechFlow
The application of prediction markets has transcended the electoral domain, demonstrating product-market fit (PMF).
Betting volumes are surging, with investors flocking in, and new methods such as information perpetual contracts and Telegram bots are entering the market.
So, which methods can truly work and maximize the growth of trading volume?
The 2024 elections caused Polymarket's trading volume to soar from $62 million in May to $2.1 billion in October, an increase of 3268%.
Mainstream media outlets like CNN and Bloomberg have cited Polymarket's odds during live broadcasts, presenting them alongside traditional polling data.
In fact, prediction markets ultimately outperformed polls in forecasting election outcomes.
After the elections, while trading volume in prediction markets declined, it remained stable at over $1 billion per month.
Combined with the recent surge in trading volume on Kalshi, investors believe that prediction markets have validated demand and are poised for further growth.
About 90% of the funds are concentrated on the Polymarket and Kalshi platforms, with valuations nearing ten digits (i.e., billions of dollars).
These industry leaders have established liquidity and are now focused on expanding trading volume and enhancing market resilience, as large exchanges like Hyperliquid and Coinbase are paying attention to this space.
However, there are over 100 prediction market projects, and the number continues to grow, presenting a wealth of opportunities.
The question is, how should investors seek the best opportunities in this increasingly complex and noisy field?
We believe that the best way to address liquidity issues and increase trading volume is to attract retail speculators.
Prediction markets can appeal to this segment by focusing on accessibility, fun, user experience, and high potential financial returns.
Continuous Liquidity of Information Perpetual Contracts
Due to the constant fluctuations of perpetual contracts, they overcome the issues that hinder speculators in binary outcome markets caused by slow settlement speeds.
Such perpetual contracts can also track interesting and easily understandable topics that currently lack existing markets.
Frontend Platforms
Instead of building native liquidity, startups can source supply from existing industry leaders and provide users with a higher quality trading experience.
For example, Flipr offers a trading terminal, trading bots on the X platform, and up to 10x leverage using existing liquidity.
Social Applications
Gamified applications or social experiences can make predictions more engaging.
Just as sports betting is essentially a social experience, prediction markets can cultivate similar interactive experiences.
In the early stages of prediction market adoption, there is a vast design space.
Basket trading, managed indices, celebrity copy trading, parlays, and more innovative forms are worth exploring.
Click to learn about job openings at ChainCatcher
Recommended reading:
NAKA's stock price plummets 54% in one day, is the market growing weary of DAT?
Is a token launch on the Base chain imminent? 6 projects worth watching
Risk warning
Risk warning
