Polymarket tops US Sports Apps after "60 Minutes" Report
The crypto prediction platform Polymarket reached last Monday the top spot in the ranking of free sports apps on Apple’s App Store in the United States, driven by the exposure generated by the interview of its founder, Shayne Coplan, aired on “60 Minutes” the previous Sunday. Subsequently, the app dropped back down to third place, behind FanDuel and DraftKings.
The rise was especially striking given that the U.S. version of Polymarket remains in beta phase, by invitation only and limited exclusively to sports markets, with a waiting list that already exceeds hundreds of thousands of interested users. Coplan celebrated the surge in downloads on X, saying: “It was faster than expected.” The boost comes after the $2 billion investment made by Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), which valued the company at $8 billion before its official relaunch in the U.S.
Unusual viral boost before the broadcast
The increase in visibility coincided with an atypical wave of social media posts promoting the interview even before it aired. Among the accounts that pushed the content were several conservative influencers, such as Breaking911, ALX, George Santos, Benny Johnson, and Dinesh D’Souza, which sparked speculation about possible coordinated action. These suspicions intensified because Donald Trump Jr. is part of Polymarket’s advisory board.
A viral post by activist Laura Loomer received a Community Note on X claiming there was an undisclosed influencer campaign. The note was later removed through the platform’s voting system. Despite the predominantly conservative origin of the dissemination, some progressive-leaning users also shared clips of the interview, making it difficult to determine whether the activity was organic or strategic.
Debate over transparency and regulatory compliance
The public conversation also revolved around the lack of disclosure of possible commercial ties. Some users accused influencers of not revealing whether they were compensated for promoting Polymarket. A deleted Community Note referenced the rules of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which require disclosure of any “material connection” with a brand, although a review of the posts showed no sponsored content tags nor evidence that these influencers had received payments.
Polymarket’s return to the U.S. market
Polymarket has been testing a limited version of its app in the U.S. since November 12, with several recent updates on the App Store. The company mostly operated from abroad following a 2022 agreement with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), but re-entered the U.S. market after acquiring QCX, a licensed exchange and clearinghouse.
During his interview on “60 Minutes,” Coplan praised the current regulatory stance, stating: “This administration is very pro-innovation, pro-crypto, and pro-Polymarket, which is incredible,” and added: “I need help navigating this environment, I’m a young entrepreneur.”
A contested regulatory environment
Polymarket’s return coincides with a growing debate about whether sports prediction markets should be considered gambling. Some states have asked the CFTC to restrict these products, arguing they resemble traditional sports betting and should fall under state jurisdiction. Platforms maintain that they operate as federal financial instruments, not as bets.
Coplan reiterated that users “own a stake” rather than betting against the house, and has previously criticized regulated sportsbooks for what he described as “misleading” pricing.
Growing competition in prediction markets
The sector is becoming increasingly competitive. Polymarket’s main rival, Kalshi, recorded $11 billion in sports market volume since September, representing 95 percent of its recent activity. At the same time, FanDuel and DraftKings are working on their own prediction markets, creating a more contested environment as Polymarket advances in its U.S. relaunch.
Tags: United States, Polymarket, predictive markets, Kalshi, Fanatics, Fanduel, DraftKings, Polymarket App