French regulators have directed internet service providers to block access to Polymarket, the blockchain-based prediction market platform, cutting off users in the country. The move comes just ahead of the World Cup final, an event tied to what the industry describes as its largest event markets to date. The blocking order reflects ongoing regulatory scrutiny of prediction markets in France, where authorities have questioned whether such platforms constitute unlicensed gambling operations. Polymarket allows users to wager on the outcomes of real-world events, including sports and politics, using cryptocurrency. The timing of the restriction ensures French participants will be unable to trade on the final's outcome, which was expected to resolve significant positions. The action underscores growing tension between decentralized prediction platforms and national regulators seeking to enforce local gambling and financial rules.
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