Online prediction markets are preparing to pay out approximately $450 million to bettors following Donald Trump’s election win, Reuters reports. Platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket showed more accurate predictions than traditional polls, which had forecast a tighter race.
A Princeton neuroscience professor told Reuters that prediction markets excel at “measuring crowd wisdom where no hard data is available.” Kalshi secured tens of millions in short-term loans to cover customer payouts, according to TechCrunch.
Notable among the winners is the “Polymarket whale,” a French former trader who placed $40 million in Trump-related bets. Reuters reports the trader could earn $80 million if Trump also wins the popular vote.
