Core Insights - Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) is investing up to $2 billion into Polymarket, a crypto betting platform valued at $8 billion [2][5] - Polymarket allows users to bet on the outcomes of various world events using cryptocurrency, gaining prominence for accurately predicting Donald Trump's election victory [3][4] - The investment by ICE signifies a merging of traditional finance with decentralized finance, aiming to bring prediction markets into the financial mainstream [6][7] Company Overview - Polymarket was founded in 2020 by Shayne Coplan, who is set to benefit significantly from the recent investment deal [2][5] - The platform has gained traction by allowing bets on diverse topics, including political events and sports outcomes [3] - Donald Trump Jr. serves on Polymarket's advisory board, with backing from his investment firm, 1789 Capital, and other notable investors like Peter Thiel [5][8] Industry Context - The deal with ICE comes after Polymarket was previously banned in the US, but has recently received approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to relaunch [7] - The investment reflects a growing acceptance and support for cryptocurrency within the financial sector, particularly from influential figures like Donald Trump [8]