New York-based crypto prediction platform Polymarket has rolled out a Chinese-language version of its site and hired a Mandarin-speaking staff, making it clear the company is eyeing Chinese-speaking users across the globe.

Reportedly, the move has been fairly low-key; the company opened a simplified Chinese interface that is live under a “/zh” URL, and the platform has started adding contracts linked to Chinese cultural events. Company executives call China a “very important geography,” though there’s been no official announcement about entering mainland China.

For those unaware, prediction markets let users buy and sell contracts based on how real-world events play out, with prices shifting depending on what people think is likely to happen. Payouts on the platform are happening via USDC, a dollar-backed stablecoin. In the US, a separate entity called Polymarket US operates under CFTC oversight, while the international version serves users outside that regulatory setup.
 

China-centric contacts on website

Surprisingly, the platform was launched at the start of the Lunar New Year 2026. And so, it has multiple China-centric contracts live too. For example, a contract predicting which robot brands would appear at the 2026 gala generated nearly $600,000 in trading volume. Several robotics companies were correctly forecast to feature in the show.

Polymarket’s Mandarin Language Platform (Source: polymarket.com/zh)

Another contract asked whether veteran singer Li Guyi would perform. That market drew more than $40,000 before resolving in the negative. Whereas, the popular bets like odds of the US attacking Iran and whether Jesus will return this year are also on the platform.

The themes are culturally specific and suggest deliberate localisation rather than casual user activity. Company representatives say they monitor Chinese-language search trends to identify topics likely to attract interest.

Outside of cultural markets, Polymarket also hosts contracts on global political and economic topics — geopolitical tensions, crypto price moves, and more. Some of these markets pull in serious trading volume, which speaks to the platform’s appeal well beyond any single audience.
 

Overriding existing regulations?

Gambling, however, is banned in mainland China outside state-run lotteries. Crypto trading is also prohibited, creating a second legal obstacle. Access to foreign financial services is tightly controlled, and unlicensed overseas platforms can face enforcement measures. Polymarket’s website is blocked within mainland China, meaning users would require technical workarounds to reach it — a sensitive matter under Chinese internet regulations.

For that reason, executives emphasise outreach to overseas Chinese communities rather than residents inside China. Exact figures for mainland users are not disclosed. The company says Asia already accounts for millions of monthly visits and a substantial share of trading activity.

Chinese-speaking communities have always had a strong appetite for wagering-style products, from sports pools to casual bets on cultural events. Analysts point out that demand for speculative platforms tends to hold up even in tightly regulated environments, especially when technology makes it easy to participate across borders.

However, the legality of the platform is likely to be questioned. Chinese authorities can easily classify prediction contracts as gambling, regardless of how the platform frames them in financial terms. On top of that, the use of dollar-backed stablecoins runs headfirst into Beijing’s strict capital controls and its blanket ban on private crypto trading.
 

No update on the licence yet

For now, the Chinese-language rollout appears cautious. There has been no announcement of local licencing, no mainland office, and clear disclaimers separating the international site from its regulated US arm.

Whether this turns into a real expansion or just a short-lived experiment will likely come down to regulators, not users. It has been noted multiple times that Beijing has consistently moved to close channels it views as threats to capital control or financial oversight, and a foreign crypto platform quietly courting its citizens.

 

 

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