Polymarket: 60 Minutes Investigates the Billionaire Betting on the Future

This Sunday’s 60 Minutes opens with a deep dive into the booming world of prediction markets, spotlighting one of the most talked-about platforms in the space: Polymarket. In his first-ever network television interview, Polymarket founder and CEO Shayne Coplan sits down with correspondent Anderson Cooper to discuss how a once-niche idea is now gaining traction with political analysts, Wall Street traders, Silicon Valley tech leaders, and everyday users alike.

Polymarket allows people to bet on the outcome of real-world events which range from U.S. elections to Supreme Court rulings, celebrity pregnancies, financial movements, and even international conflicts. These bets, often referred to as “information markets,” aren’t just gambling. They generate crowd-sourced data that can often predict outcomes more accurately than traditional polling or punditry.

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Who Is Shayne Coplan?

At just 27 years old, Shayne Coplan has already been labeled a visionary by some and a disruptor by others. A self-taught programmer and early crypto enthusiast, Coplan launched Polymarket in 2020 with the idea that decentralized platforms could help surface collective knowledge on major global questions. The company grew rapidly, attracting millions in investment from top venture capital firms, including Founders Fund and Polychain Capital.

However, that rapid growth came at a cost. In 2021, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) fined Polymarket $1.4 million for operating an unregistered betting platform and ordered it to cease offering markets to U.S. residents. For the next three years, Polymarket was effectively banned from operating stateside.

The Road Back to the U.S.

Now, with the regulatory dust beginning to settle and political sentiment around crypto softening, Coplan believes the company is ready for a legal comeback. Backed by big players from Washington, Wall Street, and Silicon Valley, Polymarket is positioning itself not just as a betting site, but as a tool for understanding the future. According to Coplan, “markets are information engines.” By aggregating public sentiment and financial incentives, he says, prediction markets can become powerful forecasting tools, especially in times of uncertainty.

The segment outlines how this return is being orchestrated with the help of legal advisors, data scientists, and lobbyists, all aiming to reposition Polymarket as a next-gen information utility rather than a gambling website.

The Growing Legitimacy of Prediction Markets

Polymarket is part of a broader global trend. Prediction markets have been used by institutions like the University of Iowa and tech companies like Google to crowdsource expectations. Academic studies have shown that, under the right conditions, these markets can outperform expert opinion and polling.

Still, the model isn’t without its critics. Some see it as an ethically murky form of speculation, particularly when bets are placed on politically sensitive or tragic scenarios. Others worry about market manipulation or the potential influence these platforms could have on public opinion and election outcomes. The 60 Minutes segment touches on both sides of this debate, while letting Coplan make the case for transparency, decentralization, and innovation.

Betting on What Comes Next

Polymarket’s rise and potential return to the U.S. could mark a turning point in how information is collected, understood, and valued. The company’s success may signal a future where traditional polling takes a backseat to real-time markets and where users feel more empowered to wager not just with their dollars, but with their convictions.

As Anderson Cooper’s conversation with Coplan reveals, what began as a crypto-fueled experiment is now shaping conversations in boardrooms, classrooms, and policy circles. 60 Minutes offers a rare and timely look into the platform that’s letting people bet on the future—and maybe changing how that future is understood.