Robinhood is in talks with Crypto.com about expanding its presence in prediction markets, according to a Wall Street Journal report that positions the two consumer trading brands closer to a distribution deal for yes-or-no event contracts.
What the WSJ report says about Robinhood and Crypto.com talks
The Wall Street Journal reported on July 25, 2026 that Robinhood is in discussions with Crypto.com to grow Robinhood’s foothold in prediction markets, according to the report. For related coverage, see First de novo digital asset bank approved by OCC marks major crypto banking milestone.
A potential arrangement could route yes-or-no contracts from Crypto.com’s exchange into Robinhood, the WSJ said, citing people familiar with the matter. The talks are unverified and unfinalized. For related coverage, see Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev's X Account Hacked to Promote Fake Vladhood Token.
The discussions do not amount to a finalized partnership or a launched product. The WSJ said there is no guarantee the talks produce an agreement, and neither company had publicly confirmed the reported discussions as of that date.
Why prediction markets are becoming a strategic crypto and fintech battleground
Prediction markets let users trade binary, yes-or-no contracts tied to the outcome of real-world events, from sports to elections to financial milestones. They sit at the intersection of retail trading and crypto services, where both Robinhood and Crypto.com already compete for the same customers.
Robinhood launched its prediction markets hub on March 17, 2025, with initial contracts available through KalshiEX, a CFTC-regulated exchange, the company said. That gave the broker an early, regulated entry point as it built out an expanding suite of crypto-adjacent trading features.
By December 16, 2025, Robinhood said prediction markets had become its fastest-growing product line by revenue, with 11 billion contracts traded by more than 1 million customers.
Crypto.com has moved just as aggressively. It launched OG on February 3, 2026 as a prediction-market experience offering CFTC-regulated sports event contracts alongside contracts tied to financial, political, cultural, and entertainment events.
“We’ve experienced 40x weekly growth in our prediction market business over the last six months,” Crypto.com’s Kris Marszalek said in the OG launch announcement.
What a Robinhood-Crypto.com prediction markets move could signal
The reported talks fit an already regulated U.S. framework rather than an offshore sportsbook model. Crypto.com said on January 20, 2026 that its CDNA unit could provide CFTC-compliant prediction-market infrastructure to operators, fintech platforms, and traditional trading brokers through its Plaee partnership.
That pitch, aimed explicitly at brokers, makes a Robinhood distribution deal a logical extension rather than a departure. If finalized, it could deepen the divide between retail-focused trading platforms and their institutional peers by concentrating regulated event-contract flow inside consumer apps.
Any deal would also intensify competition with Kalshi, Robinhood’s current contract provider, raising the possibility of a shift in which exchange sources Robinhood’s events. Robinhood has been broadening its crypto reach on other fronts too, with its on-chain infrastructure crossing $400 million in total value locked.
The token market reaction was muted. CRO traded at $0.05647, down 0.20% over 24 hours, with a market cap near $2.67 billion despite the partnership-talks headline.
Broader sentiment stayed risk-off, with the Fear & Greed Index reading 27, in Fear territory, the same day. Until Robinhood or Crypto.com issues an official statement or filing, readers should treat the arrangement as reported rather than confirmed and watch for direct confirmation from either company.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
