World Cup Generated $20BN in Prediction Market Volume, Chainalysis Says

The 2026 FIFA World Cup generated $20 billion in blockchain-based prediction market volume, with more than 400,000 wallets taking part, according to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis.

The figure covers trading before and during the tournament. Around $5.7 billion was wagered during the five weeks of the World Cup itself, with World Cup markets accounting for about 63% of all prediction market activity during that period.

Users from every continent except Antarctica participated in the markets. The US and China recorded the highest attributable trading volumes, followed by Canada, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.

Less than 1% of wallets involved in World Cup prediction markets had links to illicit actors, according to the research by Chainalysis. The firm identified about $5.4 million in flows from sanctioned entities and other illicit sources. The tournament also drove activity in blockchain-based digital collectibles, with FIFA Collect recording around $24 million in trades during the World Cup and more than 100,000 distributed match tickets through the platform. 

Chainalysis said wallets linked to sanctioned entities account for less than 0.01% of FIFA Collect users because identity verification requirements help limit their participation.

The research states that the World Cup data shows that blockchain-based prediction markets and digital collectibles can attract large numbers of users during major global events, while compliance controls can help identify and restrict illicit activity.