Ukrainian regulators blocked access to prediction market platform Polymarket, classifying the service as unlicensed gambling under national law.
The National Commission for State Regulation of Electronic Communications issued Resolution No. 695 requiring internet providers to restrict access to the platform.
The polymarket.com domain was added to Ukraine's public registry of blocked websites, though enforcement has been inconsistent with some users reporting continued access.
War Markets Draw Criticism
Ukraine's decision follows mounting criticism over Polymarket's war-related prediction markets.
The platform processed approximately 240 Ukraine-related bets totaling over $270 million in December 2025 alone.
Another 120 active markets tied to the Russian invasion carried more than $140 million in open interest.
Ukrainian authorities criticized Polymarket for facilitating bets on territorial occupation, including markets on when specific cities might fall to Russian forces.
The platform reportedly used the API from Ukrainian open-source intelligence project DeepState without authorization to create real-time betting markets on front-line developments.
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Global Regulatory Pressure
Ukraine joins at least 33 other jurisdictions restricting Polymarket access including France, Germany, United Kingdom, Poland, Singapore, Thailand and Romania.
Most countries cite similar concerns about unlicensed gambling operations despite the platform's peer-to-peer prediction market structure.
U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres introduced legislation last week that would ban federal officials from trading prediction market contracts when they possess nonpublic information.
The Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026 follows scrutiny over a $400,000 profitable bet on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's capture placed hours before U.S. military action.
Tennessee regulators also ordered Polymarket, Kalshi and Crypto.com on January 9 to halt sports betting contracts and issue refunds by January 31, citing unlicensed sports wagering violations.
Founded in 2020, Polymarket operates using USDC stablecoin on Polygon blockchain with an estimated $8 billion valuation.
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