Kyiv, Jan 14: Ukraine has blocked access to the prediction market platform Polymarket, classifying its activities as unlicensed gambling under national law, in a move that tightens oversight of online betting tied to real-world events.
The decision was issued on Dec. 10, 2025, by the National Commission for the Regulation of Electronic Communications (NCEC) under Resolution No. 695, according to regulatory documents. The ruling requires internet service providers to restrict access to online resources that organise, conduct or facilitate gambling without a valid licence.
As part of the enforcement, the domain polymarket.com was added to Ukraine’s public register of blocked websites, effectively cutting off local access to the platform, local media reported.
Polymarket differs from traditional betting sites by allowing users to buy and sell shares linked to the outcomes of real-world events, with prices reflecting market-implied probabilities rather than fixed odds.
Ukrainian authorities have also criticised the platform for facilitating bets on geopolitical events connected to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, placing Polymarket under heightened scrutiny as the war continues.
The platform already faces restrictions in 33 other countries, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Belgium, Iran, Singapore, Iraq, North Korea, Thailand, Taiwan and Australia.
Founded in 2020 by Shane Coplan, Polymarket has grown into one of the world’s most prominent prediction platforms, with an estimated valuation of $8 billion. All wagers on the site are placed using the USDC stablecoin on the Polygon blockchain, making transactions and settlements publicly verifiable.
