Polymarket Blocked in Ukraine as Regulators Tighten Global Restrictions

TLDR

• Ukraine has blocked Polymarket due to concerns over its involvement in betting on geopolitical events.
• The Ukrainian government views Polymarket’s share-based betting model as unlicensed gambling.
• Polymarket is now restricted in 33 countries due to regulatory pressures and legal concerns.
• The platform is under increased scrutiny in the U.S. and other regions over potential violations of gambling and financial laws.
• Ukraine’s action reflects a growing global effort to regulate prediction markets amid rising concerns about their impact on public policy.

Ukraine has blocked access to the cryptocurrency platform Polymarket, citing concerns over the platform’s role in facilitating wagers on geopolitical outcomes. The move, announced on December 10, 2025, is part of a growing global crackdown on prediction markets, which regulators increasingly view as forms of illegal gambling or unlicensed derivatives trading.

This development comes as international regulators, particularly in the United States and Europe, scrutinize platforms like Polymarket that allow users to bet on real-world events, including those tied to military conflicts.

Ukraine’s Ban on Polymarket

On December 10, 2025, Ukraine’s National Commission for the Regulation of Electronic Communications issued a resolution to block Polymarket. The commission’s order mandates internet service providers to restrict access to websites that organize or facilitate gambling activities without proper licenses. As a result, Polymarket’s domain, polymarket.com, was added to the country’s list of blocked websites.

The Ukrainian authorities argued that Polymarket enables users to bet on events linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Although Polymarket does not use traditional betting odds, regulators claim the platform’s share-based model still qualifies as gambling. They view the platform’s structure, which allows users to trade shares based on the probability of specific outcomes, as facilitating unlicensed gambling, especially when it involves an active military conflict.

Ukraine’s action is part of a broader, international effort to clamp down on prediction markets. Polymarket, which operates on the Polygon blockchain and uses USDC stablecoins for transactions, has already faced restrictions in 33 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Russia. In some regions, Polymarket users can only close existing positions but cannot place new bets.

Regulatory bodies, such as the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), have expressed concerns about the platform’s compliance with financial regulations. Polymarket’s 2022 exit from the U.S. market followed a $1.4 million settlement over alleged violations. Despite this, the platform has tried to re-enter the market by acquiring a license to operate as a designated contract market.

A Growing Global Movement Against Prediction Markets

As prediction markets grow in popularity, regulatory scrutiny intensifies worldwide. In the U.S., the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council recently issued cease-and-desist letters to Polymarket and other similar platforms.

Lawmakers in New York have also proposed new legislation aimed at curbing the use of prediction markets in financial transactions. This trend underscores the increasing concerns about the potential risks these platforms pose to financial markets and public policy.

The Ukrainian ban and the broader crackdown on prediction markets mark a key moment in the global regulation of cryptocurrency platforms.

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