Highlights
- 1789 Capital plans to invest roughly $300 million more into Polymarket, per a Wall Street Journal report.
- The fresh round values the prediction market platform at approximately $21 billion.
- 1789 Capital first backed Polymarket in August 2025, when Donald Trump Jr. also joined its advisory board.
- The firm's earlier stake has reportedly returned roughly 200% as Polymarket's volumes surged.
Wu Blockchain reported that 1789 Capital, the venture firm where Donald Trump Jr. is a partner, is preparing to add about $300 million more to its position in Polymarket, this time at a valuation of roughly $21 billion. The figure comes from a Wall Street Journal report cited in the same thread, and it marks one of the largest single venture bets on a crypto-adjacent prediction market to date. The move would deepen a relationship that began just over a year ago and has already paid off handsomely for the fund.
From Seed Backer to Repeat Investor
1789 Capital's involvement with Polymarket is not new. The firm, founded in 2022 by Omeed Malik and Chris Buskirk, made its first strategic investment in the platform in August 2025, a deal announced alongside Trump Jr.'s appointment to Polymarket's advisory board. At the time, Polymarket said the partnership would "reinforce Polymarket's leading position," while 1789 Capital founder Omeed Malik framed the platform as sitting "at the intersection of free expression and financial innovation." Trump Jr. himself has described Polymarket's appeal as its ability to cut through media spin by letting people bet directly on real-world outcomes rather than rely on punditry.
That first check has since become one of the fund's standout positions. Polymarket's valuation has climbed sharply over the past year on the back of surging trading volume around elections, sports and macro events, and 1789 Capital's original stake has reportedly generated returns near 200% as a result. A fresh $300 million commitment at a $21 billion valuation would represent a significant markup from the terms of the 2025 round and underscore how quickly institutional capital has moved into decentralized and centralized prediction markets alike.
Why It Matters for Prediction Markets
The scale of the prospective investment is notable given how young the prediction-market sector still is as an asset class. Polymarket operates on public blockchain rails and has increasingly positioned itself as a mainstream alternative to traditional polling and forecasting, drawing both retail attention and now serious venture capital during major news cycles. A $21 billion valuation would place Polymarket in the same tier as established fintech unicorns, reflecting investor confidence that on-chain betting markets can scale well beyond niche crypto-native audiences.
It also signals continued political and financial entanglement between the Trump family's business interests and the crypto and prediction-market industries, a dynamic that regulators and competitors are watching closely as platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi compete for U.S. market share following recent shifts in the regulatory environment around event contracts.
What Comes Next
Neither Polymarket nor 1789 Capital has issued a formal statement confirming the exact terms of the new investment, and the reported $300 million figure and $21 billion valuation should be treated as preliminary until the deal is finalized and disclosed directly by the companies. Investors will be watching for an official announcement in the coming weeks, along with any details on how the fresh capital will be deployed, whether toward international expansion, new product lines, or further efforts to secure regulatory clarity in the United States.
Related: Polymarket Resolves Repeat CLOB Order-Read Delays, All Systems Back
FAQ
How much is 1789 Capital reportedly investing in Polymarket?
Roughly $300 million, according to a Wall Street Journal report, on top of the firm's original 2025 investment.
What valuation does the new round reportedly put on Polymarket?
About $21 billion, a significant increase from the terms of 1789 Capital's initial 2025 investment.
When did 1789 Capital first invest in Polymarket?
In August 2025, when the firm made its first strategic investment and Donald Trump Jr. joined Polymarket's advisory board.
Has this new investment been officially confirmed?
Not yet by Polymarket or 1789 Capital directly; the figures come from a Wall Street Journal report shared via Wu Blockchain.
