Raised $21 million in funding, how is Bluff building the next generation of entertainment prediction markets?

Article by: Mahe, Foresight News

On February 4th, during the crypto bear market phase, venture capitalists continue to bet on market tracks. Bluff predicted that the market completed a $21 million strategic funding round, led by 1kx, with participants including Makers Fund, Maximum Frequency Ventures, Delphi Ventures Founders, NBA star Tristan Thompson, and others. The official statement says this funding will be directly used to accelerate platform technological iterations, product optimization, and large-scale deployment, pushing Bluff from the beta testing phase to open to global users.

The English meaning of Bluff is to feign or deceive; in pop culture, Bluff is often associated with poker, esports, and similar scenes, carrying a relaxed and exciting tone that appeals to Generation Z’s preference for anti-conventional, intellectual challenges.

The background of Bluff’s funding stems from the ongoing boom in prediction markets and betting entertainment within the crypto industry. Since 2025, prediction markets like Polymarket have repeatedly hit new trading volume highs, but traditional platforms still face issues such as slow settlement, cumbersome user verification, and regulatory uncertainty. Bluff aims to address these pain points, positioning itself as the next-generation online betting platform emphasizing social features, real-time updates, and blockchain-native design.

Entertaining Social Prediction Markets

Bluff is not just a simple prediction market but a comprehensive platform integrating betting, prediction, and social interaction.

Core features include real-time prediction markets where users can bet on sports events, political developments, or entertainment hot topics, such as the 2026 World Cup champion or Oscar Best Picture; binary outcome betting with simplified operations—just choose Yes/No, suitable for beginners. Creator community events allow KOLs to create custom markets, such as “A celebrity’s new song surpasses 100 million streams,” with users earning points by participating.

Visiting Bluff’s official website, a distinctive style immediately stands out.

Bluff blurs the lines between gaming, prediction, speculation, and entertainment. It features binary outcomes, customized markets, original content designed from scratch, and personalized experiences adjusted based on player behavior.

Bluff is building an ecosystem at the intersection of attention, risk, culture, and capital.

Bluff uses Layer 2 solutions for instant transactions, eliminating the need to wait for block confirmations. Users don’t need cumbersome KYC procedures—just connect their wallet to participate, lowering the barrier compared to traditional platforms. The platform supports multi-chain assets like USDC and ETH.

Beta testing data shows an average transaction speed of less than 1 second; social features are integrated with X and Discord, allowing users to share predictions and team up for betting, increasing engagement. Compared to other products, Bluff surpasses Polymarket’s single-event prediction by incorporating Stake-like sports betting and Azuro’s social layer. Future plans include AI-assisted predictions, NFT rewards, and cross-platform live streaming integration.

Bluff has also launched a VIP matching program, allowing users to seamlessly transition from traditional platforms like Stake, Shuffle, and Rollbit to Bluff, with 24/7 VIP dedicated customer service providing more convenient text support.

Currently, its beta version has already surpassed $10 billion in trading volume, with over 650,000 users.

Veteran Team Re-Entrepreneurship, NBA Star Tristan Thompson Participates in Investment

Bluff’s core team consists of experienced professionals from betting and gaming industries, averaging over 15 years of experience. However, many senior executives are currently anonymous.

The founder and CEO is a former Stake executive who led Stake’s growth to over $10 billion in annual trading volume during its startup phase. The CTO comes from Bet365, responsible for designing the architecture of the world’s largest sports betting system, ensuring Bluff’s engine can handle thousands of transactions per second. The operations director previously worked at Bodog, with expertise in localization strategies for Asian and Latin American markets.

The team comprises about 30 members, 80% of whom have backgrounds in crypto, including former Polygon engineers responsible for blockchain integration. Bluff emphasizes a “practical, results-oriented” approach, with team members involved in regulatory negotiations such as GDPR compliance in the EU and KYC optimization in the US.

In terms of investors, Makers Fund is known for investments in gaming and entertainment, managing over $2 billion in assets, and has participated in funding rounds for Epic Games and Riot Games; Maximum Frequency Ventures (MFV) focuses on high-frequency trading and Web3 innovation; Delphi Ventures Founders brings venture capital experience, having led early investments in multiple crypto projects. NBA star Tristan Thompson’s involvement also injects sports DNA into the team; he will participate in brand promotion, aiming to attract more sports fans into crypto betting.

Polymarket is well-known for political event prediction, Kalshi for compliance and rapid growth in sports betting. To carve out a niche among giants, Bluff needs to find its unique differentiation. Whether the social + entertainment integrated model can withstand the test remains to be seen.

Currently, its points program’s first season is live, where participants can earn points through activities, later redeemable for the token BLUFF.