Are they really going to issue tokens? Polymarket has applied for the POLY trademark, but they still need to overcome legal hurdles.

Polymarket’s parent company files for “POLY” trademark application, seen as a key step toward token issuance, but state-level regulations remain unresolved, and the token timeline is still uncertain.

Trademark application sparks heated discussion; POLY token issuance enters legal process

The world’s largest decentralized prediction market platform, Polymarket, has once again become a focal point in the crypto community. According to the latest public records from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Polymarket’s parent company, Blockratize Inc., officially submitted trademark applications for “POLY” and “$POLY” on February 4, 2026.

Image source: USPTO Blockratize Inc., the parent company of Polymarket, officially submitted trademark applications for “POLY” and “$POLY”

These application documents appeared on the official website on the morning of February 5, with their current status marked as “Active” and “Awaiting Examination,” indicating that the applications meet basic requirements but have not yet undergone substantive review by an examiner. This legal move is widely regarded as a concrete step by the platform toward issuing native tokens, providing formal legal backing for the long-standing rumors of token issuance.

According to detailed information in the trademark applications, the filings cover multiple business categories, including computer programs for financial and cryptocurrency trading, various services related to digital tokens, and online platform services (PaaS) for electronic trading and settlement operations. Notably, these applications are based on the “Intent to Use” rule, which indicates that although the company has not yet used these names in commercial activities, it has clear plans for future use. While the trademark documents do not disclose specific timelines or mechanisms for token issuance, this aligns closely with previous public statements from company executives.

As early as October 2025, Polymarket’s Chief Marketing Officer Matthew Modabber confirmed on a program that the company plans to launch the POLY token with “real utility value” and “long-term viability,” considering airdrops to users.

Further reading
Polymarket confirms token issuance, POLY will be airdropped! Valued at $15 billion, could this be the biggest airdrop of the year?

Polymarket continues to solidify its position as a leading prediction market

Recent market data and rapid business expansion make this trademark application even more significant. According to data tracked by The Block, Polymarket’s monthly trading volume in January 2026 exceeded $7.6 billion, making it one of the busiest trading venues worldwide.

Image source: The Block Polymarket’s monthly trading volume in January 2026 surpassed $7.6 billion

With the rapid expansion of prediction markets related to politics, sports, and major macroeconomic events, the platform has maintained its leadership in the decentralized prediction industry. This explosive growth has also attracted the attention of traditional financial giants. In October 2025, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), invested up to $2 billion in Polymarket. This substantial investment not only strengthened the platform’s financial capacity but also provided strong endorsement for its entry into mainstream markets.

Further reading
Polymarket attracts institutional interest! Financial giant ICE invests, valuation exceeds $10 billion

In addition to financial backing, Polymarket has made significant progress in ecosystem integration and strategic partnerships. The platform has successively partnered or licensed with major organizations such as Google Finance, Yahoo Finance, DraftKings, and the National Hockey League (NHL). Recently, it also announced collaborations with Circle to introduce the native $USDC and integration with Jupiter in the Solana ecosystem to expand its prediction market capabilities.

Founder Shayne Coplan even posted on social media, listing $POLY alongside major tokens like $BTC, $ETH, $SOL, and $BNB, hinting at its future positioning and ambitions. As prediction markets become increasingly intertwined with everyday life, Polymarket is leveraging these cross-sector collaborations to extend its influence from the crypto industry into traditional finance and sports entertainment.

Image source: X/@shayne_coplan Founder Shayne Coplan hinted at the future positioning and ambitions of the token in a social media post

Token launch still faces legal hurdles

Although the token issuance plan is progressing steadily, the road ahead for Polymarket is not without obstacles. Company management has explicitly stated that their current strategic focus is on restoring the application operations in the U.S. market first, before turning to token issuance.

In November 2025, the platform received approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to operate legally within the United States, marking an important milestone after nearly four years of paying a $1.4 million fine and exiting the U.S. market in 2022. However, as the trademark application was submitted, Polymarket also faced legal challenges from local state governments.

Further reading
U.S. CFTC approves! Polymarket to become a compliant prediction platform and re-enter the U.S. market

Recently, the Nevada court issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting Polymarket from offering event-based contracts in the state, ruling that its activities may violate state gambling laws. Polymarket responded by taking legal action, transferring the case to federal court, arguing that the state’s ruling conflicts with federal law. These legal disputes introduce uncertainty into the specific timeline for token issuance. On the prediction platform Myriad, investors are not highly confident that Polymarket will officially announce the token before May 2026, with current odds of about 30%.

Image source: Myriad Users on Myriad estimate less than a 30% chance of Polymarket issuing tokens in May this year

For Polymarket, balancing the active promotion of the $POLY token plan with navigating the complex regulatory environment across U.S. states will be a key factor in determining its future growth potential. As of now, Polymarket has not issued further public comments regarding the trademark application.