- Ukraine has blocked Polymarket for operating without a gambling license.
- Polymarket is a decentralized prediction market where users wager on real-world events.
- Internet service providers in Ukraine have been ordered to block access to Polymarket domains.
Ukraine has blocked access to the popular prediction market platform Polymarket.
The measure was taken after authorities determined the platform was operating as unlicensed gambling.
Internet service providers across Ukraine have been instructed to restrict access to Polymarket domains.
The decision is part of a broader effort to regulate online gambling and protect consumers.
Regulatory action and legal basis
The official block is based on Resolution No. 695, issued by the National Commission for the State Regulation of Communications and Informatization (NKER) on December 10, 2025.
The resolution implements an earlier finding by the state agency PlayCity, which identified the platform as an unlicensed gambling operator.
Under Ukrainian law, any website facilitating gambling without a license must be restricted.
Internet providers are legally required to comply with the restrictions and prevent user access.
The resolution also mandates supervision to ensure compliance, including inspections and reporting by authorities.
Polymarket’s domain has been added to Ukraine’s public registry of blocked resources.
Authorities warned that noncompliance by providers could lead to legal consequences.
The move reflects Ukraine’s ongoing crackdown on unlicensed online gambling platforms.
Hundreds of sites have been blocked alongside Polymarket under similar regulations.
How Polymarket operates and why Ukraine blocked it
Polymarket is a decentralized prediction market where users wager on the outcomes of real-world events.
Participants buy and sell “shares” that represent possible outcomes, with payouts determined by the actual result.
For example, a market might predict whether a city will be occupied by the end of the year.
Users place wagers using USDC, a stablecoin, on the Polygon blockchain.
Transactions and outcomes are publicly recorded on-chain, providing transparency through blockchain technology.
Polymarket, founded in 2020 by Shayne Coplan, has grown significantly and has been valued in the billions.
The platform saw substantial activity, with Ukraine-related markets exceeding $100 million in bets by late 2025.
Authorities cited concerns about markets tied to the conflict, noting legal and reputational risks.
Under Ukrainian law, prediction markets like Polymarket are classified as gambling, even though they operate in a decentralized, blockchain-based manner.
This legal interpretation has prompted similar restrictions in other countries, including Romania, France, Belgium, and Thailand.
Crackdown on crypto-based platforms
Ukraine’s action against Polymarket highlights increasing scrutiny of crypto-based platforms.
Regulators are determined to enforce licensing requirements and curb unregulated gambling activity.
While Polymarket continues to operate in other jurisdictions, access from within Ukraine is now fully restricted.
The move forms part of a global trend toward tighter regulatory oversight of online betting and crypto platforms.
Users in Ukraine must now seek licensed alternatives or risk accessing unapproved services.