Blockchain.com wants in on America's prediction market boom, and has asked the CFTC for two licenses

Blockchain.com is trying to bring prediction markets and crypto derivatives to American users. The wallet and trading company told CNBC it has applied to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for two licenses, The Block and Decrypt reported on Friday.

The first, a designated contract market license, would let it run a futures exchange that lists event contracts. The second, registration as a futures commission merchant, would let it act as a broker for derivatives trades. With both, the company could run its own marketplace for US retail and institutional traders instead of routing customers to partners.

Right now Blockchain.com offers prediction markets through Polymarket and perpetual futures through the decentralized exchange Hyperliquid, and only to customers outside the US. "Users should be able to manage their digital assets, trade derivatives and take positions on real-world events easily," co-founder and chief executive Peter Smith said, according to The Block's account of the CNBC report.

The application lands as prediction markets face court fights with state gambling regulators and the NFL. The CFTC has approved six new designated contract markets this year, Decrypt reported, citing CNBC.

The move also comes ahead of a planned listing. Blockchain.com confidentially filed for a US IPO in May, and Bloomberg reported in late September that it was seeking about $500 million at a valuation of $4 billion to $6 billion, The Block said.

What to watch: how long the CFTC takes to rule, and whether the licenses arrive before the IPO.