Exchange seeks SEC approval for yes or no contracts on flagship index as event trading expands.
Nasdaq, the global stock exchange operator and financial technology provider, is pushing into the prediction market sector with plans to launch binary options tied to its flagship index.
The company’s subsidiary Nasdaq MRX filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to introduce cash-settled contracts linked to the Nasdaq 100, according to regulatory documents. The European-style binary options would function similarly to short-term directional wagers offered on crypto-native platforms.
The filing comes as prediction markets experience rapid expansion. Trading volume across such platforms reached $63.5B in 2025, a fourfold increase from the prior year, driven largely by venues like Polymarket and Kalshi.
Traditional finance has taken notice. Intercontinental Exchange committed $2B to Polymarket last October, while Goldman Sachs is reportedly assessing opportunities in the space.
Cboe Global Markets Inc. is preparing its own event-focused contracts centered on business and market outcomes. CME Group Inc. is powering a consumer-facing prediction market app in partnership with FanDuel.
DraftKings, the sports betting operator, has also ramped up its prediction offerings. Its contract-trading arm now operates in 38 states and set a volume record during the Super Bowl, with the company targeting $10B in annual revenue and planning a market-making launch this year.
Unlike event contracts listed on Kalshi, Polymarket and CME, which fall under oversight from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Nasdaq’s binary options would be regulated by the SEC.
