The White House has confirmed that prediction market companies will not be part of Wednesday's gathering of technology and cryptocurrency executives, a decision that narrows the event's scope just as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) prepares to launch its innovation advisory panel.
A White House official told Politico that President Trump "will host an event with tech leaders tomorrow to strengthen America's innovative and technological dominance," but added pointedly: "Prediction market companies will not be a part of the event."
The exclusion reverses earlier expectations that prediction market executives would attend. A person familiar with the planning told The Hill that the White House "decided to focus the event solely on crypto." The Hill has reached out to the White House and Polymarket, a leading prediction market platform, for comment.
Wednesday's event is seen as a prelude to the CFTC's Innovation Advisory Committee, which will hold its inaugural meeting on Thursday. The committee is designed to bring together industry leaders and policymakers to discuss emerging financial technologies, including blockchain, artificial intelligence, and prediction markets.
CFTC Chair Mike Selig has framed the committee as a turning point for U.S. innovation. "For years, anti-crypto armies, doomers, and decelerationists stifled innovation, regulating by enforcement and driving transformational technologies like blockchain, AI, and prediction markets overseas," he wrote on social media. He added that on August 20, the CFTC is "turning the page and charting a course for the new frontier of finance as innovators, builders, thinkers, and entrepreneurs descend upon Washington."
President Trump has previously voiced strong support for prediction markets. In May, he declared on Truth Social that "it is critically important that the CFTC's exclusive authority over Prediction Markets is maintained, and that they will thrive." His comments came amid legal battles in several states seeking to ban or regulate such markets.
Trump also framed the issue in competitive terms, warning that other countries are courting this new form of financial market. "Other Countries are after this new form of Financial Market, and we want to remain at the top," he wrote. He drew a parallel to crypto, asserting the U.S. is "currently the Crypto (Bitcoin, etc.) Capital of the World," but that rivals are "trying diligently to replace us in that capacity." He concluded: "It is a major Industry, and we must protect it."
The decision to exclude prediction markets from Wednesday's event could signal a tactical shift, even as the administration continues to champion the sector in other forums. The CFTC's innovation committee is expected to take up prediction market policy in the coming months.
This development comes as the administration faces broader political headwinds, including a dip in approval among Republican voters and primary losses for some Trump-endorsed candidates. The tech event is part of an effort to project strength on innovation, but the narrow focus may disappoint advocates who hoped for a broader agenda.
