$20B in World Cup Bets, and Even Antarctica Didn't Show Up 🌍⚽

The 2026 FIFA World Cup generated $20 billion in blockchain-based prediction market volume and $24 million in digital collectible trades, with more than 400,000 wallets participating in on-chain betting, according to a report from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis. The $20 billion figure includes trading conducted before and during the tournament, with bettors placing roughly $5.7 billion in wagers over the five-week World Cup itself. World Cup-related markets accounted for about 63% of all prediction market activity during that period.

Users from every continent except Antarctica engaged with World Cup prediction markets, with the United States and China generating the highest attributable trading volumes, followed by Canada, Thailand and the United Kingdom. Despite the scale of activity, illicit participation remained limited. Chainalysis said fewer than 1% of wallets participating in World Cup prediction markets had ties to illicit actors, though it identified roughly $5.4 million in flows originating from sanctioned entities and other illicit sources.

The report also highlighted growing adoption of blockchain-based digital collectibles. Fans traded approximately $24 million worth of FIFA Collect NFTs during the tournament, while more than 100,000 match tickets were distributed through the platform. Wallets linked to sanctioned entities accounted for less than 0.01% of FIFA Collect users, which Chainalysis attributed in part to the platform's identity verification requirements.

Chainalysis said the findings indicate blockchain will play a growing role in major global events and underscored the importance of compliance measures as platforms attract broader participation.