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DraftKings launches DKeX prediction market exchange
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DraftKings launches DKeX prediction market exchange

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  • DraftKings has launched its DKeX prediction market exchange, moving trading onto its own CFTC-regulated platform.
  • The shift replaces third-party exchange infrastructure previously provided through CME Group and Crypto.com, allowing DraftKings to retain exchange fees.
  • The company said the move strengthens its vertically integrated strategy as prediction market trading continues to expand.

DraftKings has launched its DKeX prediction market exchange, moving its DraftKings Predictions platform onto infrastructure it owns after previously routing trades through CME Group and Crypto.com.

The exchange became operational on June 26 after DraftKings acquired Railbird Technologies and its Commodity Futures Trading Commission licence in October 2025, allowing the company to combine custody, exchange operations and customer access within a single platform.

“DKeX provides a vertically integrated foundation for DraftKings Predictions, enabling us to move faster as we continue enhancing our unified app,” said DraftKings Chief Executive Officer Jason Robins.

DraftKings said its Predictions platform generated annualised consumer trading volume of approximately US$3.4 billion and total annualised trading volume of about US$11.3 billion during the week ended June 21, although the reported activity equated to roughly US$216 million in actual weekly trading volume.

The company said operating its own exchange allows it to retain trading fees that were previously shared with third-party exchanges, while DKeX currently offers sports event contracts in 18 US states under CFTC rules.

The launch follows a broader industry shift towards vertically integrated prediction market businesses, with Robinhood, Coinbase and Flutter Entertainment also developing or acquiring exchange infrastructure alongside their consumer platforms.

DKeX also expands DraftKings' presence in states where traditional sportsbooks are generally not permitted, as the legal boundary between federally regulated prediction markets and state gambling laws continues to face regulatory and legal challenges.

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