FIFA Partner Investigated Over $108M in Prediction Market Trades

ADI Predictstreet, the official prediction market partner of FIFA for the 2026 World Cup, is under investigation following blockchain analysis that raised questions about its trading activity. Roughly $108 million of the platform’s $167 million trading volume through late September was reportedly conducted via cryptocurrency wallets tied to the company.

What Happened

An investigation by The Wall Street Journal uncovered that around $108 million of the $167 million traded on ADI Predictstreet’s platform by late September originated from cryptocurrency wallets seemingly connected to the company (GamblingNews). This analysis suggests that a substantial portion of the trading volume may not have come from independent customers (GamblingNews).

The investigation further revealed that 99% of trading activity from late August involved 795 wallets, which were reportedly funded by a single cryptocurrency address also responsible for collecting the platform’s transaction fees. These accounts primarily traded among themselves, a pattern identified by Harvard University students studying public blockchain records and corroborated by cryptocurrency analytics firm Solidus Labs (GamblingNews).

This activity reportedly began in July during the World Cup, with two wallets processing over $81 million in transactions across numerous markets. Following the tournament, trading volume significantly decreased, with the network of 795 wallets accounting for almost all subsequent activity (GamblingNews).

Key Details

• Approximately $108 million of ADI Predictstreet’s total $167 million trading volume through late September was linked to company-affiliated wallets, according to The Wall Street Journal (GamblingNews).
• Blockchain analysis, corroborated by Solidus Labs, identified 99% of trading activity from late August as originating from 795 wallets funded by a single address that also collected platform fees (GamblingNews).
• Gibraltar’s gambling commissioner, Andrew Lyman, stated that a preliminary review found no breaches of local self-trading rules by ADI Predictstreet and no harm to consumers (GamblingNews).

Why It Matters

The findings, suggesting the possibility of wash trading, could impact ADI Predictstreet’s objectives of expanding prediction markets to major sporting events (GamblingNews). Wash trading, a practice where linked accounts trade with each other to create the impression of increased market activity, raises questions about the platform’s ability to attract genuine independent participation. While the evidence does not yet prove intentional manipulation, it prompts inquiry into FIFA’s market integrity measures and their effectiveness in identifying anomalous trading patterns (GamblingNews).

ADI Predictstreet, which launched in April to integrate predictions into live broadcasts through a partnership with DAZN, had previously faced scrutiny over its reported payment of over $150 million for exclusive advertising rights tied to the 2026 World Cup. Its financial backing is reportedly linked to International Holding Company (IHC), although IHC has denied claims of controlling Predictstreet (GamblingNews).