Polymarket, a crypto-based prediction market platform, will open a free grocery store in New York City on February 12. The store, called “The Polymarket,” will offer groceries at no cost to all visitors, with no purchase required. The company has not yet disclosed the exact location.
Alongside the store, Polymarket donated $1 million to the Food Bank For New York City. The donation aims to support hunger relief programs and strengthen long-term food security across all five boroughs.
Polymarket described the project as a “real, physical investment” in the city. The initiative is meant to address food insecurity rather than operate as a traditional retail store. Sources indicate the pop-up will run for a limited time, likely spanning a few days around the opening weekend.
The move also serves as a high-profile marketing push. Competition among U.S.-based prediction market platforms is increasing, with rival Kalshi previously staging a smaller free grocery giveaway in New York.
The campaign echoes New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s past proposals for city-run grocery stores. Polymarket even hosts active prediction markets on whether such stores will open by mid-2026, adding symbolic weight to the initiative.
Polymarket has had a busy start to 2026. In late January, it partnered with Major League Soccer as the league’s official prediction market. The company also integrated with the decentralized exchange aggregator Jupiter on February 2, allowing users to access markets directly on Solana.
The company is also facing regulatory challenges. A Nevada state court issued a temporary restraining order preventing Polymarket’s U.S. affiliate from offering certain contracts to Nevada residents, with a hearing scheduled for February 11.
