Crypto gamblers are betting heavily on Barbie to top Oppenheimer
There’s just something about cryptocurrency that lends itself to wild speculation. Blame it on the younger demographic, obscene risk tolerance or simple financial nihilism in response to the depressing housing market. In any case, blockchain-powered prediction markets suit crypto to a tee. These platforms allow anyone to open bet on any topic whatsoever — with all gambits settled by smart contracts, paid in crypto. The permissionless nature of blockchains means all topics are fair game. Polygon’s Polymarket drew controversy earlier this month for facilitating bets on the outcome of the OceanGate Titanic sub tragedy, for example. Polymarket works like this: Users buy or sell what’s referred to as “outcome shares,” which are either worth $1 or zilch depending on whether the associated outcome actually happens. The odds offered by the blockchain readily reflect how crypto users feel about world events. From Oppenheimer vs. Barbie to the veracity of the weather, here’s the top Polymar...