27-year-old Polymarket founder Shayne Coplan becomes the "youngest self-made billionaire"

Bloomberg's latest report confirms that Shayne Coplan, the 27-year-old founder of the decentralized prediction market platform Polymarket, has officially become the world's youngest self-made billionaire. This milestone status is attributed to a massive investment by Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, which has skyrocketed the company's valuation to $9 billion. Even more remarkable is that the news of Coplan becoming a billionaire was announced after U.S. federal authorities officially concluded their investigation into its blockchain gambling market in July 2025, marking a significant breakthrough for emerging fintech in both traditional capital and regulatory aspects.

NYSE parent company ICE makes huge investment, Polymarket valuation reaches 9 billion USD

The soaring valuation of Polymarket is key to Shayne Coplan achieving billionaire status.

· Valuation skyrocketed: The Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) announced an investment of $2 billion in Coplan's company, directly raising Polymarket's valuation to an astonishing $9 billion. This deal closely combines the authority of traditional finance (TradFi) with the innovation of decentralized prediction markets.

· Founder Statement: Coplan stated in a statement on October 7 that by combining ICE's institutional scale and credibility with Polymarket's consumer insights, they will be able to provide world-class products for modern investors. He emphasized that achieving the potential of new technologies such as tokenization requires collaboration between established market leaders and the next generation of innovators.

· Young Elite: This 27-year-old founder, who dropped out of New York University (NYU), has officially entered the ranks of crypto elites, becoming the youngest self-made billionaire after industry giants like Zhao Changpeng (CZ) and Brian Armstrong.

The Shadow of the Federal Investigation Lifts: “Justice Prevails” Aids Market Expansion

Coplan's wealth achievements have not been smooth sailing; behind them is a year-long investigation and political pressure from U.S. regulatory agencies.

· Political Censorship and FBI Search: In August 2024, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sent a letter to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) requesting a ban on political betting markets, arguing that “election betting fundamentally undermines the sanctity of the democratic process” and replaces political beliefs with financial considerations. Under this regulatory pressure, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted a raid on Coplan's residence.

· Investigation Closed: After ongoing cooperation and communication, federal authorities sent a letter to Coplan in July 2025, announcing the closure of the investigation into the blockchain gambling market. Coplan subsequently announced on July 15 on the X platform: “After cooperation and negotiations, we were clarified that there was no wrongdoing. Justice prevails.”

· Clearing Obstacles: The conclusion of the federal investigation is seen as a key prerequisite for Polymarket to further expand its market layout, clearing legal barriers for the company's upcoming development and mainstream financial investments.

Conclusion

The story of Shayne Coplan becoming the youngest self-made billionaire is not only a symbol of his personal wealth but also a milestone in the recognition of emerging financial technology by mainstream capital. The Intercontinental Exchange (ICE)'s massive investment in Polymarket not only brought its valuation to 9 billion USD but also marked the acknowledgment of traditional financial giants of the potential of decentralized prediction markets as “next-generation information financial tools.” This young founder successfully escaped the shadow of regulatory scrutiny, reflecting the growing interest and acceptance of the market for blockchain-driven financial innovation.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute any investment advice. The crypto market is highly volatile, and investors should make decisions with caution.