USDT Integration Fuels Prediction Market Surge as Kalshi Hits $2.3B Weekly Volume

The prediction market landscape witnessed a seismic shift in the week leading up to December 29, 2025, as Kalshi decisively overtook its rival Polymarket in trading volume, recording a historic $2.3 billion. This figure, nearly double Polymarket's $1.2 billion, represents Kalshi's first weekly close above the $2 billion threshold and signals a pivotal moment for blockchain-based financial speculation. A critical driver behind this record-breaking activity was the expanded accessibility facilitated by cryptocurrency integrations, most notably the TRON network's support for USDT deposits. This technical development lowered the barrier to entry, allowing a broader participant base to engage with the platform's contracts. The surge in volume was disproportionately fueled by high-demand event contracts, particularly those centered on professional sports outcomes like the Pro Football Championship, which attracted significant speculative capital. The staggering weekly volume underscores a growing mainstream appetite for leveraging digital assets like USDT not just as a store of value or medium of exchange, but as foundational liquidity for next-generation financial instruments. This event highlights a bullish convergence where the utility of stablecoins extends deep into speculative markets, enhancing liquidity, enabling cross-border participation, and demonstrating the maturing infrastructure of decentralized finance. The data suggests that seamless fiat-to-crypto onramps, epitomized by USDT's role, are becoming a primary growth engine for novel trading platforms, potentially setting a new benchmark for how traditional financial activities migrate to and scale on blockchain networks.

Kalshi Overtakes Polymarket as Weekly Trading Volume Hits Record $2.3B

Prediction market platform Kalshi surged past rival Polymarket with $2.3 billion in weekly trading volume, nearly double Polymarket's $1.2 billion. The record-breaking figure marks Kalshi's first weekly close above $2 billion, fueled by expanded blockchain access and surging demand for sports contracts.

TRON network integration for TRX and USDT deposits broadened participation, while Pro Football Champion contracts alone accounted for $65.8 million in activity. September metrics show Kalshi now commands 62% of global prediction market volume following expansions onto Solana, Base, and Robinhood.

JPMorgan's Stablecoin Crackdown Signals Regulatory Headwinds for Crypto

JPMorgan Chase & Co. has frozen accounts linked to stablecoin startups BlindPay and Kontigo, citing exposure risks to sanctioned jurisdictions like Venezuela. The abrupt action—executed through payment partner Checkbook—highlights the banking sector's growing unease with crypto ventures operating in regulatory gray areas.

The freeze follows a surge in chargebacks from rapid customer onboarding, according to Checkbook's CEO. While JPMorgan maintains the MOVE reflects compliance protocols rather than anti-crypto sentiment, the incident underscores the precarious position of stablecoin issuers navigating tightening financial controls.

Emerging markets' reliance on dollar-pegged tokens as inflation hedges now collides with Western financial institutions' de-risking strategies. This tension may accelerate the migration of crypto liquidity to non-traditional banking channels.

Maple Finance Outperforms with Institutional-Grade DeFi Lending Model

Maple Finance (SYRUP) has surged 26% this week, leading all money markets in its category. Year-to-date, it's up 112%—dwarfing competitors like Sky's 7% gain. The protocol's resilience stems from a strategic pivot after the 2022 credit crisis, shifting to an overcollateralized institutional lending model.

Its syrupUSDC and syrupUSDT pools now hold $4 billion in deposits, with 63% and 27% allocations respectively. Maple Institutional—the permissioned arm—accounts for the remaining 10%. Capital flows to OTC borrowers against BTC and liquid crypto collateral, creating a fortress balance sheet absent in undercollateralized peers.

Among billion-dollar lending protocols, Maple consistently ranks as the fastest-growing this year. Q2 saw deposits spike 225%, briefly outpaced only by Fluid in Q3. The numbers validate Maple's institutional thesis: TradFi-grade risk management can thrive in DeFi when paired with crypto-native yield opportunities.