{"id":5577,"date":"2026-01-13T16:38:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T16:38:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/?p=5577"},"modified":"2026-01-13T16:38:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T16:38:19","slug":"ukraine-blocks-polymarket-over-unlicensed-gambling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/?p=5577","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine blocks Polymarket over unlicensed gambling"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-site=\"CoinJournal\">\n<div class=\"-mt-16  mb-8  lg:-mt-20  rounded-md  shadow-md\">\n<div class=\"relative  z-10  post-article-image  rounded  overflow-hidden\" data-site=\"CoinJournal\">\n<picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/coinjournal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/imagecache\/2026\/01\/Ukraine-blocks-Polymarket-smartcrop-750x375.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\" media=\"(min-width: 750px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/coinjournal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/imagecache\/2026\/01\/Ukraine-blocks-Polymarket-smartcrop-363x181.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/coinjournal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/imagecache\/2026\/01\/Ukraine-blocks-Polymarket-smartcrop-750x375.jpg\" type=\"image\/jpeg\" media=\"(min-width: 750px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/coinjournal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/imagecache\/2026\/01\/Ukraine-blocks-Polymarket-smartcrop-363x181.jpg\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/coinjournal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ukraine-blocks-Polymarket.jpg\" alt=\"Ukraine blocks Polymarket\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\"\/>\n<\/picture>                            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Ukraine blocks Polymarket for operating without a gambling license.<\/li>\n<li>Polymarket is a decentralised prediction market where users bet on real-world events.<\/li>\n<li>ISPs in Ukraine have been instructed to restrict access to Polymarket\u2019s domain.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Ukraine has blocked access to the popular prediction market platform Polymarket.<\/p>\n<p>The action was taken because authorities classify the platform as engaging in unlicensed gambling.<\/p>\n<p>Internet service providers in Ukraine have been instructed to restrict access to Polymarket\u2019s domain.<\/p>\n<p>This decision is part of a broader effort to regulate online gambling and protect consumers.<\/p>\n<h2>Regulatory action and legal basis<\/h2>\n<p>The official block is based on Resolution No. 695, issued by the National Commission for the Regulation of Electronic Communications (\u041d\u041a\u0415\u041a) on December 10, 2025.<\/p>\n<p>The resolution implements a prior decision by the State Agency PlayCity, which identified unlicensed gambling platforms.<\/p>\n<p>Under Ukrainian law, any website facilitating gambling without a license must be restricted.<\/p>\n<p>Internet providers are legally required to comply with the block and prevent access for users.<\/p>\n<p>The resolution also mandates oversight to ensure compliance, including inspections and reporting by authorities.<\/p>\n<p>Polymarket\u2019s domain has been added to the public registry of blocked resources in Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities warned that noncompliance by providers could result in legal consequences.<\/p>\n<p>This move reflects Ukraine\u2019s ongoing crackdown on unlicensed online gambling platforms.<\/p>\n<p>Hundreds of sites have been blocked alongside Polymarket under similar regulations.<\/p>\n<h2>Polymarket\u2019s operations and why Ukraine blocked it<\/h2>\n<p>Polymarket is a decentralised prediction market where users bet on real-world events.<\/p>\n<p>Participants buy and sell \u201cshares\u201d that represent outcomes, with payoffs depending on the actual results.<\/p>\n<p>For example, a market might predict whether a city will be occupied by the end of the year.<\/p>\n<p>Users place bets using USDC, a stablecoin, on the Polygon blockchain.<\/p>\n<p>Transactions and results are recorded publicly, ensuring transparency through blockchain technology.<\/p>\n<p>Polymarket is valued at approximately $8 billion and was founded in 2020 by Shayne Coplan.<\/p>\n<p>The platform has seen significant activity, with Ukraine-related markets exceeding $100 million in bets by the end of 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities expressed concern over war-related betting markets, citing legal and reputational risks.<\/p>\n<p>Prediction markets like Polymarket are considered gambling under Ukrainian law, despite their decentralised and blockchain-based operations.<\/p>\n<p>This legal interpretation has led to similar restrictions in other countries, including Romania, France, Belgium, and Thailand.<\/p>\n<h2>Push to regulate crypto-based platforms<\/h2>\n<p>Ukraine\u2019s action against Polymarket underscores the increasing scrutiny of crypto-based platforms.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities are determined to enforce licensing requirements and prevent unregulated gambling.<\/p>\n<p>While Polymarket continues to operate in other jurisdictions, its access in Ukraine is now fully restricted.<\/p>\n<p>The move is part of a broader trend of regulatory oversight for online betting and crypto platforms worldwide.<\/p>\n<p>Users in Ukraine must now seek licensed alternatives or risk accessing illegal platforms.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-meta\">\n<hr class=\"mb-6\"\/>\n<h6 class=\"text-3xl  mb-4  text-green-300\">Share this article<\/h6>\n<hr class=\"mb-6\"\/>\n<h6 class=\"text-3xl  mb-4  text-green-300\">Categories<\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Markets#Ukraine #blocks #Polymarket #unlicensed #gambling1768322299<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ukraine blocks Polymarket for operating without a gambling license. Polymarket is a decentralised prediction market where users bet on real-world events. ISPs in Ukraine have been instructed to restrict access to Polymarket\u2019s domain. Ukraine has blocked access to the popular prediction market platform Polymarket. The action was taken because authorities classify the platform as engaging<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5578,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5577","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-eurozone"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.6 (Yoast SEO v26.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Ukraine blocks Polymarket over unlicensed gambling - Crypto News: Latest Cryptocurrency News and Analysis<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ukraine blocks Polymarket over unlicensed gambling, citing legal risks, while ISPs restrict access to the crypto-based prediction market platform.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/?p=5577\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ukraine blocks Polymarket over unlicensed gambling\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Ukraine blocks Polymarket over unlicensed gambling, citing legal risks, while ISPs restrict access to the crypto-based prediction market platform.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/?p=5577\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Crypto News: Latest Cryptocurrency News and Analysis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-13T16:38:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ukraine-blocks-Polymarket.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"533\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"\u884c\u653f\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\u884c\u653f\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/?p=5577\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/?p=5577\",\"name\":\"Ukraine blocks Polymarket over unlicensed gambling - Crypto News: Latest Cryptocurrency News and Analysis\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/?p=5577#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/?p=5577#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ukraine-blocks-Polymarket.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-13T16:38:19+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/#\/schema\/person\/822778c5844e0d16d43dce6630f4f1bf\"},\"description\":\"Ukraine blocks Polymarket over unlicensed gambling, citing legal risks, while ISPs restrict access to the crypto-based prediction market platform.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/?p=5577#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/?p=5577\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/?p=5577#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ukraine-blocks-Polymarket.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ukraine-blocks-Polymarket.jpg\",\"width\":800,\"height\":533},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/?p=5577#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Ukraine blocks Polymarket over unlicensed gambling\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cryptonews.uk.com\/\",\"name\":\"Crypto News: Latest Cryptocurrency News and Analysis\",\"description\":\"Latest Crypto &amp; 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