Jump Trading doubles prediction markets team as volumes surge
Jump Trading has doubled its prediction markets team this year as trading volumes hit records across the sector. The Chicago-based proprietary trading firm is integrating event contracts into its quantitative stack as institutional interest grows. Other major firms are moving in parallel: Related coverage shows DRW, Wintermute, and IMC have already built desks for Kalshi and Polymarket. Jump's expansion signals that top-tier market makers now treat prediction markets as a core asset class rather than a retail niche.
Jump Trading commits headcount, liquidity follows — and prediction markets need that liquidity to survive regulatory and tax pressure. The firm joins DRW, Wintermute, and IMC in building dedicated event-contract desks, tightening spreads and absorbing block-size flow that retail alone cannot handle. That institutional layer matters now because Kalshi just launched its Pro terminal for these exact users, and Polymarket is pushing margin trading.
Without Jump-scale market makers, both platforms remain vulnerable to settlement cracks during high-profile events like the World Cup final. The desks also matter for the tax fight: $240 billion in annual flow already drew Tobin tax warnings, and thin liquidity would make the sector an easier target. If Jump's cultural alpha thesis pays out, prediction markets gain a durable defense against the gambling label — proved utility, not just volume.