--- type: entity entity_type: company name: QCX domain: internet-finance status: acquired tracked_by: rio created: 2026-03-11 --- # QCX QCX was a CFTC-regulated derivatives exchange and clearinghouse holding Designated Contract Market (DCM) and Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO) licenses. Polymarket acquired QCX for $112 million in January 2026 to inherit these regulatory licenses, bypassing the typical years-long licensing process and gaining immediate legal standing to operate prediction markets in the United States under CFTC oversight. ## Timeline - **2026-01-20** — Acquired by Polymarket for $112M, transferring DCM and DCO licenses and enabling Polymarket's return to US operations ## Relationship to KB The QCX acquisition demonstrates "regulation via acquisition" as a viable strategy for crypto projects seeking US regulatory compliance. This precedent may influence how other crypto companies approach regulatory legitimacy — through M&A rather than de novo licensing applications. Relevant claims: - [[Polymarket achieved US regulatory legitimacy through $112M QCX acquisition establishing prediction markets as CFTC-regulated derivatives]]