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Polymarket will open a free grocery store in New York City on February 12, offering no-cost groceries to shoppers alongside a $1 million donation to Food Bank For New York City, the prediction market platform announced this week.
The pop-up marks an escalation in brand competition with rival Kalshi, which held a similar but smaller free grocery promotion at a Manhattan market days earlier, as both platforms vie for mainstream visibility amid surging trading volumes and regulatory
In tandem with the store’s launch, Polymarket said it will donate $1 million to Food Bank For New York City, a nonprofit tackling hunger across the city’s five boroughs.
According to the company’s social media posts, the donation is part of giving back to the city we call home and supports broader efforts to address food insecurity.
“As a part of our mission of giving back to the city we call home, we’ve donated $1 million to Food Bank For NYC to help fight food insecurity across all five boroughs.” Polymarket statement on X (formerly Twitter).
Polymarket’s grocery store pop-up follows a smaller but high-visibility initiative by rival prediction market platform Kalshi, which on February 3 offered free groceries of up to $50 per shopper at Westside Market in Manhattan.
Kalshi’s event, held between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. ET, drew long lines and broad public attention as participants picked up free essentials under the tagline, Free groceries for everyone.
The proximity of these two initiatives frames a rapid escalation in brand competition between two of the fastest-growing platforms in the U.S. prediction market space.
“New York has given Kalshi so much. It’s only fair for Kalshi to give to New York.” Tarek Mansour, CEO of Kalshi, said in a LinkedIn post.
Industry analysts see both campaigns as efforts not just to boost brand awareness but to normalise prediction markets among mainstream audiences at a time when trading volumes have soared.
The grocery promotions come against a backdrop of economic strain in New York City, where high food prices and inflation have placed a strain on household budgets.
They also echo policy conversations steered by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has advocated for city-run, non-profit grocery stores in all five boroughs as a way to lower living costs and increase access to affordable food.
Neither Polymarket nor Kalshi has publicly confirmed formal coordination with city officials on their pop-ups, but observers note that both efforts tap into the broader civic discourse on food affordability.
Polymarket’s gamble on a large-scale, no-cost grocery store also places it under increasing regulatory scrutiny.
In late January, a Nevada state court issued a temporary restraining order restricting the company’s U.S. affiliate from offering certain contracts to Nevada residents, with further hearings scheduled.
Polymarket’s grocery initiative marks an innovative and risk-heavy attempt to blend community impact with user acquisition.
On the one hand, the donation and free store elevate Polymarket’s public profile beyond crypto circles; on the other hand, converting that goodwill into long-term user engagement and revenue is far from guaranteed.
Critics argue such stunts may distract from core product stability or invite accusations of gimmickry, especially at a time when digital asset markets are volatile, and users are increasingly wary of projects that overpromise.
Still, Polymarket’s move has already forced competitors like Kalshi to respond in kind, suggesting a new frontier in crypto marketing and real-world engagement.
As the grocery pop-up opens next week and regulatory debates continue, the industry will be watching closely to see whether this blend of social impact and brand strategy will deliver measurable benefits.
