Shayne Coplan
Shayne Coplan (born 1998) is an American entrepreneur, technologist, and the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Polymarket, the world's largest prediction market.[1][2]
Early life and education
[edit]Shayne Coplan was born in 1998 and raised on the Upper West Side of New York City.[1][3] He attended public schools in Hell's Kitchen.[1] Coplan studied computer science at New York University but left before completing his degree to pursue interests in cryptocurrencies and prediction markets.[1][3]
Career
[edit]In 2014, Coplan participated in the initial coin offering of Ethereum and acquired the cryptocurrency when it was priced significantly lower than its later value.[1][3] Inspired by economist Friedrich Hayek’s theories on decentralized information systems and George Mason University Professor Robin Hanson’s work on Futarchy, Coplan founded Polymarket in 2020, which operates as a prediction market using smart contracts on the Polygon blockchain for settling wagers.[1][3] Coplan’s Polymarket is now the largest prediction market in the world, facilitating over $3.2 billion in bets during the 2024 United States presidential election and featuring prominently in mainstream media coverage of the election.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Roberts, Jeff John; Rowe, Niamh. "Who is Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan? The 26-year-old's crypto betting site is taking U.S. politics by storm". Fortune.
- ^ David Yaffe-Bellany; William K. Rashbaum; Michael J. de la Merced (13 November 2024). "F.B.I. Searches Home of Founder of Polymarket Betting Website". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Wikidata Q131195855. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ a b c d Field, Matthew (November 9, 2024). "The 26-year-old whose betting start-up predicted Trump's triumph" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.