Meta is testing a prediction-market app with its employees, according to The Wall Street Journal. The app reportedly uses virtual currency instead of real money.
Before anyone else gets a look, Meta's own staff are the first to place forecasts on its new app. The prototype test reportedly runs a step ahead of a potential public rollout on iOS and Android.
What Meta is reportedly building
Earlier reporting described the project as an app called Arena, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg leading the effort. Users forecast how events will turn out, and the market reflects what the crowd expects to happen.
Arena is reportedly designed around virtual currency rather than real money. That separates it from platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi, where users put real stakes on the line.
Meta also reportedly plans to use its Llama AI model to generate event questions and personalized market recommendations. The app is reportedly aimed at users aged 18–34, and Meta is reportedly anticipating at least 100 million monthly active participants.
Meta has tried this before
Arena follows Forecast, an earlier app the company launched around 2020-2021. Meta discontinued Forecast in 2022, reportedly because of high operational costs.
Meta is also exploring partnerships with Polymarket and Kalshi to strengthen Arena's operations. Nothing has been announced.
What to watch next
Real-money prediction markets carry regulatory questions and a psychological barrier, the source notes. A play-money design could also give Meta data on user preferences and engagement, which could be used for future monetization.
The open questions are whether Meta confirms a public release date, whether any Polymarket or Kalshi partnership materializes, and whether the company can keep costs in check this time.
Source: Crypto Briefing
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