Polymarket’s Return to the U.S. Stalls: Operations Lag, CEO Accused of “Nominal Management”

According to The Information, Polymarket—four years after exiting the U.S. market—is attempting to re-enter the domestic market by acquiring a U.S.-licensed derivatives and futures exchange, thereby rejoining the regulated framework, and has appointed Justin Hertzberg to lead its U.S. operations. However, recent developments indicate that Polymarket’s U.S. business progress has fallen short of expectations, with its market share significantly trailing that of its main competitor, Kalshi. Reportedly, within the company, Justin Hertzberg assumes more of a “figurehead CEO” role, primarily responsible for signing regulatory documents, while his capacity to manage and scale U.S. operations remains limited. Overall, Polymarket’s re-entry into the U.S. market continues to face dual challenges—both regulatory and operational.