What happens when a prediction market picks sides in its payment system? Myriad just answered that question by making World Liberty Financial's USD1 stablecoin its only accepted currency. The platform is the first prediction market to go all-in on Trump-backed crypto infrastructure, forcing users into a single payment method while testing whether political connections affect who actually uses these forecasting tools.
The integration starts on BNB Chain with Myriad's new Candles product, where users bet on quick outcomes using USD1 as their betting currency. The platform plans to move all its BNB prediction markets to USD1-only during the first quarter of this year. This is different from how most crypto platforms work, which usually accept multiple stablecoins like USDT, USDC, and DAI to give users options.
Why Payment Currency Matters for Betting Markets
Prediction markets work like stock markets for future events. Users buy shares representing different outcomes, and share prices show what the crowd thinks will happen. If shares cost 65 cents, the market is saying there's a 65% chance that outcome occurs. When the event happens, winners get paid and losers get nothing.
The currency used for these bets matters more than you might think. When everyone uses the same currency, all the money pools together in one place. This creates better prices because there's more buying and selling happening. Think of it like a marketplace where all sellers are in one location versus scattered across different buildings. The concentrated marketplace gives you better deals because sellers compete directly with each other.
Myriad's choice eliminates the hassle of managing separate pools for USDT, USDC, and other dollar-pegged coins. Users holding other stablecoins need to convert to USD1 first, adding an extra step but simplifying how the platform operates behind the scenes. For a platform running dozens of prediction markets, this cuts down complexity and technical overhead.
Zach Witkoff, Co-Founder of World Liberty Financial, stated,
"Myriad's integration of USD1 expands the real-world utility of stable, dollar-backed digital assets in emerging on-chain markets. Prediction markets are a growing category within decentralized finance, and this integration introduces USD1 into an environment where transparency, stability, and user trust are essential."
The catch is that USD1 needs to maintain its dollar value and stay out of regulatory trouble. Circle's USDC holds about $40 billion in market cap, while Tether's USDT has around $140 billion. Both operate with established regulatory frameworks. USD1 enters as the new player with Trump connections that could attract different regulatory attention.
How the Candles Product Works
Myriad's Candles product runs automated markets with quick timeframes and automatic payouts. Instead of waiting days or weeks for election results or sports outcomes, these markets close within minutes or hours. The structure looks more like rapid-fire betting than traditional forecasting.
The platform automatically determines winners using its own data feeds. Users can't challenge results or vote on outcomes, they just accept what the system decides. This speeds up payments and removes community drama, but it also means trusting Myriad's data sources completely.
Farokh Sarmad, co-founder and president of Myriad, explained,
"From the moment I interviewed President Trump in September 2024, I knew WLFI would be something the team, their partners, and the broader industry would take very seriously. This announcement is a full-circle moment as Myriad becomes the first prediction market using USD1 as a base settlement asset."
Prediction markets have processed billions in trading volume during major events like elections. The concept works because crowds supposedly make better predictions than individuals when everyone has skin in the game.
Politics Meets Neutral Forecasting
Here's where things get interesting. Prediction markets work best when people bet based on what they think will happen, not what they want to happen or who they support politically. World Liberty Financial's Trump connection introduces political identity into systems designed to be neutral information aggregators.
The integration tests whether USD1's political associations affect who uses Myriad. Some users might choose or avoid the platform based on Trump connections rather than whether it offers the best prices or features. The Candles product only works for users outside the United States, suggesting Myriad recognizes that politically affiliated betting infrastructure faces regulatory complications domestically.
Myriad connects to Decrypt and Rug Radio for credibility through media associations. This differs from platforms like Polymarket or Kalshi, which built trust through regulatory licensing or accurate forecasting during major events.
The Risk of Going All-In on One Currency
Moving entirely to USD1 creates total dependency on World Liberty Financial's stablecoin management. If USD1 loses its dollar peg because of reserve problems, regulatory action, or confidence loss, Myriad's whole BNB operation would need emergency switching to different currency infrastructure.
Stablecoin failures have happened before. TerraUSD collapsed in 2022, wiping out billions and destroying platforms built entirely on that currency. While USD1 uses different technology than Terra, the risk remains that betting everything on one currency creates an existential threat if that currency fails.
The switch also costs users money. People who previously used USDT or USDC now pay transaction fees to convert to USD1. For large bets, these costs eat into potential winnings or make some markets not worth participating in.
What This Means for the Industry
Myriad is betting that pooled liquidity beats giving users currency options. Competing platforms that accept multiple stablecoins let users pick their preferred currency, potentially attracting people who want established coins with longer track records and clearer regulations.
The move also gets World Liberty Financial's stablecoin into prediction markets before competitors lock down the space. First platforms in new categories can build network effects where users stick around because that's where the action is, regardless of whether better platforms launch later.
The Candles structure exists in regulatory gray areas. Quick automated markets with continuous trading look like derivatives products that usually need special licenses. Blocking U.S. users acknowledges this, but international rules vary widely on whether these count as gambling, information markets, or securities.
Final Thoughts
Myriad's integration puts USD1 into prediction market infrastructure while testing whether users care about political connections in forecasting systems. The technology pools liquidity better but creates dependency on a single currency without the proven track record of alternatives.
Success depends on whether USD1 keeps its dollar peg, how regulators treat the Candles structure, and whether pooled liquidity makes up for losing currency options. The move also shows whether political infrastructure can succeed in systems designed for neutral information gathering, potentially changing how users think about platform neutrality in crypto forecasting.
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