Meta Platforms Inc. is developing a new smartphone application modeled on popular prediction market platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi, according to two employees familiar with the project. The initiative, reportedly spearheaded by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, aims to create an interactive platform where users can make predictions on various events using a points system that resembles a video game rather than placing real-money bets initially. However, the possibility of enabling users to wager actual money in the future has not been ruled out.

Prediction markets, which gained attention during the 2024 U.S. presidential election, allow participants to speculate on outcomes ranging from political developments and economic decisions to sporting events. The growing popularity of these platforms has led mainstream trading services like Robinhood and Interactive Brokers to introduce event-based contracts, further legitimizing the market as a niche asset class.

Internally named “Arena,” Meta’s app is expected to operate independently from its core social media services, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Arena represents one among several experimental standalone apps currently being tested by Meta. Another example is Meta Photos, a separate initiative aimed at generating new types of media content through artificial intelligence.

Meta plans to capitalize on its extensive user base by integrating Arena into its wider ecosystem. As of April, Meta reported having 3.56 billion daily active users across its different platforms—a figure reflecting the number of unique individuals who engage with any of the company’s apps each day. By directing some of this enormous audience toward its new prediction market app, Meta hopes to cultivate a large and active user community for Arena.

While details about the app’s full functionality and launch date remain limited, the development underscores Meta’s expanding efforts to diversify beyond social networking into emerging digital spaces with growth potential.