Polymarket reaches peak search on Google with 100 points

Search interest on Google for the keyword “Polymarket” has skyrocketed to 100, the highest ever, surpassing the 99 peak during the US election in November 2024 – a period when the platform processed $3.7 billion in election-related trading volume.

Notably, this new record was set without any major “catalyst” event, indicating that Polymarket has moved beyond being just a tool for elections and is gradually becoming a core infrastructure for real-time information markets. Post-election data reflects the platform’s strong user retention capabilities.

Conversely, search volume for the general term “prediction markets” dropped to 40 in January, down 60% from the 100 in December and significantly lower than the industry’s peak. This divergence is similar to the early 2000s, when “Google it” gradually became the default phrase for internet searches.

Competitor Kalshi recorded a search score of 77 in January, higher than pre-election levels but still down 23% from the previous month.

Data shows that Polymarket holds the “definition” of prediction markets in public perception. Instead of researching the category first and then comparing platforms later, users are increasingly searching directly for “Polymarket,” thereby reinforcing network effects and making competition more difficult.

Notably, the total trading volume of prediction markets exceeded $800,000,000 on Sunday, a record high, bringing the entire industry close to a new monthly record.