In a surprising shift on the decentralized prediction market platform Polymarket, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has overtaken former President Donald Trump in the odds for the upcoming presidential election. As of today, Harris’ odds of winning the November election have risen to 50%, surpassing Trump’s odds, which stand at 49%. This marks a notable change from earlier in the week when Trump had been in the lead.
The recent presidential debate between Harris and Trump has been a pivotal moment influencing these odds. Initially, after the debate, Harris' odds tied with Trump at 49% each. However, Trump later regained a slight edge before the odds shifted again, with Harris now leading. The debate was perceived as a “sell-the-news” event, reflecting a risk-off sentiment due to Trump's underwhelming performance, according to market observers.
On PredictIt, another popular prediction market, the price for a Harris victory has increased to 56 cents today, up from 53 cents earlier in the week. In contrast, Trump’s odds have dropped to 47 cents. This aligns with several post-debate polls indicating Harris' strong performance. A YouGov survey of over 2,000 registered voters revealed that 54% of respondents believed Harris won the debate, compared to 31% for Trump. Similarly, a CNN/SSRS poll showed Harris outperforming Trump by a margin of 63% to 37%.
While neither candidate directly addressed cryptocurrency during the debate, the crypto industry has become a significant aspect of the election discourse. Harris’ team has reportedly started engaging with the crypto sector, while Trump has consistently voiced his support for Bitcoin. The growing intersection of politics and cryptocurrency adds another layer of interest to the election predictions.
Polymarket has become a major hub for election prediction, with the market volume for the U.S. presidential election surpassing $892 million. On Polymarket’s “Who will win the debate according to polls” market, Harris’ chances of winning were at 73% around the time of the debate and have surged to 99% since then.
The shifting odds on Polymarket and PredictIt highlight the dynamic nature of election predictions and the influence of key events such as debates. With Harris currently leading in the prediction markets, it reflects a significant moment in the election cycle. As the election approaches, these platforms continue to provide real-time insights into the evolving landscape of U.S. politics.
September 2024, Cryptoniteuae