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New Delhi: Meta Platforms is reportedly developing a standalone prediction market-style app called Arena, in a move that could place the social media giant closer to fast-growing platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket.

Zuckerberg Pushes New Experiment

According to reports, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has directed a small internal team to work on the product. The app is still in development and has not been publicly announced by the company. A Meta spokesperson has declined to comment on the reported project.

Arena is expected to operate separately from Meta’s existing platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. However, the company could use its massive social media reach to promote the app once it is ready for public testing.

How Arena May Work

Unlike traditional prediction market platforms, Arena is not currently expected to involve real-money betting at launch. Instead, it may use a game-like points system that allows users to predict outcomes of live events without wagering cash.

The app could focus on events that already drive large online conversations, including sports, politics, entertainment, global news and other trending topics. The idea is to create a space where users can interact, compete and follow predictions around real-world developments.

Why Prediction Markets Matter

Prediction markets have gained major attention in recent years as users increasingly track probabilities around elections, sports results, policy decisions and business events. Platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket have grown rapidly, helped by rising user interest and a more favorable regulatory environment in the United States.

The sector has also attracted financial platforms and investors, with some analysts projecting significant growth in trading volumes over the coming years.

Meta’s Bigger Strategy

For Meta, Arena appears to be part of a broader effort to experiment with new standalone apps beyond its core social media products. The company has often moved quickly to adapt popular online formats and turn them into larger consumer products.

If launched, Arena could give Meta a fresh engagement tool at a time when prediction-based content is becoming a powerful online trend. But its release timeline remains unclear for now.