During FOX’s broadcast of the Los Angeles Rams vs. Baltimore Ravens game NFL Week 6, legendary quarterback-turned-analyst Tom Brady made headlines by casually referencing Polymarket.
While discussing a potential trick play involving Ravens running back Derrick Henry, Brady turned to play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt and said, “Check the Polymarket” to gauge the crowd-sourced odds on whether Henry would attempt a pass.
The offhand remark, delivered mid-game to millions of viewers, caught fans off guard and quickly went viral on social media. The comment came during a high-stakes AFC matchup, with the Ravens leading.
Brady, known for his sharp analysis, used Polymarket — a blockchain-based prediction market platform — as a real-time tool for probabilistic insights, blending sports commentary with crypto-native betting. Clips of the exchange spread rapidly, amassing thousands of views on X within hours.
Crypto enthusiasts celebrated it as a mainstream breakthrough for prediction markets. Posts on X highlighted the surprise factor, with users joking about potential sponsorships “How much did Polymarket pay him?” and speculating on its impact.
Polymarket’s official X account amplified the clip, captioning it: “”Check the Polymarket” — Tom Brady.” This isn’t Brady’s first crypto flirtation — he’s invested in FTX previously — but it underscores prediction markets’ growing cultural cachet, especially in sports.
The nod aligns with Polymarket’s expansion into sports betting, following massive volumes in politics $9B+ in 2024 U.S. election trades. With Polymarket recently acquired by a U.S. derivatives exchange and gearing up for a domestic app launch, Brady’s endorsement could accelerate user onboarding.
Analysts see it as a “cultural pivot,” potentially boosting Polygon’s ecosystem Polymarket’s blockchain and drawing traditional sports fans into DeFi. A related Polymarket event — “Will Tom Brady mention ‘Polymarket’ during an NFL broadcast this season?” — resolved to “Yes” at 100% probability, with trading volume spiking to $17.6M, reflecting bettors’ hype.
Surge in CZ Pardon Odds on Polymarket
Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, former CEO of Binance, has been a focal point for pardon speculation since his 2024 guilty plea to money laundering charges, resulting in a four-month prison sentence.
In May 2025, Zhao publicly confirmed directing his lawyers to seek a pardon from President Donald Trump, citing Binance’s compliance efforts and his contributions to crypto innovation. Trump, a vocal crypto advocate, has already pardoned figures like Silk Road’s Ross Ulbricht and BitMEX co-founders, fueling optimism for Zhao.
As of mid-October 2025, Polymarket’s “Will Trump pardon CZ in 2025?” market shows “Yes” shares trading at around 43% probability — up over 40% from earlier lows (e.g., 29% in July). This jump followed Zhao quietly removing “ex-@binance ” from his X bio in September, sparking rumors of a potential return to leadership.
Odds peaked at 64% that month before settling, but recent whale activity and media buzz have reignited momentum. The prediction resolves “Yes” if Trump grants clemency by December 31, 2025, based on official White House announcements.
Trading volume exceeds $5M, with CZ leading a broader “Who will Trump pardon in 2025?” poll at 35-36% of bets — ahead of Roger Ver (10-15%) and George Santos (10%). Critics, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, have flagged potential conflicts tied to Binance’s dealings with Trump’s family, but bettors remain bullish.
A pardon could reinstate Zhao at Binance, dominating 40%+ of global crypto spot volume, and signal regulatory thaw under Trump. However, it’s speculative — Trump’s comments on similar cases emphasize discretion, and no formal White House signals exist yet.
Polymarket, the world’s largest prediction market by volume, hit a milestone on October 10: its highest single-day spot trading activity of 2025, surpassing prior peaks from election-season surges.
While exact figures aren’t public, on-chain data indicates volumes exceeded $100M that day, driven by sports and crypto-related events amid broader market hype. The spike coincided with NFL Week 6 prep preceding Brady’s mention and ongoing pardon/politics trades.
Year-to-date, Polymarket has tallied $7.5B+ in volumes — up from $9B in 2024 — fueled by 314,000+ active traders. Sports markets (e.g., NFL outcomes) now rival politics, with daily volumes averaging $50M+.
Built on Polygon, Polymarket uses USDC for transparent, non-custodial bets on events from elections to pop culture. Regulatory wins, like its U.S. exchange acquisition, position it to challenge rivals like Kalshi which led on-chain volumes in September at $500M weekly.
October 10’s record underscores prediction markets’ maturation, often outperforming polls in accuracy. These stories highlight Polymarket’s role as a barometer for real-world uncertainty, blending entertainment, politics, and finance.
If Brady’s plug and CZ rumors drive sustained volume, 2025 could see prediction markets eclipse $10B annually.
