Prediction Markets Heat Up as Election and Crypto Drama Unfold

Polygon is enabling a new payment infrastructure with several key features: - **Faster refunds** for improved transaction processing - **Borderless settlement** removing geographic payment barriers - **24/7 always-on rails** ensuring continuous operation This builds on Polygon's Q2 update from August 2025, which highlighted their focus on fast, low-cost, and borderless payment solutions. The infrastructure aims to provide reliable, round-the-clock payment processing without traditional banking hour limitations.

**Polygon is enabling instant stablecoin tax refunds at major Italian airports during the 2026 Winter Olympics.** Starting this month, international shoppers can claim tax refunds in USDC on Polygon at Milan, Rome, and Venice airports. The service is powered by Global Blue Group and Shift4. **Key Details:** - Instant refunds paid in USDC stablecoin - Available at three major Italian airports - Timed with 2026 Winter Olympics - Built on Polygon network This follows Polygon's October 2025 integration with [DeCard](https://polygon.technology/blog/decard-unlocks-stablecoin-payments-for-150m-merchants-globally-powered-by-polygon), which enabled USDC and USDT payments to 150M+ merchants worldwide. The airport refund system represents a practical application of stablecoin infrastructure for everyday financial services.

**Dyadnum**, the world's first native WhatsApp trading bot, has launched on **Polygon**. **Key Features:** - Integrates DeFi trading directly into WhatsApp messaging platform - Leverages Polygon's fast transaction speeds and low costs - Simplifies decentralized finance access for mainstream users **Why It Matters:** By embedding DeFi functionality into WhatsApp—one of the world's most widely used messaging apps—Dyadnum significantly expands the potential user base for decentralized trading beyond traditional crypto platforms.

Polygon has joined the **Enterprise Ethereum Alliance** alongside Nethermind and Ethena to advance institutional payment infrastructure. Through its **Open Money Stack**, Polygon aims to create global payment rails that bridge traditional financial systems with blockchain networks. The collaboration will focus on three key areas: - Global settlement infrastructure - Merchant payment access - Compliant payment rails This move builds on Polygon's growing position in the payments sector. The network has become a leading chain for **x402 payments** and agentic commerce, where autonomous agents handle real-world transactions. Companies like Toku already use Polygon for stablecoin payroll across 100+ countries, integrating with existing HR systems like ADP and Workday. The partnership positions Polygon to serve as infrastructure for institutional money movement, targeting the $50T global payroll market currently constrained by legacy banking systems.

Last week saw significant stablecoin activity across multiple metrics: **Transfer Volume** - 94M stablecoin transfers recorded, marking the highest among all chains - USDC supply reached $1.49B, setting another daily all-time high **Platform Performance** - Tazapay processed $687M in monthly volume, establishing a new record - Polymarket recorded $1.7B in trading volume, its second-highest week on record **International Movement** - $195M in international stablecoins transferred - Australian Dollar stablecoin (AUDF) led with $76M in volume These figures demonstrate continued growth in stablecoin adoption across payment platforms, prediction markets, and cross-border transactions.