Prediction market bets set the tone for Anthropic's much-awaited IPO

Prediction markets are buzzing with activity ahead of Anthropic's anticipated IPO, as traders place bets on various aspects of the upcoming stock market debut. While retail investors eagerly await the official opening bell, which is expected in the coming months, the prediction markets offer a different way for investors to speculate on the AI giant's future. These binary "yes" or "no" bets allow traders to wager on elements such as the closing price and the listing venue without the need to purchase shares.

Michael Ashley Schulman, a partner at Cerity Partners, a wealth management and financial advisory firm, likened the interest in Anthropic's prediction markets to the frenzy surrounding Apple Store lines for new iPhone releases. Earlier this week, Anthropic filed its IPO, potentially valuing the AI lab behind Claude models between $1.5 trillion and $2 trillion, according to Reuters.

On Polymarket, more than a dozen markets have emerged around the IPO, where traders are placing bets on various factors, including the fundraising amount, the listing exchange, and the debut valuation. Kalshi is also attracting bets on the event.