'Arena': the new Meta app that aims to compete with Polymarket

Mark Zuckerberg tasked a small team with creating Arena, a new experimental platform that will operate outside of Facebook and Instagram.

The initiative aims to leverage new forms of digital interaction and compete in a segment that has gained popularity with platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi.

What is Arena, the new app being developed by Meta

According to reports, Arena will be a smartphone application focused on predictions about various events and outcomes.

The project is under development and would operate independently from Meta's main platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger.

The company plans to drive the growth of the application by leveraging the reach of its social networks and directing users to the new experience.

How Arena would work

According to available information, users would not bet money in the initial stage.

The application would use a point system similar to that of video games to make predictions and participate in various dynamics.

Although the project is still in the experimental phase, the company continues to evaluate different alternatives for its future evolution.

Why Meta is betting on predictive markets

The development of Arena is part of a broader strategy driven by Mark Zuckerberg to explore new social behaviors on the internet.

The company is also working on other independent projects, including an application called Meta Photos, aimed at content creation through artificial intelligence.

Currently, more than 3.56 billion people use at least one of Meta's applications daily, which has led the company to experiment with new formats and products.

The growth of predictive markets

Predictive markets have become one of the fastest-growing digital segments in recent years.

Platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi allow predictions on sports, political, and cultural events, among many other topics.

In 2025, both companies recorded a combined online trading volume of US$ 50 billion. By 2026, that volume had already surpassed US$ 130 billion.

Zuckerberg's strategy for creating new applications

Over the years, Mark Zuckerberg has driven various projects to adapt to new usage trends on the internet.

Meta had already experimented with a prediction application called Forecast, launched in 2020. That platform used a point system for users to share estimates about future events.

The experience ended in 2022, but the recent growth of predictive markets has once again placed this type of application at the center of the company's innovation strategy.