According to the blockchain-based prediction market Polymarket, there is an 84% likelihood that former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris will debate before the election. Trump has shown hesitation to debate Harris until her official nomination, citing significant confusion within the Democratic party.
High Stakes: $142,846 Wager on Trump-Harris Debate Before Election
On Friday, July 26, people have been betting on a Polymarket wager on whether Donald Trump will debate Kamala Harris before the election. The wager currently stands at $142,846, with bettors believing there is an 84% chance a debate will occur. Polymarket utilizes blockchain technology, leveraging Ethereum and Polygon for smart contracts, which automatically handle market creation, share trading, and outcome settlement.
Usd coin (USDC) is used for transactions, and Polygon’s scalability and compatibility with Ethereum enable Polymarket to offer faster and cheaper transactions while benefiting from the Ethereum chain. In recent months, the election has significantly boosted Polymarket’s popularity, resulting in numerous bets on the topic. The debate wager emerged after President Joe Biden endorsed Harris, indicating her intention to run against Trump.
Despite the 84% chance, mainstream media reports suggest a Trump vs. Harris debate is uncertain. The Trump campaign insists he will not debate Harris until her nomination at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19-22, 2024.
The campaign believes there is significant disarray within the Democratic party and will likely refrain from a debate until her selection. The campaign also noted that former President Barack Obama did not endorse Harris. Conversely, Trump has expressed willingness to participate in multiple debates with Harris before the general election.
Trump has indicated a preference for Fox News over ABC News for the debates but is willing to proceed regardless of the media channel. Harris has accused Trump of reneging on the previously agreed-upon debate schedule and has stated her readiness to debate him on Sept. 10. Currently, Polymarket bettors are confident a debate will happen, but bets also show Trump leading by a significant margin. As of July 26, Polymarket bettors give Trump a 60% chance of winning the election, while Harris has a 39% chance.
Source: bitcoin news
