Prediction Markets, where people invest in the outcome of an event, have not broken into the mass market yet. However, Stox's platform, as well as its ICO, were thrust ahead when boxing giant Floyd Mayweather posted an Instagram post about Blockchain-based prediction markets.

Trading the outcome of an event in this prediction market allows for anyone to become a trader, with no need for knowledge of markets, rather on chosen events. In a prediction market, an investor can trade the outcome of anything from a football match to an election result, reaping the rewards if they are correct.

And like an investment market, crowd wisdom can draw in investors with dead-certs visible as a huge array of investors will congregate on a result of an event.

Money Mayweather

Breaking away from traditional online investing has been difficult as the market is quite a niche due to the complicated nature of trading. However, it is through Blockchain technology that this world of trading can be made available without the usual fees and red tape around trading. Stox has utilized the Ethereum network and it’s smart contracts to make trading and predictions on outcomes, something that can be autonomously completed.

The hyper-rich boxer posted on his Instagram that he would be delving into prediction markets by buying into Stox’s ICO which went live today (Aug. 2).The ICO looks like it could be heading towards record breaking as within the first 16 minutes of the ICO they saw 100,000 ETH contributed, and are up to over $20 mln in their opening day.

The fact that Mayweather sees the value in prediction markets, which is comparable to gambling in many respects, means that anyone with any interest in certain events can hedge their knowledge as a form of investments.

The new black

The prediction market space is still brand new, but its popularity is unparalleled. Gnosis nabbed the record for the fastest ever ICO back in April.

The interest in prediction markets has spread beyond just cryptocurrency users as Stox has attracted established business providers in the trading game to its platform while enticing more to join on.

Currently, Invest.com, an online investment house, has joined up with Stox offering it’s three mln registered users the chance at Stox’s prediction markets.

Ophir Gertner, founder of Stox said of this partnership with a traditional investment house:

“Stox is a transformative step in the journey of Invest.com Group, as it allows us to combine the power of Blockchain with the array of infrastructure, technical, sales and marketing assets that are currently powering Invest.com.”

Furthermore, Stox will be using that STX token for all transactions on its platform. The single token economy is meant to boost its demands as it is used for transaction fees, syndicate payments and oracle payments.

Violent liquids

With many ICO, there are always fears of low liquidity and the usual high volatility that comes with new cryptocurrencies. However, moves have been made to address these concerns with the use of Bancor.

Stox has teamed up with Bancor for its STX token, as the company claims to have a liquidity mechanism for tokens that can produce an unlimited liquidity pool and apparently resolve the risks of having low liquidity.

Eyal Hertzog, chief of product at Bancor backed up this idea of continuous liquidity:

"We are excited to see Stox.com launch the first user-generated smart token, and become a pioneer member of the Bancor protocol. We believe the continuous liquidity and increased stability of STX will benefit token holders and the Stox project at large."

With Invest.com on board to be their first provider - a trading house that sees eight mln trades annually -, the belief is that there will be no need for any pegging or stabilization mechanisms.

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