The initiative came from Polymarket and will also appeal for donations to the New York food bank. It is not known what stock is or how long it will be available.
Polymarket, a cryptocurrency-based prediction market platform, is entering an unexpected line of business: that of supermarkets.
The company announced plans to open what it calls the first free supermarket in New York City, offering free food to the public as part of a high-impact promotional campaign linked to its brand.
In an announcement published on February 3 on Polymarket’s Substack, the company stated that the store, called “The Polymarket”, will open at noon on Thursday, February 12, in New York. According to the announcement, the store will be fully stocked and open to all New Yorkers, with no purchase or registration required.
“Free supermarkets. Free markets“, wrote the company, presenting the project as an investment in the community and a statement on free market principles. Polymarket described the store as a “real, physical investment” in New York, a city that plays a central role in the areas of finance, technology and media.
Polymarket operates an online platform where users place bets on everything from economic indicators to weather events and sports. The company has grown rapidly in visibility in recent years, mainly during major political cyclesand the supermarket appears to have been designed to further increase public awareness of the brand through an unconventional real-world presence.
Although the groceries are free, the launch is also linked to a parallel donation campaigns with the aim of combating food insecurity. Polymarket is encouraging visitors and supporters to donate to the Food Bank for New York City, a longtime nonprofit that provides meals throughout the city’s five boroughs. The company shared a link to a GoFundMe fundraising campaign in support of the organization.
According to the fundraising page, every dollar donated can help provide up to three nutritious meals and culturally appropriate for families facing food insecurity.
The announcement generated mixed reactions online, with some praising the initiative for providing free food and bringing attention to fighting hunger, while others question the use of food insecurity as a part of a marketing strategy by a cryptocurrency company. Polymarket did not specify how long the supermarket will remain open or how it will be supplied over time.
The company did not disclose details about item limits, expected customer flow or whether similar initiatives could emerge in other cities. For now, Polymarket states that the store is open to all New Yorkers and emphasizes that participation is voluntary.
