The Corporate Polycule

Kalshi x Polymarket x NHL, Western Union sucks

Author

Boys Club
October 29, 2025

Hey!

We’re taking a break from livestreaming this week but in the meantime you can catch up on last week’s stream through the clip below, where we consider our place in the permanent underclass.

Warmest Regards,

The Boys

Writer: Deana

Editor: Miranda

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Western Union “Embraces Crypto.” I’m having mixed feelings about the news that Western Union is embracing crypto, specifically stablecoins, on Solana. On one hand, their networked distribution is a positive for the industry, helping to solve a huge, intrinsic ‘last mile’ problem around on and off-ramps for local currencies around the globe. However, I sure as shit didn’t get into crypto to prop up incumbents with extractive business models that corner vulnerable populations.

Now, their CEO says they want to give those same customers “more choice and control in how they manage and move their money.”

@yadro.greenscreen

Tim Robinson "You Sure About That" Meme Template #timrobinson

Yes sir there is more choice and control now. Also much (healthy) competition in the stablecoin game. So we can only hope that this means 1) fees are pushed down to a bargain basement price and/or 2) those same customers choose literally anyone else. Western Union made billions on the backs of people who didn’t have a choice. Stablecoins upend that broken model, with players like Zar, Eco and Onboard actively working to build something new. May the invisible hand of the market do its thing.

Prediction Markets. You can cancel that VPN subscription, as Polymarket is set to launch in the US “within weeks,” with a focus on sports. Presumably football. I’m still unclear on the “corporate polycule” that is Kalshi x NHL x Polymarket after both were named “the Official Prediction Market of the NHL.” Messy! Separately, Donald Trump’s social media platform Truth Social is teaming up with Crypto.com to launch a new prediction market to “democratize information.” Everyone’s at it.

Quick Hits.