Sportradar Appoints ProphetX’s Daniel Zurakov as VP of Prediction Markets

Sportradar has appointed Daniel Zurakov as vice-president of prediction markets, strengthening its leadership as it pivots deeper into institutional event contract trading. Zurakov arrives from prediction markets platform ProphetX, where he served as vice-president of markets, bringing experience from both proprietary trading and regulated betting exchange operations. The hire signals Sportradar’s intention to increase its footprint in the growing prediction markets space, which is seeing surging institutional and retail interest in regulated event contracts.

Sportradar Focuses on Prediction Markets Expansion

The recruitment of Daniel Zurakov, announced on 16 September 2026, is part of Sportradar's move to capture a larger share of the prediction markets segment. The company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, has stepped up supply partnerships and product offerings tailored for prediction-driven trading through 2026. Zurakov is tasked with developing the vertical, leveraging Sportradar's extensive sports data, technology stack, and existing partner network.

Zurakov’s appointment arrives as institutional focus on prediction markets intensifies. His recent roles at ProphetX and, prior to that, as COO and chief product officer of Kapital Trading, add operational leadership from both the trading and platform sides.

“Prediction markets are rapidly developing into a significant new institutional trading vertical, and Sportradar is uniquely positioned to help power that evolution with its world-class sports data, technology and global reach,” Zurakov commented. “I’m looking forward to helping build and scale the business, expand the ecosystem and connect the next generation of markets with the gold standard in sports data.”

ProphetX: Recent Milestones and Regulatory Advances

ProphetX, Zurakov’s most recent employer, completed a $35 million funding round earlier this year. The round was led by Parlay Capital and Data Point Capital and included investment from FDJ UNITED Ventures. ProphetX stated those funds would be dedicated to scaling its B2B business, strengthening liquidity, and advancing product development capabilities.

A critical operational milestone for ProphetX came in mid-June, when it obtained approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), formalising its status as a regulated prediction markets platform. The company, which initially launched as a betting exchange in New Jersey, has used the regulatory green light to step up its expansion efforts in the B2B sector. Regulatory developments in the U.S. continue to shape the competitive landscape for event contract trading platforms.

Sportradar’s Deal Activity With Kalshi and Polymarket

Sportradar has entered into key supply agreements with both Kalshi and Polymarket during 2026, marking a major shift in how sports and event market data is distributed for prediction trading.

The Kalshi arrangement designates Sportradar as an "official data and solutions provider" for prominent sports, including Major League Baseball (MLB), National Hockey League (NHL), and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events. The partnership goes beyond data, enabling Sportradar to enter agreements directly with Kalshi’s partners, such as market makers and brokers. For operators, these channels extend Sportradar’s influence into the heart of the event contract trading ecosystem.

The Polymarket partnership adds to Sportradar’s multi-platform supply strategy, covering not only sports data feeds but also streaming and integrity services. Both deals signify Sportradar’s dual strategy of content exclusivity and value-added services in the prediction markets sector.

Competitive Context: Genius Sports and B2B Market

Sportradar is not alone in targeting regulated prediction markets. Genius Sports, its primary competitor in sports data, also supplies data and services to both Kalshi and Polymarket. The landscape is becoming increasingly competitive as both organisations aim to serve exchanges, market makers, and brokers seeking reliable and secure market information.

During Sportradar’s Q2 earnings call, CFO Craig Felenstein spoke about the sector’s prospects:

“We have begun to just scratch the surface on the prediction markets opportunity. If you’d asked us three months ago what this could be for us, I think our expectations would be a little bit lower than they are today, given all the inbound interest we have seen from across the ecosystem, whether it be the exchanges, whether it be the brokers or whether it be the market makers.”

Competition is thus escalating not only on data supply and rights but also on the depth of integration with trading infrastructure and B2B product suites.

What’s Next for Sportradar and Prediction Markets

Zurakov steps into his new role as the industry enters a phase of rapid growth in regulated event contract trading, powered by new capital, regulatory clarity, and shifting institutional interest. For Sportradar, the hiring move aligns with its broader ambitions to build an end-to-end prediction markets vertical, integrating data, technology, and liquidity support for clients across North America and beyond.

As more sports data providers and event trading platforms pursue similar deals, differentiation will centre on the quality of data, reliability of partnerships, and the ability to serve both exchanges and market-makers in a highly regulated setting. With US regulators like the CFTC granting new licences and the flow of venture capital into firms such as ProphetX, the addressable market for institutional and retail prediction trading continues to expand.

For further insight into the evolution of regulated betting markets and new B2B partnerships in prediction trading, follow industry updates via the news section.