One of the more recent inventions drastically changing our world is the rise of prediction markets, which include platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi that allow bettors to wager on real-world events. Known as “idea futures” or “event derivatives,” gamblers can bet on anything from who the next Pope will be to what a CEO might say on an earnings call.

Yesterday, at the end of Coinbase’s earnings call, CEO Brian Armstrong read off all the unspoken words bettors had wagered he would say. Of the eighteen words Kalshi had listed, Armstrong read 16; only “shutdown” and “crypto winter” were left unsaid. In other words, the majority of bets placed in this oddly specific market were paid out.

It’s unclear if Armstrong himself had any money on the line, or if he was just trolling for the sake of it, but this might be the nerd equivalent of throwing a game. 

At the end of the Coinbase earnings call today, Brian Armstrong pulled up the mention market and rattled off all the words that weren't said yet

What a wild time to be alive pic.twitter.com/4E5eldFkE4

— Tyrael (@0xTyrael) October 30, 2025