Meta is developing a standalone prediction markets style app as Mark Zuckerberg looks to capitalize on the rapid growth of online forecasting platforms.

The experimental app is internally known as Arena and is being built by a small team following a directive from Zuckerberg, according to a New York Times report citing employees familiar with the project.

Arena would operate independently from Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger.

Users would initially make predictions using a video game style points system rather than real money, though Meta has not ruled out eventually introducing monetary markets.

The company plans to use its existing social platforms to direct users toward the new app and overcome one of the main challenges facing standalone products, attracting an initial audience.

Arena remains in development and may never be released.

The project is part of a wider effort by Meta to create apps around new forms of online behavior as growth across its established social networks begins to mature.

More than 3.5 billion people use at least one Meta app each day, leaving the company searching for new products that can create additional engagement beyond Facebook and Instagram.

Prediction markets have grown rapidly over the past year, allowing users to trade on the outcomes of political, economic, sports and entertainment events.

The two largest platforms generated around $50 billion in combined trading volume during 2025, according to the report. Their combined volume has already exceeded $130 billion this year.

Meta previously explored the category through Forecast, a crowdsourced prediction app launched in 2020.

Forecast allowed users to make points based predictions about public events and was presented as a way to collect shared knowledge. Meta shut down the app in 2022 after it failed to gain significant traction.

Arena would revive the concept as prediction platforms attract larger audiences and expand into mainstream sports, politics and entertainment.

Meta is also testing other standalone products, including Meta Photos, an app designed to create new forms of media using artificial intelligence.

The company has a mixed record with experimental apps. Several products developed by its New Product Experimentation team failed to build lasting audiences.

Arena would also enter a market facing increased regulatory scrutiny over potential insider trading and the legal status of event based contracts.

The planned points system could allow Meta to test user demand without immediately entering regulated financial markets.