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Crypto.com And Novig Take Missouri Prediction-Market Fight To Federal Court

Missouri’s crackdown on sports prediction contracts is now facing two federal court challenges, with operators linked to Crypto.com and Novig pushing back against state efforts to treat the products as unlicensed gambling.

TL;DR: Two companies filed lawsuits on October 16 after receiving Missouri cease-and-desist letters. Their central argument is that federally regulated event contracts fall under CFTC oversight, but the courts have not resolved that question.

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway gave six platforms notice in September that they should stop offering the relevant contracts to state residents or comply with sports-wagering rules. The state argues that a contract paying out based on a sporting result is a bet in substance, whatever name a platform gives it.

North American Derivatives Exchange, behind Crypto.com’s prediction offering, filed in Missouri’s Western District. Novig operator Ludlow Exchange filed separately in the Eastern District. Both are asking the courts to restrict state enforcement while the dispute over jurisdiction plays out.

The conflict cuts to the business model of prediction exchanges. A federally supervised derivatives venue may argue that it should not need to obtain a separate state gambling licence for every jurisdiction in which a customer trades. States respond that sports wagering rules, including age restrictions and local taxes, cannot be bypassed simply through contract design.

Kalshi, Polymarket, Robinhood and Underdog also received Missouri letters, but had not filed comparable cases there as of the latest court review. Their choices should not be mistaken for acceptance of the state’s position.

For now, the litigation is an opening move. Neither filing establishes that Missouri’s restrictions are unlawful, and any interim court order would be narrower than a final judgment on how sports event markets can operate nationwide.

Written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.

Now Accepting Bitcoin: Coljac CafΓ© Bitcoin Hub with 40+ Nearby Missouri Merchants

Bitcoin Magazine

Now Accepting Bitcoin: Coljac CafΓ© Bitcoin Hub with 40+ Nearby Missouri Merchants

When I heard of the Coljac CafΓ© Bitcoin acceptance, I expected to write a quaint little piece about a small-town coffee shop trying something quirky. I was completely wrong. What I found in Farmington, Missouri wasn’t just a place to grab a morning espresso, it was the undisputed heart of an entire regional monetary movement.Β 

Pioneer Status: Coljac CafΓ© in Missouri Bitcoin Acceptance

When local Bitcoiners started dropping in, grabbing tables, and hosting informal meetups at the Farmington shop, ownership was willing to listen. The shop’s owner and the local bitcoiners worked together and integrated Coinos.io, giving her register native Bitcoin and Lightning functionality. Their register has since been updated to Square who officially crossed 1 million vendors accepting bitcoin.Β That willingness to embrace her customers has paid off in measurable revenue:

  • The Baseline: On the annual income last year, Bitcoin transactions account for roughly 5% of her total business.
  • Meetup Takeovers: On weekends when the local Bitcoiner group hosts an event at the Farmington location, Bitcoin payments skyrocket to an astonishing 50% of her entire morning sales volume.
  • 0% fees on transactions beats the pants off credit cards.

Today, a β€œBitcoin Accepted Here” sign sits right on the counter. Sure, 95% of her day-to-day customers still hand over credit cards or cash, but that sign has become a beacon. As Jessica has grown more aware of the monetary shift, she’s become genuinely happy to educate curious locals who stop to ask about it over their morning drip.

The Coljac CafΓ© Bitcoin Sprouting Effect

Here is where the story gets really wild. The Coljac CafΓ© Bitcoin story didn’t just stay an isolated island accepting sats, it became the focal gathering point that catalyzed an entire local circular economy in and south of St. Louis. Because Col Jac’s created a safe landing pad for Bitcoiners, the surrounding community started taking notice. Now, the momentum is spreading across the region:

  • 1. Grassroots Food & Farmers: The standout here is the Milkmen Farms Alliance, running weekly delivery routes for raw milk, eggs, and meat directly to St. Louis doorsteps. Paired with local producers like Hale Family Farm and Ozark Prime Beef, you can fill your fridge on a hard-money standard while farmers hedge against inflation.
  • 2. Leisure & Traveler Lodging: For recreation and overnight stays, Cherrywood Golf Course in Fredericktown lets you pay for 18 holes, drinks, and on-site lodging in sats. Further along the trail, The Station at Sawyer’s Landing provides another crucial pit stop with overnight rooms for traveling Bitcoiners.
  • 3. Main Street Services: The ecosystem covers practical everyday needs, too. You can get a haircut at Hairapeutic, schedule pregnancy imaging at Sneak a Peek Ultrasounds, or bring heavy diesel machinery in for work at Bobs Tractor & Equipment Repair

Nearby Missouri Bitcoin 40+ Stores

If you live in Farmington, Saint Louis or anywhere in Missouri, the option to live fully on bitcoin is becoming a reality. I’ve listed all the businesses that I know of, and happy to add more. As always, email vagabond@b.tc with your story and we will get it covered.

Full Directory of Businesses Accepting Bitcoin within 2 hours from Coljac CafΓ© – source https://btcmap.org/

πŸ“ Accepting Bitcoin Farmington & St. Francois Hub (Under 30 Minutes)

πŸš— Accepting Bitcoin The Middle Ring (~45 Minutes to 1.25 Hours)

πŸ›£ Accepting Bitcoin The Outer Radius (~1.5 to 2 Hours)

  • Talayna’s Wagon Wheel Pizza: 2040 Campus Dr, Saint Charles, MO 63301 β€” Pizza & Dining
  • Woodson Stonefire: 3120 W Clay St, Saint Charles, MO 63301 β€” Grill & Restaurant
  • J+B Wellness Cafe (Wildwood): 16962 Manchester Rd, Wildwood, MO 63040 β€” Wellness Cafe & Drinks
  • J+B Wellness Cafe (Cottleville): 5055 Highway N, Cottleville, MO 63304 β€” Wellness Cafe & Drinks
  • Wit Construction: 1230 Tealwood Dr, Saint Charles, MO 63304 β€” General Contracting & Residential Building
  • Bob’s Tractor & Equipment Repair: 140 Corporate Dr, Union, MO 63084 β€” Heavy Equipment & Repair
  • Wheelhouse Grill: 19088 State Hwy 19, Eminence, MO 65466 β€” Restaurant & Grill
  • Steak β€˜n Shake (Poplar Bluff): 1471 N Westwood Blvd, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 β€” Classic Diner

This post Now Accepting Bitcoin: Coljac CafΓ© Bitcoin Hub with 40+ Nearby Missouri Merchants first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Vagabond.

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