Platform Guide

Kalshi:
The First Regulated
US Prediction Market

Kalshi is the first exchange in US history federally licensed to offer event contracts — regulated by the CFTC and funded with real dollars. No crypto, no complexity. Just straightforward prediction market trading.

CFTC
US Federal regulation
USD
Real dollars, no crypto
200+
Active markets
◆ Platform Quick Facts
Founded2021
CurrencyUSD (bank/card)
RegulatedYes — CFTC (US)
US availableYes
Trading feeUp to 7% of profit
Min trade$1
Platform Overview

What is Kalshi?

Kalshi is a federally regulated exchange for event contracts — binary trades where you buy YES or NO on the outcome of real-world events. It received approval from the CFTC (the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission) in 2020 and launched publicly in 2021, becoming the first platform of its kind to operate legally within the United States.

Unlike Polymarket, Kalshi uses regular US dollars. You fund your account via bank transfer or debit card — no cryptocurrency wallet required. Every contract pays $1 if your outcome is correct and $0 if it isn't. Kalshi is the broker and counterparty to all trades, which means positions are guaranteed by the platform rather than by peer liquidity.

Kalshi is available to US residents and is expanding internationally. Because it is regulated, it operates with standard financial services protections and a formal dispute resolution process — a meaningful difference for traders who prioritise security over breadth of access.

CFTC
US federal regulator approval since 2020
$1B+
Trading volume since launch
USD
Standard dollars — no crypto required
1¢
Minimum contract price increment
Key Features

What makes Kalshi different

Regulation and simplicity are the foundation of Kalshi's offering — here's what that means in practice.

CFTC regulated
Kalshi is the only prediction market licensed by the US CFTC to offer event contracts. Regulation means defined rules, formal dispute processes, and a level of accountability that unregulated platforms can't offer.
No crypto required
Fund your account with a bank transfer or debit card in US dollars. No wallets, no stablecoins, no gas fees. The on-ramp is as simple as any other financial account — just link your bank and you're ready to trade.
US-accessible
Unlike most prediction markets, Kalshi is fully available to US residents. It's the primary option for American traders who want access to event markets without using offshore or crypto-based platforms.
Economic & financial markets
Kalshi's strongest offering is economic event contracts — Fed rate decisions, inflation prints, GDP releases. These are markets with clear, verifiable resolution criteria and strong institutional interest.
Formal resolution process
Every Kalshi contract has clearly defined resolution criteria reviewed by Kalshi's compliance team. If you dispute a resolution, there's a formal process — a meaningful difference from unregulated alternatives.
Market alerts & watchlist
Follow markets and get notified when prices move significantly. Kalshi's native alerts keep you informed on active positions without needing to check the platform constantly.
Getting Started

How to start trading on Kalshi

Four straightforward steps. Because Kalshi is regulated, there's a brief identity verification — but it takes less than two minutes.

1
Create your account
Go to kalshi.com and sign up with your email address. The process takes under two minutes. Because Kalshi is regulated, you'll also need to verify your identity — just a photo ID.
2
Deposit US dollars
Link your bank account or debit card and deposit USD directly. No cryptocurrency needed. Deposits typically settle within one business day via ACH, or instantly with a debit card.
3
Browse markets
Explore Kalshi's market categories — economics, politics, weather, sports and more. Use iPredicta to compare prices across Kalshi and Polymarket side by side and find the best value.
4
Place your first trade
Select any market, read the resolution criteria carefully, choose YES or NO, and enter your stake. A YES contract at 60¢ pays $1 if correct — a 40¢ profit. You can sell before resolution at any time.
Market Coverage

What you can trade on Kalshi

Kalshi covers a focused set of high-quality categories. Economic and political markets are where its liquidity is strongest.

Economics
Fed rates, inflation, GDP, jobs
Politics
US elections, legislation, policy
Crypto
Bitcoin, Ethereum price levels
Sports
NFL, NBA, MLB championships
Weather
Temperature, storms, records
World Affairs
Geopolitics, international events
Science & Tech
AI milestones, tech events
Energy & Climate
Oil prices, climate records
Honest Assessment

Kalshi pros & cons

Regulation brings significant advantages — but also some trade-offs compared to less restricted platforms.

Strengths
  • CFTC regulation provides a formal framework — your funds and trades are backed by US financial law
  • Fully accessible to US residents — the only regulated option for American prediction market traders
  • No crypto required — fund with USD via bank transfer or debit card, just like any other financial account
  • Strong economic market coverage — Fed rate markets, inflation, and GDP markets are among the most liquid on any platform
  • Clear, well-defined resolution criteria for every contract — significantly reducing resolution ambiguity
  • Clean, intuitive interface well-suited to traders who are new to prediction markets
Limitations
  • Fewer markets than Polymarket — regulatory approval is required for each contract type, limiting speed of expansion
  • Lower overall liquidity than Polymarket — large orders can move the price in thinner markets
  • Higher fees on winning trades — Kalshi charges up to 7% of profit on winning positions, which eats into returns on small edges
  • Identity verification required — a photo ID check adds a small barrier versus no-KYC platforms
  • ACH deposits take up to one business day to settle, which can delay getting started
  • Limited international availability — primarily US-focused, with restrictions in some other countries
Start Trading

Ready to trade on Kalshi?

Open an account on the first CFTC-regulated prediction market in US history. No crypto needed — just link your bank and start trading in dollars.

Start Trading on Kalshi
iPredicta earns a commission when you sign up via this link — at no extra cost to you.

Risk Disclosure

Prediction market trading involves real financial risk. You can lose the full amount you stake on any contract. CFTC regulation does not guarantee profitable trading or protect against losses. Information on this page is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. iPredicta is not affiliated with Kalshi and earns an affiliate commission on referrals. Always verify availability in your jurisdiction before signing up.