Kalshi Bolsters U.S. Policy Engagement With New Washington, D.C. Office

•  Kalshi has launched a new office in Washington, D.C. to further engage with federal policymakers and regulators.
• The company has hired John Bivona as its first head of federal government relations.
• Kalshi has also hired Blake Bee to lead its state-level policy initiatives as discussions on prediction markets continue at the state level.

Kalshi, a prediction markets platform that is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), has launched a new office in Washington, D.C. to enhance its government relations and policy initiatives in the United States. The new office is part of Kalshi’s efforts to engage with federal and state policymakers as the company faces regulatory challenges and litigation related to its prediction markets.

The newly established office in D.C. will provide a platform for Kalshi’s federal advocacy work, which will focus on encouraging responsible innovation in the financial sector and engaging with the legislative and regulatory community. As part of this effort, Kalshi has appointed John Bivona as the first-ever Head of Federal Government Relations. Bivona is a political strategist with more than two decades of experience, including being the first White House liaison at the Department of Homeland Security in the Biden administration.

Leadership Hires and Policy Strategy

Apart from Bivona’s appointment for federal engagement, Kalshi has also hired Blake Bee to oversee its state policy agenda. Bee was a senior manager of state and local public policy at Amazon, where he worked with state attorneys general on regulatory issues. These appointments by Kalshi indicate the company’s commitment to developing its advocacy strategy at both the federal and state levels.

Kalshi’s expansion into Washington also occurs during a time of increased legal and regulatory activity surrounding the prediction markets industry. Several U.S. states, including Arizona, Tennessee, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, have taken enforcement action against the sports event contracts offered by Kalshi, claiming that certain markets may be operating as unlicensed gambling under state law. In Nevada, a federal judge has held that Kalshi must abide by state gaming laws, although Kalshi is currently appealing this ruling. On the other hand, certain court rulings have stayed enforcement actions against Kalshi’s contracts in states such as Tennessee.

Market Position and Volume Growth

Kalshi is currently the largest prediction market in the world by monthly trading volume, reporting $6.58 billion in December, which is significantly higher than some of its competitors. The company’s volumes have experienced significant growth since the introduction of sports-related event contracts associated with major league seasons, such as the NFL.

The establishment of Kalshi’s Washington, D.C. office and strategic hiring for federal and state policy leadership positions the company’s efforts to engage more with U.S. regulators and lawmakers. By placing experienced government relations professionals in the nation’s capital, Kalshi is positioning itself to shape the regulatory discourse of financial innovation and prediction markets.

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