Kalshi urges targeted CFTC rules to curb prediction market manipulation risks

Kalshi, a federally regulated exchange, urged the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in August 2026 to implement targeted rules to curb manipulation risks in prediction markets. In response to the CFTC’s Innovation Advisory Committee meeting, Kalshi argued that event contracts should be subject to the same anti-manipulation rules as traditional markets, rather than facing sweeping limits.

The exchange highlighted concerns over manipulation and so-called mention markets, which settle based on whether a specific word or phrase is mentioned during an event. Kalshi proposed that individuals whose words determine settlement should be barred from trading the contract. The company further suggested that speechwriters, communications staff, and others with advance knowledge should also be excluded.

Kalshi emphasized that its current monitoring has identified suspicious activity for investigation and referral to the CFTC, with disciplinary cases involving trades valued below $100. The exchange also rejected the notion that event contracts connected to corporate results automatically fall under securities rules, arguing that these products differ from traditional options and warrant flexible regulatory treatment.