- The CFTC seeks an emergency block on Kalshi’s election contracts, citing potential risks to election integrity.
- Kalshi’s court victory may lead to legal battles as the CFTC warns of “irreparable injury” if election contracts go live.
- Supporters argue that Kalshi’s contracts help hedge political risks and offer valuable public insights into election forecasts.
Kalshi, a prediction market website, quickly stopped registering election betting contracts with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It acted hours after a judge vacated an earlier order that stalled the election contracts by Kalshi. The CFTC subsequently filed an “emergency stay” request to delay the ruling for at least 14 days.
The #CFTC filed an emergency motion to prevent #Kalshi from offering election betting contracts after a court overturned its previous decision halting the contracts.
The regulator argues it needs more time to understand the court’s reasoning before deciding on further actions.… pic.twitter.com/cYIs6qVktF
— TOBTC (@_TOBTC) September 8, 2024
Election Integrity and Regulatory Concerns
In the absence of a conclusive decision from the court, the CFTC argued that it could not determine whether to appeal. In order to evaluate the decision and get ready for any potential legal measures, it thus asked for more time. The regulator emphasized the urgency, noting that Kalshi is poised to launch the election markets soon, as indicated on its website.
Besides, the CFTC expressed concern that once Kalshi’s contracts go live, it might have limited options to revoke approval. This could lead to “irreparable injury,” the agency warned. Additionally, it argued that election contracts might impact the integrity of the election process, raising concerns about the perception of election fairness. The agency added that such contracts could force it to investigate potential election-related activities, further complicating the matter.
Support for Kalshi and Broader Implications
Despite the CFTC’s objections, Kalshi’s recent court victory has been celebrated by many. Jake Chervinsky, a legal officer from Variant Fund, labelled it a “HUGE win” but held off final judgment until seeing the full judicial opinion. He stressed the importance of filing lawsuits to challenge regulatory overreach.
Moreover, supporters of Kalshi’s lawsuit argue that election contracts benefit those directly affected by political outcomes, allowing them to hedge risks. Furthermore, such contracts provide public insights into political forecasts, helping voters and investors plan better.
This ruling marks a pivotal moment for Kalshi and the prediction market industry. While the CFTC still has regulatory avenues to explore, this court decision encourages innovation and highlights the growing acceptance of prediction markets in regulated environments.
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