Kalshi strengthens Washington presence through new office and bipartisan recruitment
The prediction market company has revealed two key appointments focused on federal government engagement and statewide policy initiatives.
Prediction market operator Kalshi announced plans to establish a Washington, D.C. office location and bring on board "talent from both sides of the aisle" in an effort to broaden the company's presence across the United States.
According to a Monday announcement, Kalshi has brought on board John Bivona, a former official from the Biden administration, to serve as head of federal government relations for the prediction market platform, alongside Blake Bee, who previously worked as a senior manager of state and local public policy at Amazon.
This development arrives at a time when numerous wagers placed on prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket face increased examination from both US federal legislators and officials at the state level.
A Kalshi spokesperson, speaking to Cointelegraph, indicated that the company "acts as a neutral platform" and maintains ongoing "dialogue with stakeholders" regarding its intentions to work with US legislators and possibly participate in activities surrounding the 2026 elections.
Numerous participants flocked to Kalshi following a 2024 judicial decision that permitted the platform to provide event contracts concerning US elections. The platform, however, is currently confronting legal obstacles in no fewer than four US states for providing betting opportunities on sporting events in the absence of proper licensing.
Kalshi continues to be among the most prominent prediction market platforms, representing approximately two-thirds of overall trading volume within the market, based on data from Dune Analytics dated Jan. 12. Additional platforms in this space include Polymarket and PredictIt.
Major platforms predict chances of US government shutdown
Congressional lawmakers in the US face a midnight deadline on Jan. 31 to approve a funding bill that would prevent a government shutdown. As of Tuesday, uncertainty remains regarding whether such legislation will successfully pass, given that numerous Democrats are insisting on modifications to Department of Homeland Security funding concerning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol operations in cities across the US.
As of the time of publication, Kalshi was providing its users with betting opportunities on a 78% probability that a US government shutdown would occur on Saturday. Polymarket was offering wagers on a 79% probability. The most recent instance of US government funding lapsing in October led to a 43-day shutdown, representing the most extended such event in the nation's history.