News linked to both this project and an event.
prediction market platform Kalshi announced on platform X that Bitcoin perpetual contracts are now officially online. This marks the first U.S. regulatory-approved Bitcoin perpetual contract product. The product is a perpetual contract referencing the spot price of Bitcoin and is classified as a futures contract. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission previously stated that, following review, the BTCPERP contract complies with the Commodity Exchange Act and relevant regulatory requirements, including the core principles applicable to Designated Contract Markets (DCM).
Odaily Planet Daily reports: Multicoin Capital co-founder Kyle Samani posted on X platform analyzing three possible scenarios for the development of Kalshi and the US crypto perpetual contract market:1. Kalshi's previous efforts are irrelevant: Because the US market itself can already offer unregulated perpetual contracts.2. Protocols must pass the eight decentralized tests of the CLARITY Act: If the CLARITY Act passes smoothly, protocols can offer perpetual contracts in the US without registering as a DCO (Designated Contract Organizer) and DCM (Designated Contract Market).3. Products can still attract users but cannot legally enter the US financial system: Even with user recognition, protocols may still be unable to distribute within a compliant framework.Analysis suggests that these potential outcomes highlight the complex relationship between current US derivatives regulation and decentralized protocols, as well as the uncertainty surrounding the compliant implementation of innovative financial products.
the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced today that it has issued an approval order to KalshiEX, LLC, a designated contract market (DCM), allowing it to list the perpetual contract BTCPERP, which references the spot price of Bitcoin, for trading as a futures product. The contract was submitted for review on May 29, 2026, pursuant to CFTC Regulation 40.3.The CFTC reviewed the BTCPERP contract under Section 5c(c)(4) of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and relevant regulations, confirming that it complies with the CEA and CFTC rules, including core principles applicable to DCMs. The approval order requires Kalshi to strictly adhere to the CEA and all relevant CFTC regulations when listing and maintaining the contract.The CFTC also noted that the perpetual contract structure is not suitable for all asset classes and encouraged market participants to voluntarily submit applications for perpetual contract approval under the 40.3 rulemaking for uncovered assets to ensure compliance and robust market development.
Odaily President Trump posted on Truth Social, stating that it is crucial for the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to retain "exclusive jurisdiction" over prediction markets, echoing the stance of CFTC Chairman Michael Selig. Trump also stated that the U.S. is formulating relevant rules, referencing his campaign promise to make the U.S. a center for cryptocurrency and Bitcoin-related fields. Under the leadership of the sole commissioner, Selig, the CFTC has filed lawsuits and amicus briefs against several states to assert its jurisdiction over prediction markets. The dispute centers on whether prediction market contracts related to sports and entertainment constitute gambling products, and whether contracts offered by regulated Designated Contract Markets (DCMs) should fall under CFTC jurisdiction. New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a related lawsuit, Illinois has issued a cease and desist order, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a law last week imposing criminal penalties for operating prediction markets. Indonesia, Spain, and India have recently banned the operation of prediction markets within their territories. An investigation into prediction markets by a U.S. House committee was also confirmed last week. (CoinDesk)
According to Cointelegraph, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed an amicus curiae brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, supporting Kalshi’s appeal in its litigation against Ohio and asserting that prediction markets fall under the CFTC’s regulatory jurisdiction. The CFTC stated that Ohio’s prior demand that Kalshi cease offering sports-event contracts constituted “jurisdictional overreach.” The CFTC warned that if states were permitted to restrict sports-event contracts traded on designated contract markets (DCMs), the CFTC’s long-standing regulatory authority over event contracts, swaps, and binary options markets could be undermined. The outcome of this case will also impact prediction market platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket.
According to The Block, Payward, Kraken’s parent company, has announced the completion of its acquisition of Chicago-based crypto-native exchange Bitnomial, thereby obtaining a full suite of U.S. derivatives licenses from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), including Futures Commission Merchant (FCM), Designated Contract Market (DCM), and Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO) licenses. Payward stated that it will first launch spot margin trading on Kraken, followed by perpetual contracts and options products, all available to eligible U.S. customers. This acquisition will also provide partners—including banks, brokers, and payment service providers—with a channel to offer U.S. derivatives to their end customers. Bitnomial will operate independently under Payward while retaining its existing licenses and regulatory framework. The transaction’s value is reported to be up to $550 million, comprising cash and stock, implying a valuation for Payward of approximately $20 billion; however, the final terms have not been disclosed.
Payward (Kraken’s parent company) has announced the completion of its acquisition of Bitnomial, marking its official entry into the U.S. crypto derivatives market with full regulatory credentials. Following the transaction, Payward now holds a comprehensive set of U.S. CFTC licenses, including Futures Commission Merchant (FCM), Designated Contract Market (DCM), and Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO) status, enabling it to launch compliant derivatives services in the U.S. market.Payward stated that it will gradually roll out spot margin trading under the Kraken brand, followed by plans to launch perpetual contracts and options products, while expanding institutional-grade derivatives capabilities through the Bitnomial framework. It is reported that Bitnomial, as a Chicago-based native crypto derivatives trading platform, has long held the three core CFTC licenses and has been relatively aggressive in listing new assets. After the transaction, it will retain its existing licenses and regulatory framework, continuing operations within the Payward system.Additionally, this acquisition continues Payward’s recent expansion moves: the company had previously secured a $200 million investment from Deutsche Börse Group and filed IPO-related documents with the U.S. SEC, signaling its accelerated push into globally compliant derivatives and capital market pathways. (The Block)
According to The Block, Gemini’s Olympus division has officially received a Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO) license from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), enabling it to serve as an internal clearing house for settlement, risk management, and collateral management—eliminating reliance on third-party clearing and potentially reducing operational costs. Combined with its previously obtained Designated Contract Market (DCM) license, Gemini now possesses full-stack, compliant capabilities across futures, options, perpetual contracts, and prediction markets. Gemini is currently pursuing a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) license to complete its full suite of CFTC authorizations, positioning itself for direct competition with Kraken and Coinbase.
According to CoinDesk, Payward, Kraken’s parent company, announced the acquisition of digital asset derivatives platform Bitnomial for up to $550 million in cash and stock. The deal values Payward at approximately $20 billion. Bitnomial is the first crypto-native platform in the U.S. to hold all three key regulatory licenses: a Designated Contract Market (DCM), a Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO), and a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM). Following the acquisition, Payward will instantly obtain all regulatory authorizations required to operate a full derivatives business in the U.S., significantly accelerating its path to compliance compared to building such capabilities organically. Post-integration, the combined platforms will launch spot margin, perpetual futures, and options products for U.S. customers. Through Payward Services’ B2B infrastructure, these regulated U.S. derivatives offerings will be made available to banks, fintech firms, and brokers via a single API. This acquisition marks Payward’s second major deal following its $1.5 billion acquisition of NinjaTrader in 2025. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026.