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Trading on Kalshi involves risk and may not be appropriate for all. Members risk losing their cost to enter any transaction, including fees. You should carefully consider whether trading on Kalshi is appropriate for you in light of your investment experience and financial resources. Any trading decisions you make are solely your responsibility and at your own risk. Information is provided for convenience only on an "AS IS" basis. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Kalshi is subject to U.S. regulatory oversight by the CFTC.
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Trade on Anything. Federally protected.

The regulated alternative to
Polymarket.

Thousands of markets across sports, politics, culture and more. All CFTC-regulated.

Create your account
See how we compare
Head to head

Side by side, it's not even close

Polymarket operates a small, U.S.-regulated exchange, but nearly all of its trading volume takes place on an offshore, unregulated exchange — also called Polymarket.

Feature
Regulated by government
How to deposit funds
Fund protection
US legal status
Tax documentation
CFTC-designated exchange
Bank, debit card, wire
Regulated custodial accounts
Legal across the US
1099 forms and PnL reports
Polymarket
Unregulated, offshore
No bank deposits accepted
No federal protection
Restricted from US users
None provided
Create your account
Regulated by government
CFTC-designated exchange
Unregulated, offshore
How to deposit funds
Bank, debit card, wire
No bank deposits accepted
Fund protection
Regulated custodial accounts
No federal protection
US legal status
Legal across the US
Restricted from US users
Tax documentation
1099 forms and PnL reports
None provided
Create your account
Why Kalshi

What sets Kalshi apart

More markets, real federal protection, and tax reporting.

01

Your money is safe

Kalshi is a CFTC-designated contract market. Your funds are held in regulated custodial accounts, just like any major futures exchange.

02

Markets on everything

Politics, economics, sports, culture, climate, and more. Thousands of markets across dozens of categories, all on real-world events that actually matter.

03

Tax season, sorted

Kalshi issues 1099 forms automatically and provides complete trade history exports, making tax reporting straightforward instead of a manual reconstruction project.

Create your account
In depth

Why traders switch from Polymarket

1

Federal regulation protects your funds

Kalshi is a CFTC-regulated designated contract market (DCM), operating under the same regulatory framework as major futures exchanges. Your deposits are held in segregated, regulated custodial accounts at regulated financial institutions, separate from Kalshi’s own operating funds. Polymarket, by contrast, operates as an offshore entity without US federal oversight and has faced enforcement action from the CFTC for operating an unregistered trading facility.

2

Tax reporting that works for you

At the end of each tax year, Kalshi issues 1099 tax forms to eligible users and provides downloadable trade history exports with every transaction itemized. This makes reporting your prediction market gains and losses straightforward, just like any other financial instrument. Polymarket does not issue tax documentation of any kind, leaving users to manually reconstruct their trading history from on-chain transactions — a process that is error-prone and time-consuming.

3

Multiple ways to deposit

Kalshi supports a range of deposit methods — bank transfers, debit cards, wire transfers, and cryptocurrency. Whether you prefer fiat or crypto, you can fund your account and start trading in minutes. Polymarket accepts only USDC on the Polygon blockchain, which limits your options to a single deposit path. Having multiple on-ramps means you can choose whatever is fastest and most convenient for you.

Common questions

Kalshi vs Polymarket FAQ

What is the difference between Kalshi and Polymarket?

Kalshi is a CFTC-regulated prediction market exchange based in the United States. It accepts deposits via bank account, debit card, wire transfer, or crypto, and issues 1099 tax forms. Polymarket is an offshore platform that accepts only USDC on Polygon, does not offer federal fund protections, and does not provide tax documentation.

Is Kalshi safe to use?

Yes. Kalshi is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as a designated contract market. User funds are held in segregated, regulated custodial accounts at regulated banks, separate from Kalshi’s operating capital. This is the same fund-protection framework used by major US futures exchanges.

How can I deposit funds on Kalshi?

Kalshi accepts deposits via bank account (ACH), debit card, wire transfer, and cryptocurrency. You can choose whichever method is most convenient. Most deposits are available in your account within minutes.

Does Kalshi report to the IRS?

Yes. Kalshi issues 1099 tax forms to eligible users at the end of each tax year and provides complete, downloadable trade history exports. This makes it easy to report your prediction market gains and losses to the IRS.

How do I switch from Polymarket to Kalshi?

Switching is simple. Sign up for a free Kalshi account, verify your identity, and deposit funds via bank account, debit card, or crypto. You can start trading in minutes. There is no migration needed — simply begin placing trades on Kalshi’s platform.

What markets can I trade on Kalshi?

Kalshi offers hundreds of event contracts across dozens of categories, including politics and elections, economics and Fed policy, sports, weather, entertainment, and culture. New markets are added regularly based on current events and user interest.

Ready to start trading?

Sign up for Kalshi in minutes

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