{"id":888201,"date":"2026-01-27T22:13:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T04:13:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/27\/kalshi-opens-washington-office-to-step-up-us-lobbying-efforts\/"},"modified":"2026-01-27T22:13:29","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T04:13:29","slug":"kalshi-opens-washington-office-to-step-up-us-lobbying-efforts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/27\/kalshi-opens-washington-office-to-step-up-us-lobbying-efforts\/","title":{"rendered":"Kalshi Opens Washington Office to Step Up US Lobbying Efforts"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cimg.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/23090551\/ayan-150x150.jpg\" alt>\n                    <\/p>\n<p>Crypto Journalist<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Amin Ayan<\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cimg.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/23090551\/ayan-150x150.jpg\" alt>\n                <\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Crypto Journalist<\/p>\n<p><span>Amin Ayan<\/span><span class><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.com\/wp-content\/themes\/cryptonews\/images\/verification.svg\" alt=\"Verified\"><\/span>\n                    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Part of the Team Since<\/p>\n<p>Apr 2025<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>About Author<\/p>\n<p>Amin Ayan is a crypto journalist with over four years of experience in the industry. He has contributed to leading publications such as Cryptonews, Investing.com, 99Bitcoins, and 24\/7 Wall St. He has&#8230;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Last updated:\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-01-27T08:25:55+00:00\">January 27, 2026<\/time>\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"673\" src=\"https:\/\/cimg.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/27080433\/1769501073-image-1769500959098_optimized.jpg\" alt=\"Kalshi Opens Washington Office to Step Up US Lobbying Efforts\" decoding=\"async\"  ><\/p>\n<p>Prediction markets platform Kalshi has opened a new office in Washington, D.C., as it ramps up efforts to shape federal and state policy amid growing scrutiny of its products across the United States.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Key Takeaways:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span>Kalshi has opened a Washington office and hired seasoned policy veterans to deepen engagement with federal and state regulators.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>The CFTC-regulated platform leads prediction markets with $6.58 billion in monthly volume.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>State regulators continue to challenge Kalshi\u2019s sports-related contracts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>The company hired veteran political strategist John Bivona as its first head of federal government relations, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20260126074115\/en\/Kalshi-Opens-DC-Office-Hires-John-Bivona-as-Head-of-Government-Relations\" target=\"_blank\">according to a recent announcement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Bivona brings more than two decades of experience spanning political campaigns and federal agencies, including a stint as the first White House liaison at the Department of Homeland Security during the Biden administration.<\/p>\n<p>He also previously served as chief of staff to former New York congressman Antonio Delgado and held senior roles at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"h-kalshi-steps-up-policy-engagement-as-prediction-markets-gain-traction\">Kalshi Steps Up Policy Engagement as Prediction Markets Gain Traction<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Kalshi said the move reflects its intention to engage more directly with policymakers as prediction markets gain traction.<\/p>\n<p>The platform, which is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, allows users to trade contracts tied to the outcome of future events, ranging from elections and economic data to entertainment and sports.<\/p>\n<p>To strengthen its state-level outreach, Kalshi has also hired Blake Bee, a former senior manager of state and local public policy at Amazon.<\/p>\n<p>Bee previously worked closely with state attorneys general and spent years at the National Association of Attorneys General, as well as in the Mississippi Attorney General\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<p>Kalshi has emerged as the world\u2019s largest prediction market by monthly volume.<\/p>\n<p>The company reported $6.58 billion in trading volume in December, far outpacing rival Polymarket, which logged $2.28 billion over the same period. Trading activity surged last fall, coinciding with the start of the NFL season.<\/p>\n<p>CEO Tarek Mansour said the platform processed roughly $441 million in volume in the first four days following kickoff.<\/p>\n<p>Despite its rapid growth and federal license, Kalshi has encountered resistance from several US states over its sports-related contracts.<\/p>\n<p>Regulators in states including Arizona, Tennessee, <a href=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.com\/news\/kalshi-robinhood-cryptocom-connecticut-stop-order-gambling-violations\/\">Connecticut<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.com\/news\/massachusetts-sues-kalshi-over-alleged-unlicensed-sports-betting-platform-vows-to-fight\/\">Massachusetts have argued<\/a> that those offerings amount to unlicensed sports betting under state law.<\/p>\n<p>Court rulings have been mixed. A federal judge in Nevada ruled last year that Kalshi must comply with the state\u2019s gaming regulations, rejecting the firm\u2019s argument that CFTC oversight overrides state authority.<\/p>\n<p>Kalshi is appealing that decision. In contrast, a <a href=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.com\/news\/tennessee-judge-pauses-state-case-against-prediction-market-kalshi\/\">judge in Tennessee temporarily blocked state officials<\/a> from stopping the platform\u2019s sports contracts.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"h-state-opposition-to-prediction-markets-builds-over-consumer-concerns\">State Opposition to Prediction Markets Builds Over Consumer Concerns<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>State opposition to prediction markets has been building for months.<\/p>\n<p>In 2025, the SWC urged the CFTC to prohibit sports event contracts, arguing that such products bypass state safeguards such as age verification, responsible gaming rules and anti-money laundering requirements.<\/p>\n<p>As reported, a new legislation to limit the interactions between government officials and the prediction markets is being <a href=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.com\/news\/pelosi-democrats-ban-prediction-market-insider-trading-maduro-bet\/\">supported by more than 30 Democrats<\/a> in the US House of Representatives, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.<\/p>\n<p>The lure behind new restrictions is a controversial Polymarket bet, which <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JoePompliano\/status\/2007455311351718118\" target=\"_blank\">started<\/a> as a bet of $32,000 but eventually became more than $400,000 shortly before the unexpected detention of Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro.<\/p>\n<p>The bill <a href=\"https:\/\/ritchietorres.house.gov\/posts\/in-response-to-suspicious-polymarket-trade-preceding-maduro-operation-rep-ritchie-torres-introduces-legislation-to-crack-down-on-insider-trading-on-prediction-markets\" target=\"_blank\">proposed<\/a> by the New York Representative Ritchie Torres is the Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026.<\/p>\n<p>\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKQgKIiNDQklTRkFnTWFoQUtEbU55ZVhCMGIyNWxkM011WTI5dEtBQVAB?ceid=US:en&#038;oc=3\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>                            <svg width=\"20\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 16\" fill=\"none\">\n                            <path d=\"M19.6 5.36C19.6 5.48 19.6 5.66 19.54 5.78L17.2 12.8V5.6C17.2 4.94 16.66 4.4 16 4.4H12.82L12.52 3.8L11.86 2.36L15.34 3.32L18.58 4.16C19.18 4.28 19.6 4.82 19.6 5.36Z\" fill=\"#FF4131\" \/>\n                            <path d=\"M15.4 0.799997V3.26L11.92 2.3L11.74 1.88C11.44 1.28 10.72 0.979997 10.12 1.22L4.59998 3.38V0.799997C4.59998 0.499997 4.89998 0.199997 5.19998 0.199997H14.8C15.1 0.199997 15.4 0.499997 15.4 0.799997Z\" fill=\"#03A846\" \/>\n                            <path d=\"M12.82 4.4H4.00002C3.34002 4.4 2.80002 4.94 2.80002 5.6V11.42L0.520024 6.5C0.460024 6.26 0.400024 6.08 0.400024 5.9V5.84C0.400024 5.3 0.700024 4.82 1.24002 4.64L4.60002 3.32L10.06 1.22C10.72 0.979997 11.44 1.28 11.68 1.88L11.86 2.3L12.52 3.74L12.82 4.4Z\" fill=\"#FDBD04\" \/>\n                            <path d=\"M17.2 5.59999V14.6C17.2 15.26 16.66 15.8 16 15.8H4.00005C3.34005 15.8 2.80005 15.26 2.80005 14.6V5.59999C2.80005 4.93999 3.34005 4.39999 4.00005 4.39999H16C16.66 4.39999 17.2 4.93999 17.2 5.59999ZM9.40005 9.79999H7.00005V11H7.90005C7.60005 11.36 7.18005 11.6 6.70005 11.6C5.86005 11.6 5.20005 10.94 5.20005 10.1C5.20005 9.25999 5.86005 8.59999 6.70005 8.59999C7.12005 8.59999 7.48005 8.77999 7.78005 9.01999L8.62005 8.17999C8.14005 7.69999 7.48005 7.39999 6.70005 7.39999C5.20005 7.39999 4.00005 8.59999 4.00005 10.1C4.00005 11.6 5.20005 12.8 6.70005 12.8C7.90005 12.8 8.86005 12.08 9.22005 11C9.34005 10.7 9.40005 10.4 9.40005 10.1C9.40005 9.97999 9.40005 9.91999 9.40005 9.79999ZM14.8 7.39999H10.6V8.59999H14.8V7.39999ZM16 9.79999H10.6V11H16V9.79999ZM14.8 12.2H10.6V13.4H14.8V12.2Z\" fill=\"#0284FE\" \/>\n                            <\/svg><br \/>\n                                                                    Follow us on Google News                                    <\/a>\n                                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.com\/news\/kalshi-opens-washington-office-to-step-up-us-lobbying-efforts\/\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><br \/>\n Laine Roberie<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Crypto Journalist Amin Ayan Crypto Journalist Amin Ayan Part of the Team Since Apr 2025 About Author Amin Ayan is a crypto journalist with over four years of experience in the industry. He has contributed to leading publications such as Cryptonews, Investing.com, 99Bitcoins, and 24\/7 Wall St. He has&#8230; Last updated:\u00a0 January 27, 2026 Prediction<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":888202,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[145426,2481],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-888201","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-kalshi","8":"category-opens"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/888201","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=888201"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/888201\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/888202"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=888201"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=888201"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=888201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}