{"id":891121,"date":"2026-02-08T23:13:24","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T05:13:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/08\/nba-star-giannis-antetokounmpo-becomes-shareholder-in-prediction-market-kalshi\/"},"modified":"2026-02-08T23:13:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T05:13:24","slug":"nba-star-giannis-antetokounmpo-becomes-shareholder-in-prediction-market-kalshi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/08\/nba-star-giannis-antetokounmpo-becomes-shareholder-in-prediction-market-kalshi\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Star Giannis Antetokounmpo Becomes Shareholder in Prediction Market Kalshi"},"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=\"2026-02-08T09:39:00+00:00\">February 8, 2026<\/time>\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"1200\" height=\"673\" src=\"https:\/\/cimg.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/08073512\/1770536112-image-1770535932814_optimized.jpg\" alt=\"NBA Star Giannis Antetokounmpo Becomes Shareholder in Prediction Market Kalshi\" decoding=\"async\"  ><\/p>\n<p>Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has taken a stake in prediction market platform Kalshi, marking the first time an active NBA player has directly invested in the federally regulated event-contracts exchange.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Key Takeaways:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span>Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first active NBA player to invest directly in prediction market platform Kalshi.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>Kalshi offers federally regulated \u201cyes-or-no\u201d event contracts across sports, politics and entertainment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>The deal follows growing scrutiny over the blurred line between trading markets and sports betting.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>The two-time NBA MVP announced the partnership Friday, saying he will join Kalshi as a shareholder and collaborate with the company on live events and marketing campaigns.<\/p>\n<p>Kalshi <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20260206156380\/en\/Giannis-Antetokounmpo-Teams-Up-With-Kalshi\" target=\"_blank\">confirmed the agreement in a statement<\/a>, adding that Antetokounmpo will not be allowed to trade on any NBA-related markets due to internal rules prohibiting insider trading and manipulation.<\/p>\n<h2>Inside Kalshi\u2019s \u2018Yes-or-No\u2019 Prediction Trading Markets<\/h2>\n<p>Kalshi operates a marketplace where users trade \u201cyes or no\u201d contracts tied to real-world outcomes.<\/p>\n<p>The platform lists markets spanning politics, entertainment and sports, allowing traders to take positions on events such as award winners or championship results.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this week, the service even hosted a market on whether Antetokounmpo himself would be traded before the NBA deadline.<\/p>\n<p>Although money changes hands, the platform is treated as a financial exchange rather than a sportsbook.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, Kalshi is permitted to operate across the United States under federal oversight, avoiding the patchwork of state gambling regulations that apply to traditional betting operators.<\/p>\n<p>The NBA\u2019s collective bargaining agreement allows players to promote betting companies under certain conditions, provided they do not advertise wagers on NBA, WNBA or G League games.<\/p>\n<p>Players may also hold passive equity stakes of up to 1% in such businesses. Antetokounmpo\u2019s investment falls within those limits.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI like to win. It\u2019s clear to me Kalshi is going to be a winner and I\u2019m excited to be getting involved,\u201d Antetokounmpo said.<\/p>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<p>He is not the first basketball figure linked to the company. Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant is reportedly an indirect investor through the 35V venture fund he co-founded with agent Rich Kleiman.<\/p>\n<p>The move comes amid heightened scrutiny of sports wagering. US authorities recently filed gambling-related charges involving several basketball figures, and regulators have been examining the expanding overlap between trading platforms and betting markets.<\/p>\n<p>The NCAA previously <a href=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.com\/news\/ncaa-demands-cftc-halt-college-sports-betting-markets\/\">asked Kalshi to modify wording<\/a> on its site that suggested an official relationship with the organization.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kalshi Expands Sports Push With NHL Deal and Athlete Endorsement<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Despite the attention, Kalshi has been expanding its sports presence.<\/p>\n<p>The company announced a <a href=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.com\/news\/google-finance-kalshi-polymarket-prediction-data\/\">partnership with the NHL in October<\/a> and, in January, signed professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau as its first athlete endorser, including appearances and promotional campaigns tied to events in which he competes.<\/p>\n<p>Kalshi has also <a href=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.com\/news\/kalshi-becomes-cnns-official-prediction-market-partner-after-raising-1b\/\">secured a major media breakthrough<\/a> after signing a partnership with CNN, making the company the network\u2019s official prediction markets partner while closing a $1 billion funding round at an $11 billion valuation.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cryptonews.com\/cryptocurrency\/best-crypto-prediction-markets\/\">Web3 prediction markets<\/a> have crossed $13 billion in cumulative trading volume, marking a record high even as broader crypto markets cool.<\/p>\n<p>The surge has drawn in major players across tech and finance, including Fanatics, Coinbase, and MetaMask, all of which have recently launched or expanded event-trading platforms.<\/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\/nba-star-giannis-antetokounmpo-becomes-shareholder-in-prediction-market-kalshi\/\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><br \/>\n Marquis Buresh<\/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 February 8, 2026 Milwaukee<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":891122,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25946,26139],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-891121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-antetokounmpo","category-giannis"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/891121","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=891121"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/891121\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/891122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=891121"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=891121"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=891121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}