Kalshi is a fully regulated U.S. exchange under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission that lets you trade event contracts in USD. Polymarket is a crypto, USDC-based platform with rapid listings and global access that is slowly opening up to the American market as well.
Want the matchup at a glance? Go to the Key Differences section below, then keep reading for fees, market variety, deposits, payouts, and legality.
For more info about both companies, check out the Kalshi Referral Code and Polymarket Promo Code.
Kalshi vs Polymarket Key Takeaways for February 2026
|
Kalshi |
Polymarket |
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|---|---|---|
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Regulatory Status |
CFTC Designated Contract Market with a published rulebook |
Crypto prediction market with on-chain settlement; historically restricted in the U.S. but now has CFTC approval to operate on limited basis in US |
|
Legal States |
Federally legal to trade event contracts via a DCM, subject to listings and any state actions |
Global access for non-U.S. users; U.S. access tied to compliant rollout |
|
Deposit Methods |
USD via ACH and bank transfer; debit card available |
USDC only; connect a crypto wallet on Polygon |
|
Event Categories |
Economic indicators (CPI, jobs, rates), politics, weather, sports |
Politics and elections, sports, tech, culture, breaking news |
|
Fees |
Trading fees on expected earnings; $0 ACH; posted card/transfer fees |
No trading fees on core markets; on-chain network fees apply |
|
Liquidity |
Exchange order book with market makers and partner distribution |
Crypto order book with large election-cycle flows and rapid listings |
|
Payout structure |
$1 for “Yes,” $0 for “No,” per contract rules |
1.00 USDC for winners, 0 for losers, on-chain resolution |
|
Bonuses & Promos |
Stay tuned! |
Same category, different model. Kalshi operates as a fully regulated U.S. exchange with formally defined contracts under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Polymarket is USDC-powered and known for fast listings with global access outside U.S. restrictions.
How Kalshi and Polymarket differ: who can legally trade, how quickly markets list, what you’ll pay, how deep the book is, and whether you fund with USD or USDC.
TL;DR 📜
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Model: Kalshi = federally regulated exchange. Polymarket = uses USDC and is also CFTC-regulated
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Access: Kalshi serves U.S. users. Polymarket has limited U.S. trading while operating globally.
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Markets: Kalshi leans macro, politics, weather, and growing sports with formal contract specs. Polymarket is similar, with a focus on politics, sports, tech, and culture fast.
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Fees: Kalshi charges trading and payment-rail fees. Polymarket has zero trading fees, with small network costs on-chain.
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Money movement: Kalshi uses ACH and bank transfers in USD. Polymarket requires a crypto wallet and USDC.
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Settlement: Both resolve binaries the same way. Winners receive $1 (or 1.00 USDC), losers receive $0.
Regulation & Legality 👩⚖️
Kalshi
A federally regulated Designated Contract Market. You can trade event contracts in the U.S. under a published rulebook with surveillance, dispute pathways, and controlled listings. If legality is your first filter, this is the fully regulated option.
Polymarket
Polymarket has CFTC approval but is more limited in the U.S. because of its early rollout. It runs on chain and settles in USDC.
Market Types & Event Variety 📈
Kalshi lists markets where every contract has a published rule set that names the event, the official data source, and the exact settlement conditions ($1 for Yes, $0 for No). Coverage includes inflation, interest rates, employment, weather, entertainment, and politics, with sports expanding through different partners.
Polymarket casts a wider net. It lists contracts across a presidential election, sports, culture, and tech. New markets can go live within hours of breaking news, so if you want the quickest listings and the broadest topical stream, Polymarket usually leads.
Liquidity, Fees, & Payout Structure 💲
Liquidity
Kalshi runs a central limit order book on a regulated exchange. Bids and asks meet in USD, with liquidity supported by market makers and distribution from fiat-facing partners. Polymarket uses an on-chain order book settled in USDC. Depth usually spikes around election news, court rulings, and big sports weekends.
Fees
Kalshi charges trading fees based on expected earnings, plus standard payment-rail costs where they apply. ACH can be free; card rails and certain transfers have posted fees. Polymarket has no trading fee on core markets, but you’ll pay small blockchain network fees when you move USDC. If you plan to trade headlines frequently, compare total costs (platform plus rails) before you pick a side.
Payouts
Both are binary. A winning “Yes” pays 1; a losing share pays 0. On Polymarket, that 1 is 1.00 USDC. Prices map to implied probabilities, so 0.63 reflects a 63% chance the outcome hits.
Deposits, Withdrawals, & Currency💰
Kalshi
Link a bank account and move money by ACH or bank transfer. No wallet setup, no keys to manage. Good if you want a more traditional path on a regulated platform.
Polymarket
USDC only. Connect a compatible crypto wallet on Polygon and fund it with USDC. Transfers are low-cost once you’re set up, but you’re responsible for keys and on-chain movements.
Timing Notes
ACH follows bank timing and compliance checks, so plan ahead. On-chain speed depends on the network and your wallet. If you expect heavy news flow (like political debates, CPI mornings, playoff Sundays), make sure funds are in place before volume hits.
In short, pick Kalshi for a regulated U.S. exchange with USD funding to trade politics and macro. Pick Polymarket for on-chain speed, USDC settlement, and a constant feed of new listings.
About Kalshi
Kalshi was founded by Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara in New York. In the year 2020, it received DCM status from the CFTC, becoming the first U.S. exchange for regulated event trading. That framework means posted rules and defined settlement for every event you trade.
Leadership and growth: Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour leads the company; 2025 funding rounds drew investor interest and Bloomberg coverage, and the exchange reported record activity into November. What it’s known for today: macro releases like CPI and jobs, interest-rate decisions, weather, and politics, with sports expanding through partners.
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About Polymarket
Polymarket launched in 2020 and is led by Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan. Prices run from 0 to 1 in USDC and settle on chain, so each trade and payout is recorded on the blockchain and can be verified. The product began with an AMM and now uses a central limit order book to deepen liquidity and tighten spreads. It’s a go-to for fast, topical events across politics, sports, tech, and culture when news hits.
A 2022 CFTC action kicked Polymarket out of the US, while non-U.S. users continue to trade. In 2025, the company announced a $112 million deal to acquire a CFTC-licensed exchange and clearinghouse, a big step toward winning the race on compliant U.S. availability.
Polymarket is now on a limited rollout, with full access likely coming in 2026.
How Do Prediction Markets Operate? 💭
Think of price as probability. In a prediction market, a “Yes” at 0.62 implies a 62% chance of that outcome. Traders buy and sell around news flow, polls, and opinions, and can exit early if the view changes. At resolution, winners receive 1 (or 1.00 USDC), losers receive 0. That binary payout is why prices feel like odds, whether you trade macro prints, sports, or a high-visibility election market that mentions Donald Trump by name.
Two quick tips that help: read the contract rules and make sure you agree with the listed data source and settlement trigger, and plan funding in advance of key listing moments so you’re not waiting for transfers while the market moves.
Final Thoughts on Kalshi and Polymarket
If you want a federally controlled lane with USD rails, Kalshi is the pick. It’s a CFTC-designated exchange with contract specs, surveillance, and clear rules.
Polymarket is also CFTC-approved but is available on a more limited basis. If you want on-chain speed and the widest stream of fresh listings, Polymarket is the best crypto option out there.
For most North Americans, that’s the crux of Kalshi vs Polymarket: legality and access first, everything else follows.
A few tips: check the fee math before you trade news. Kalshi charges on expected earnings, while Polymarket has no trading fees, but you’ll pay small network costs. Verify your jurisdiction and chose your payment method in advance of a presidential election week or a big sports slate, and start small until you’re comfortable with how each prediction market settles an outcome.
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Now that Polymarket has CFTC approval as well, the main difference is Kalshi's wider availability versus Polymarket's limited US access. Trading fees are also different, with Polymarket potentially being more favorable.
Yes. Kalshi is a Designated Contract Market regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, giving North Americans a controlled path to trade with a published rulebook and surveillance.
For now, trading at Polymarket is available on a limited basis for most North Americans. A full rollout may happen in 2026.
Yep, both platforms list sports markets among their offerings, alongside politics and culture.
It depends on the category. Kalshi often shows deeper liquidity in macro and election markets, while Polymarket can see liquidity racking up around polls and late-breaking news during presidential election months.
Both resolve binary outcomes the same way, so winning traders win $1 per “Yes” (1.00 USDC on Polymarket) and losing shares settle at $0 when the market ends.