Kalshi is cementing its dominance in the prediction market world with two landmark media partnerships, bringing its real-time event data to millions through CNBC and CNN.
Key Takeaways
- Kalshi struck exclusive data integration deals with CNBC and CNN, boosting its visibility across top U.S. business media platforms.
- Real-time prediction data will be featured on-air and online, including tickers during programs like CNBC’s Squawk Box and CNN’s election coverage.
- Kalshi recently raised $1 billion in funding, pushing its valuation to $11 billion and recording $4.54 billion in trading volume in November.
- Despite its success, Kalshi faces growing legal scrutiny, with lawsuits and regulatory challenges mounting in several U.S. states.
What Happened?
Prediction platform Kalshi has partnered with both CNBC and CNN in back-to-back media deals that will integrate its data into mainstream business coverage starting in 2026. The agreements come as the platform continues to report explosive growth and investor confidence, but also draws criticism from regulators concerned over the line between prediction markets and gambling.
CNBC x Kalshi
— Kalshi (@Kalshi) December 4, 2025
The leading business news network integrates the leading prediction market.
Kalshi’s data will supercharge CNBC’s reporting: unfiltered, accurate and market-driven.
A new era of media is here. pic.twitter.com/9s1qzWUAPz
Kalshi’s Big Leap into Mainstream Media
Kalshi’s new partnership with CNBC marks a major milestone. The deal, set to begin in 2026, will embed Kalshi’s real-time prediction market data across CNBC’s TV, website, app, and subscription services. Key programs like Fast Money and Squawk Box will feature Kalshi-branded tickers, giving viewers live forecasts about events like Federal Reserve decisions or political outcomes based on user trading behavior.
In addition, Kalshi will launch a CNBC-branded page on its own platform, curating markets selected by CNBC editors that track major economic and political events.
Just one day earlier, CNN announced a similar exclusive partnership, naming Kalshi its official prediction market provider. The collaboration includes integration of real-time probabilities into TV segments, social media content, and live election coverage, led by CNN’s chief data analyst Harry Enten.
CNBC President KC Sullivan highlighted how prediction data can add value to traditional journalism, saying:
Fueling Growth with Funding and Innovation
Kalshi’s momentum comes on the heels of a $1 billion funding round in November, which catapulted the company’s valuation to $11 billion. It also reported a record-breaking $4.54 billion in trading volume that month, with weekly activity surpassing $1 billion.
In a bid to modernize its tech stack, Kalshi launched tokenized prediction contracts on Solana, turning each event into a tradable token that users can access with any crypto wallet.
CEO Tarek Mansour described the CNBC deal as a transformational step, saying it moves Kalshi from “data about what’s happening now, to real-time forecasts about what’s happening next.”
Rivalry with Polymarket Intensifies
Kalshi’s closest competitor, Polymarket, is planning its return to the U.S. market after securing approval from the CFTC. The company recently processed $3.76 billion in trading volume, and partnered with PrizePicks to integrate prediction markets into fantasy sports.
Polymarket also announced data deals with Yahoo Finance and Google, and became the official prediction market provider for X (formerly Twitter).
Despite Kalshi’s current lead, Polymarket is not out of the game. Backing from institutions like Galaxy Digital and a forthcoming token launch could help Polymarket regain ground.
Legal Scrutiny Raises Concerns
Both Kalshi and Polymarket face increasing scrutiny from state regulators. In November, a Nevada District Court judge ruled against Kalshi, stating the company was not licensed for gaming in any U.S. state and was trying to evade state oversight. Kalshi disputed the ruling and has filed an appeal.
Shortly after, Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection issued cease and desist orders against Kalshi and others, accusing them of operating unlicensed online gambling platforms. Kalshi pushed back, claiming it is regulated under exclusive federal jurisdiction by the CFTC, not state gambling laws.
Kalshi is also battling a class-action lawsuit, which accuses it of violating state gambling laws. The company has denied all claims.
CoinLaw’s Takeaway
I’ve followed prediction markets for years, but Kalshi’s recent moves are truly next-level. It’s not every day you see a crypto-rooted platform secure simultaneous deals with CNN and CNBC. That’s a massive vote of confidence. These aren’t just logos on a website. These are deep data integrations into some of the most-watched newsrooms in the world.
That said, the legal heat is real. As exciting as the data and tech are, regulators clearly aren’t sold on the business model. In my experience, when a product walks like a bet and talks like a bet, state regulators are going to call it gambling. Kalshi’s fate could shape the future of this entire industry.
