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Kalshi Asks CFTC to Let Traders Use Margin on Event Contracts

The company says the change would attract institutional traders by allowing borrowed funds on select event contracts under strict limits and higher capital rules.

Overview

  • Kalshi filed with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission on Tuesday seeking permission to offer margin, or borrowed funds, on its regulated event contracts; the request is now pending agency review.
  • The filing proposes that margin would be limited to qualified self-clearing members and would exclude sports, culture, and “mention” markets from leverage.
  • Kalshi outlined a tiered collateral plan that raises capital requirements as contracts near settlement to reduce the risk of losses when events resolve.
  • The company already offers leverage on perpetual futures and said the move is meant to draw institutional liquidity to longer-dated event markets while balancing consumer risk.
  • Rivals such as Polymarket have pursued similar regulatory steps, and Kalshi has been expanding tools and distribution through a professional terminal and partners like Alpaca and Wealthsimple.