# Kalshi and Polymarket Expand Into Crypto Perpetual Futures

**Published:** 2026-06-12T12:01:08.027Z  
**Topic:** Ethereum Futures  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/224265fa-6f4a-4f5f-836b-b388c51e5e97

Prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket are launching perpetual futures trading in the U.S., aiming to capture demand for crypto derivatives.

Prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket are expanding their services into the cryptocurrency derivatives sector, with both companies recently announcing plans to offer perpetual futures trading [1]. Kalshi, a CFTC-regulated platform, reported that its monthly crypto trading volume surpassed $1 billion in March 2026 [2].

**Key takeaways**
* Kalshi is launching perpetual futures on April 27, 2026, using the internal codename "Timeless" [2].
* Polymarket has also announced the introduction of perpetual futures to allow users to trade market outcomes 24/7 [2].
* Perpetual futures allow traders to bet on asset prices without an expiration date, using funding payments to align with spot prices [1].
* Kalshi holds multiple CFTC licenses and recently received approval to offer margin trading [1].
* Prediction market platforms are increasingly competing with traditional crypto exchanges like Coinbase and Gemini for the same user base [1].

## Strategic Shift Toward Derivatives
The move into perpetual futures marks a significant expansion for platforms traditionally focused on event-based binary contracts [2]. Unlike standard prediction market contracts that resolve upon a specific outcome, perpetual futures allow traders to maintain positions indefinitely, provided they hold sufficient collateral [1]. Kalshi intends to launch its product with support for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, initially accepting U.S. dollars as collateral [2]. The company plans to add stablecoin collateral options in the second quarter of 2026 [2].

For Polymarket, the introduction of perpetual futures is intended to provide a continuous trading layer to its existing resolution-based model [2]. The timing of these announcements reflects intense competition between the two platforms, as both seek to establish a foothold in the U.S. derivatives market before their respective launches [2]. This expansion comes as prediction markets see increased engagement, with transaction counts reaching 192 million in March 2026 [2].

## Why it matters
The entry of Kalshi and Polymarket into the derivatives space highlights a broader convergence between prediction markets and crypto exchanges [1]. As traditional crypto trading volumes have faced a downturn, these platforms are vying for a shared base of traders by offering more advanced financial products [1]. Kalshi’s regulatory status under the CFTC provides a potential structural advantage, particularly as the agency has signaled an interest in bringing perpetual futures under its oversight [2]. Meanwhile, the landscape remains complex; the New York Attorney General recently filed lawsuits against Coinbase and Gemini, alleging that their prediction market offerings operate as unlicensed gambling services [2]. As these platforms evolve, the industry is watching to see how they navigate shifting regulatory conditions in the United States [1].

## Sources
1. CoinDesk — [Kalshi takes on Coinbase, Robinhood with new plan to offer crypto perpetual futures: The Information](https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2026/04/21/kalshi-takes-on-coinbase-robinhood-with-new-plan-to-offer-crypto-perpetual-futures-the-information)
2. Bitcoin Magazine — [Kalshi and Polymarket Enter the Crypto Race to Launch Perpetual Futures](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/kalshi-and-polymarket-enter-the-crypto)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "Kalshi and Polymarket Expand Into Crypto Perpetual Futures", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/224265fa-6f4a-4f5f-836b-b388c51e5e97