Kalshi Head of Crypto John Wang has announced plans to integrate the prediction market platform into every major crypto application and exchange by late 2026. The U.S.-regulated platform aims to expand its ecosystem through partnerships with blockchain networks and developer communities.
Wang joined Kalshi in August after eight years as a crypto trader and influencer. His mission focuses on onboarding crypto-native power users and building new financial primitives on top of the platform. The company recently partnered with Solana and Base to launch an ecosystem support network with dedicated grants for builders.
The 23-year-old executive described prediction markets as a “Trojan Horse” for crypto adoption. He compared them to options trading packaged in the most accessible format possible. Wang noted that despite being a hot topic, #crypto options have not achieved significant adoption in markets.
Kalshi is developing real-time event data feeds for blockchain developers alongside sophisticated data dashboards and AI agents. The platform plans to partner with additional networks to engage different blockchain communities. Wang emphasized that these on-chain initiatives will remain purely additive without replacing core functionality for existing users.
The company has surged from owning 3.3% of the prediction market share last year to 66% by September's end. This growth overseen crypto-native competitor Polymarket, driven largely by surging volume in U.S. NFL-related event contracts. Wang attributes success to three years of prioritizing regulatory compliance in the United States.
Kalshi filed a lawsuit against the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in 2023, challenging restrictions on political election-related event contracts. A U.S. district court ruled in Kalshi's favor, and the CFTC dropped its appeal in May. Wang stated that #prediction markets now hold the same status as normal derivatives and stocks.
The platform plans to continuously evolve and differentiate itself from competitors, particularly in user interface design. Wang explained that information flows and context vary significantly across market categories. The user interface will reflect this verticalization to enhance user experience.
Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour recently joined SEC-CFTC roundtable discussions on regulatory oversight for prediction markets. Wang emphasized the goal of making a genuine positive impact within the crypto community. He stated that failure would mean not bringing new audiences into crypto within the next 12 months.