Kalshi’s January Transactions Surge Past December Total as Exchange Opens Washington Office

Written By:   Author Thumbnail Dirk van Haaster
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Dirk van Haaster
Dirk van Haaster is a Web3 copywriter. Before joining DeFi Rate in 2025, he spent several years writing about blockchain projects, token ecosystems, and crypto news, with a strong focus on news and marketing content. He ...
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Kalshi is on track to set a new monthly activity record after surpassing its December transaction total in less than four weeks. This shows demand for regulated prediction markets as the company simultaneously increases its policy footprint in Washington.

As of January 24, Kalshi has recorded more than 39.5 million transactions for the month, according to figures the company shared. That already exceeds the 27.7 million total transactions it recorded in December by more than 11.5 million trades. However, there’s still a week remaining in the month.

If current volumes continue, Kalshi is predicted to finish January with around 51.5 million transactions. This would be its highest monthly total to date.

As of January 24, @Kalshi has already recorded over 39.5M Monthly Transactions so far this month.

For context, @Kalshi logged roughly 27.7M Total Transactions in December, meaning that in just 24 days, @Kalshi has already surpassed last month’s total by more than 11.5M.

If this… pic.twitter.com/m8iSB83MlG— KalshiData (@kalshidata) January 26, 2026

Opening a Washington office

The transaction milestone comes as Kalshi formally expands its presence in Washington, DC, opening a new office. It also appointed John Bivona as its first Head of Federal Government Relations.

This suggests a more structured approach to policy engagement as prediction markets draw increasing scrutiny from both federal and state authorities. Kalshi said the expansion will help them promote “responsible innovation in financial markets”.

Bivona brings nearly two decades of experience in political campaigns and federal government roles. He previously served in the Biden administration as the first White House Liaison at the Department of Homeland Security. He was also chief of staff to then–Congressman Antonio Delgado of New York. Bivona also held senior roles at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee during the 2018 election cycle.

More recently, he founded Intersection Government Relations and Intersection Advocacy, advising campaigns, causes, Fortune 50 companies, and startups.

“Kalshi spent four years getting regulatory approval before it even launched a product,” Bivona said in a statement. “It’s built the leading, most trusted prediction market platform, pioneering the category.”

“To do well on Kalshi, you need to be smarter than your neighbor, not smarter than the house.” – New Head of Federal Government Relations at Kalshi John Bivona https://t.co/29txpwZ1xE pic.twitter.com/h3P53uUsiT— Benjamin Freeman (@benwfreeman1) January 27, 2026

Building a broader policy team

Alongside Bivona’s hire, Kalshi has also brought on Blake Bee to lead its state-level policy efforts. Bee joins the team from Amazon, where he served as a senior manager of state and local public policy. Additionally, he led engagement with state attorneys general.

Before Amazon, Bee spent seven years at the National Association of Attorneys General. He spent more than eight years as executive counsel and assistant attorney general in the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. There, he oversaw legislative and public policy matters.

The dual focus on federal and state engagement comes amid ongoing legal and regulatory friction around prediction markets. At the moment, there have been issues of state gambling laws intersecting with federal commodities regulation.

Several states have challenged the legality of event-based contracts offered by federally regulated platforms. This creates a complex compliance state even as CFTC oversight provides a national framework.

Regulatory-first strategy amid market expansion

Kalshi has consistently said that its growth is based on regulatory compliance. The exchange spent four years securing CFTC approval before going live. It has positioned that process as a competitive advantage as new entrants explore the space.

This approach contrasts with offshore or crypto prediction markets. Some have faced enforcement actions or temporary bans in the United States before seeking compliance.

The opening of a Washington office suggests Kalshi expects prediction markets to remain a focal point of regulatory debate, particularly as volumes scale and more platforms enter the category.

With transaction volumes already exceeding December’s total, January is aiming to be a milestone month for Kalshi. A record-setting close would further validate prediction markets as a high-engagement financial product.

About The Author
Dirk Van Haaster Journalist
Dirk van Haaster
Dirk van Haaster is a Web3 copywriter. Before joining DeFi Rate in 2025, he spent several years writing about blockchain projects, token ecosystems, and crypto news, with a strong focus on news and marketing content. He has previously worked as a commercial content writer at BeInCrypto. Dirk holds a BSc in International Business and an MSc in Strategic Management (cum laude) from Erasmus University Rotterdam.Since 2020, Dirk has been working in Web3 content, collaborating closely with founders, and marketing teams. When he’s not working, Dirk enjoys biohacking and learning about general health optimization.