In a landmark development for the prediction markets sector, Kalshi has secured a massive $300 million Series D funding round at a $5 billion valuation, with significant participation from Coinbase Ventures alongside other major investors. This funding round, led by Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, represents a remarkable 150% valuation increase from just four months ago when the platform was valued at $2 billion in June 2025. The substantial investment will fuel Kalshi's ambitious global expansion to 140 countries, dramatically increasing its international footprint. As a CFTC-regulated exchange, Kalshi enables users to trade contracts on various real-world events, including Federal Reserve rate decisions and political outcomes, bridging traditional financial markets with innovative prediction mechanisms. Coinbase Ventures' involvement underscores the growing convergence between cryptocurrency ecosystems and prediction markets, highlighting the strategic importance of such platforms in the evolving digital asset landscape. This investment not only validates Kalshi's business model but also signals strong institutional confidence in the future of prediction markets as a legitimate asset class. The participation of Paradigm and CapitalG alongside Coinbase Ventures creates a powerful consortium of investors with deep expertise in both traditional finance and blockchain technology. This funding round positions Kalshi as a dominant player in the prediction market space while demonstrating the increasing institutional interest in alternative investment platforms that leverage blockchain-adjacent technologies. The timing of this substantial capital infusion, coming during a period of significant market evolution, suggests that prediction markets are poised for mainstream adoption, with cryptocurrency industry leaders like Coinbase recognizing their potential to reshape how people interact with financial markets and event-based trading opportunities.
Kalshi Secures $300M Funding at $5B Valuation, Expands to 140 Countries
Prediction market platform Kalshi has raised $300 million in a Series D round led by Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, achieving a $5 billion valuation. The funding marks a 150% increase from its $2 billion valuation in June 2025. Paradigm, CapitalG, and Coinbase Ventures participated in the round.
The CFTC-regulated exchange allows users to trade contracts on real-world events, from Fed rate decisions to political outcomes. Contracts trade between $0.01-$0.99, settling at $1 if the event occurs. Founders Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara spent two years securing regulatory approval before launching in 2021.
Kalshi now projects $50 billion in annual trading volume as it expands globally. The platform's fee-based model avoids acting as the house, differentiating it from traditional bookmakers.
BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF Dominates Fee Revenue, S&P Launches Hybrid Index, Coinbase Expands Staking in New York
BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has emerged as the asset manager's most profitable ETF by annualized fee revenue, amassing $97 billion in assets under management within just 21 months. The fund now surpasses long-standing ETFs like the iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF in revenue generation, with inflows hitting $2.5 billion this week alone.
S&P Global entered the digital asset space with its inaugural "Digital Markets 50" index, blending 35 blockchain equities with 15 major cryptocurrencies. The MOVE signals growing institutional recognition of crypto's role in diversified portfolios.
Coinbase secured regulatory approval to offer staking services for Ethereum, Solana, and Cosmos in New York, marking a significant milestone for institutional crypto adoption in the tightly regulated state. The exchange becomes the first major platform to receive such authorization.
Coinbase CEO Opposes Senate’s Anti-DeFi Proposal
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has publicly criticized a new legislative proposal from Senate Democrats that seeks to impose stringent regulations on decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms in the U.S. The plan, submitted to the Senate Banking Committee, aims to place DeFi platforms on a 'restricted list' if deemed risky and mandates Know Your Customer (KYC) checks for crypto app frontends, including non-custodial wallets.
The proposal has sparked backlash from industry leaders, who argue it WOULD stifle innovation and drive developers offshore. Summer Mersinger of the Blockchain Association warned the rules could 'effectively ban decentralized finance' and create insurmountable compliance hurdles. Lawmakers are urged to reconsider the approach to avoid undermining financial technology progress.
AVAX Whale Moves $6M as Avalanche Faces Price Pressure
Avalanche (AVAX) has slipped over 5% in the past 24 hours amid broader crypto market corrections, erasing some of its October gains. Yet blockchain data reveals strategic accumulation by large holders, signaling underlying confidence in the ecosystem.
Arkham Intelligence reports a whale purchased 200,000 AVAX ($6M) during the dip—a classic contrarian play. Simultaneously, another $12M transfer hit Coinbase, suggesting divergent strategies among major investors. Such movements often precede market inflection points.
While short-term charts mirror sector-wide weakness, Avalanche's on-chain activity continues expanding. The divergence between price action and network fundamentals echoes patterns seen before previous recoveries.
Trump Tariff News Sparks Crypto Market Sell-Off Amid Trade War Fears
Donald Trump's announcement of a 100% tariff on Chinese imports effective November 1 has triggered a broad market sell-off, with cryptocurrencies bearing significant losses. bitcoin plunged 12% to below $110,000, while the S&P 500 dropped 2.7% as investors reacted to escalating US-China trade tensions.
The crypto market downturn reflects growing risk aversion among traders. "This ranks among the top three most brutal crypto crashes," noted prominent trader Pentoshi, describing the emotional toll on market participants. Coinbase shares fell 7.75% amid the rout, underscoring the contagion effect across crypto-related equities.
Market analysts attribute the sharp declines to a combination of geopolitical uncertainty and technical exhaustion. The tariffs, retaliating against China's rare earth export restrictions, have heightened fears of prolonged economic confrontation between the world's largest economies.
Coinbase’s Upcoming Amex Card With BTC Cashback: Everything We Know So Far
Coinbase is set to launch a new American Express credit card in the U.S. this fall, designed specifically for Bitcoin enthusiasts. The card features data from the Genesis Block, the first block ever created on the Bitcoin network by Satoshi Nakamoto on January 3, 2009. This hexadecimal code etched into the card serves as both a design element and a symbolic nod to Bitcoin's origins.
The Genesis Block included a now-iconic message from a Times newspaper headline: "Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks." Nakamoto's inclusion of this headline was a deliberate critique of traditional financial systems and central bank policies. The card's design underscores Bitcoin's foundational ethos of decentralization and resistance to centralized monetary control.
Unlike typical crypto-linked cards, Coinbase's offering emphasizes Bitcoin's historical significance rather than just rewards. The card is expected to appeal to long-time Bitcoin holders and newcomers alike, blending financial utility with ideological symbolism.
