Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour: Perpetual futures are the 'purest form of trading'

Summary

Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour discusses the launch of the first regulated perpetual futures in the U.S., focusing on Bitcoin. He explains the product's features, its popularity offshore, and the regulatory process. He also addresses criticism that prediction markets are gambling.

• Kalshi launched the first CFTC-regulated perpetual futures in the U.S.
• Perpetual futures are contracts with no set expiration date, tracking an asset's price.
• Bitcoin is the initial asset for these perpetuals, with plans to expand.
• Over $90 trillion in perpetual volume trades annually, all offshore.
• The product allows traders to take long or short positions with leverage.
• Kalshi spent four years obtaining regulatory approval before launching.
• Mansour argues the product is highly regulated, not gambling.
• The interview notes CNBC's commercial relationship with Kalshi.