Kalshi Wins CFTC Approval for Gold and Silver Perpetual Futures

Kalshi has made a significant expansion to its futures offerings after receiving approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to list perpetual futures tied to precious metals gold and silver. The CFTC approved Kalshi's original filing in July, and the new markets launched on Thursday.

Perpetual futures, also known as 'perps', are a type of contract that allows investors to track the price of an asset without requiring ownership of the underlying asset. They have no expiration date and use a funding mechanism to keep the contract in-line with market prices.

Kalshi's decision to list perpetual futures for gold and silver follows high interest in these commodities, particularly due to inflation concerns. The company has seen significant demand for its commodity-related event contracts, which include metals and oil, surpassing $400 million in trading volume in just seven months.

The approval by the CFTC marks a milestone for Kalshi as it expands beyond prediction markets into other asset classes. The company is also seeking approval for contracts tied to U.S. equities, industrial metal copper, and currencies in August.