A teleprompter operator is under investigation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for allegedly placing bets on Kalshi, a prediction market platform, related to statements by President Donald Trump. The individual reportedly made over $90,000 in profits from the trades, but Kalshi froze most of the funds after flagging the activity as suspicious.
Suspicious Trading Patterns
Kalshi's surveillance team flagged the trades in March after detecting unusual buying and selling patterns on contracts tied to Trump's public statements. Market makers also separately reported the activity through whistleblower channels. According to Robert DeNault, Kalshi's head of enforcement, the company promptly referred the matter to the CFTC and provided evidence gathered during its investigation.
Account Holder Identified
Using customer onboarding data and monitoring procedures, Kalshi's analysts determined that the account holder worked for the federal government as a teleprompter operator. The company then froze the account, retaining nearly all of the profits. The CFTC is now investigating, and CNBC has sought comment from the White House and the regulator. The story was first reported by ABC News.