Kalshi Age Requirement Guide For Eligibility: Verify Your Age For Using Prediction Markets In 2026
If you’re interested in signing up, there are a few things to note, such as the Kalshi age requirement, which is pegged at 18 years old. This will be confirmed before you can successfully open an account as a trader.
Let's take you through the steps, including how old you need to be to use Kalshi, who can sign up, the entire verification process, and the documents you'd need. We’ll share mistakes you should avoid too, and the event contracts you can trade if you’ve checked all the right boxes.
What is the Kalshi age requirement?
The Kalshi minimum age is 18, and as long as you've passed this threshold, you can sign up, complete the verification steps and start trading. Kalshi is a top prediction markets platform where you can trade on the likelihood of events happening in the future across categories like politics, sports, economics, culture, crypto, and weather. But to access all of this, you must be no less than 18 years old, although a few states may bump this up to 21 years. That's because the Kalshi member agreement states that traders must be the age of majority. In some states like Mississippi, that's 21.
This isn't just a line in the terms as Kalshi checks your age when you sign up, and you’ll need to give the right details during verification. It's also likely that you'll be asked to recertify the information you provide from time to time, including your age and other personal details.
Right after signing up, you’ll need to confirm that all the information you've submitted is correct.
What is Kalshi and how does it work?
Now you know a little more about the Kalshi age requirement, it'll be helpful to understand what Kalshi is all about and how it works. At Kalshi, you get to trade Yes or No Kalshi event contracts based on what you think will happen in the real world, be it economics, weather, culture, crypto, sports, tech contracts, and a lot more.
Each contract has a price that ranges between 1 and 99 cents, and the price shows what traders think the chance of that event happening is. Let’s say, for example, a Yes contract is priced at 39 cents, it means the market sees that outcome as having about a 39% chance of becoming reality.
If the event happens, the contract settles at $1 and you get 61 cents profit. If it doesn’t and your guess is incorrect, you'll receive nothing as it settles at $0. Do remember that you don’t have to hold event contracts until they settle. You can also sell your position before the market closes if you want. Just remember that contract prices can change in a blink, and $0.02 is charged as a fee for each contract you trade. If you want to know how trading fees work at the platform, you’d need to have Kalshi fees explained to you in depth.
Who can sign up to Kalshi?
Aside from the Kalshi age requirement, you also need to be in a state where the platform is allowed to offer its services. Right now, there’s a temporary ban in Nevada, so residents there can’t sign up just yet.
A few states also have restrictions on trading markets like sports predictions. So you may want to be sure your state is allowed before creating an account. Other than this, Kalshi is licensed and regulated by the CFTC and, as such, is allowed to offer its services in all 50 states.
Know Your Customer (KYC) verification requirements at Kalshi
Kalshi is regulated by the Commodities and Futures Trading Commission, and to stay compliant while also keeping you safe, KYC verification is necessary. Here's what you have to provide:
| KYC requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Proof of identity | A valid government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license, passport, or state ID. |
| Proof of address | A residential address that is the same as your profile details. PO boxes and commercial addresses may not be accepted. |
| SSN | Your Social Security Number may be requested. |
For email verification, you’ll need to confirm the code sent to your inbox. For phone verification, you’ll also need a valid US phone number and confirm the code sent to it. Then for ID checks, you'll be asked to submit a government-issued ID, such as a passport or driver’s license.
It's very important that the details on your ID match the information you used when signing up to Kalshi. So make sure your name, including the way it’s arranged, date of birth, and address are entered correctly. Commercial addresses or PO boxes aren't accepted, which means it has to be a residential address.
Your ID mustn't be blurry, and all four edges should be visible. The Kalshi verification time can vary. The site says it takes about 48 hours, but we've seen some going through in minutes.
How to sign up at Kalshi
If you've met the age requirements, creating your Kalshi account should be easy and you can download the Kalshi app if preferred. Here’s how to go about it:
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Click the links or banners on this page to visit Kalshi
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Click the sign up button
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Enter your personal details such as your name, email address, mobile number, and date of birth
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Verify your email address using the code sent to you
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Also verify your phone number using the four-digit code sent to your inbox
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Type in your SSN
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Next, upload a copy of your government-issued ID card and proof of address
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Wait for Kalshi to manually verify your details
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When approved, log in to your new account, fund it, and start trading
Is Kalshi safe and legit?
Kalshi is safe, licensed and regulated by the CFTC, and has to adhere to strict rules and ensure fair and transparent event contract trading for its users. So if you've been curious and asking, is Kalshi legal? You can rest easy knowing that it is.
The site and Kalshi app are also protected with top-notch security tech. Your data is encrypted and can’t be read by prying eyes, and the KYC checks confirm you're above the Kalshi age limit and can trade Kalshi event contracts.
What markets can you trade after meeting the Kalshi age requirement?
Once you meet the Kalshi age requirement and your account is verified, you can start checking the available markets. If it's important, then there's probably a market for it on Kalshi. Here's what you can trade:
- Politics
- Sports
- Crypto
- Economy
- Climate
- Culture
Common mistakes to avoid during Kalshi verification
Kalshi’s verification process is manual and takes about 48 hours. It could be shorter, and most times is, but this can stretch longer if the requirements aren’t met. To prevent any hiccups, here are a few common mistakes you can avoid.
1. Make sure your name is exactly the same on your profile and documents
The details you enter during signup should match your ID perfectly. Everything including your full name, date of birth, and residential address should be what you filled in.
2. Don’t upload blurry images
A clear ID that's original should be shared. Blurry passport, driver’s license, or state ID may be rejected, and a photo taken from another screen may not be accepted either. All four edges should appear in the picture.
3. Use a residential address not PO boxes
Kalshi draws the line on commercial addresses or PO boxes. You need to provide a residential address to get verified.
Pros and cons of the Kalshi age requirement
Similar to other popular prediction market sites, an age requirement always exists to make sure the traders are of age and are responsible with their trading funds. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of it:
- Helps prevent underage trading
- Fixed minimum age of 18
- Identity checks are in place
- State restrictions may limit access
Conclusion: Sign up if you’ve met the Kalshi age requirement
The Kalshi age requirement is at par with industry standards for prediction market trading. You must be at least 18 years old before you can create an account, pass identity checks, and trade event contracts. As soon as you pass the checks, you can trade Yes or No contracts on whichever category interests you.
If you’ve met the age requirement and live in an eligible state, click the on-page banners to sign up at Kalshi today. Doing so gives you access to a $10 trading Kalshi bonus.