SEC Chair Flags Prediction Markets as Major Regulatory Focus

A new regulatory fault line is emerging in digital asset markets. During testimony before the Senate Banking Committee on February 12, 2026, SEC Chair Paul Atkins described prediction markets as a “huge issue,” signaling that federal oversight of platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket may be entering a new phase.

Until now, these markets have largely been viewed as falling under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Atkins’ remarks suggest that assumption may no longer hold without qualification.

Overlapping Jurisdiction Takes Center Stage

Atkins stated that prediction markets involve “overlapping jurisdiction potentially” between the SEC and the CFTC. His central point was structural rather than political: if a contract meets the legal definition of a security, labeling it differently does not remove it from SEC oversight.

“A security is a security regardless of how it is represented,” he noted, implying that certain event-based contracts could fall within securities law depending on how they are structured.

He also confirmed ongoing coordination with CFTC Chair Michael Selig under a joint initiative known as “Project Crypto.” The effort aims to modernize digital asset regulation and address gray areas that have allowed certain platforms to operate between existing frameworks.

Meanwhile, the CFTC has shifted away from a previously restrictive stance. A 2024 proposal to ban political and sports-related event contracts was withdrawn, with the agency now favoring formal rulemaking instead of outright prohibition.

State-Level Pressure Intensifies

Federal scrutiny is unfolding alongside mounting legal challenges at the state level.

In January 2026, a Massachusetts judge ruled that Kalshi’s sports-related contracts fall under state gaming laws, temporarily blocking the platform from offering those markets locally. Polymarket faces similar litigation in Nevada and Massachusetts, arguing that federal law should preempt state gambling restrictions.

Adding another layer of complexity, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton confirmed that his office is actively reviewing prediction markets for potential fraud. His comments made clear that branding a product as a “prediction market” does not shield it from federal antifraud statutes.

Industry Growth Forces Regulatory Clarity

Prediction markets have expanded rapidly, fueled by the 2024 election cycle and heightened activity around major events such as the 2026 Super Bowl. Larger platforms including Coinbase and Gemini have also introduced prediction-style products, increasing institutional exposure to the sector.

As participation broadens and capital deepens, regulators appear increasingly unwilling to leave jurisdictional questions unresolved.

The emerging debate is no longer about whether prediction markets will be regulated, but which agency will define the rules.

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