Prediction market platform Kalshi is making moves to expand its US footprint, hiring former Biden administration official John Bivona and former Amazon senior manager Blake Bee. The platform is under scrutiny by US federal lawmakers and state officials, facing legal challenges in at least four states for offering wagers on sporting events without a license.

With the US government facing a potential shutdown if a funding bill isn’t passed by midnight on Jan. 31, major prediction platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket are offering bets on the likelihood of a shutdown. Currently, both platforms predict a high chance of a shutdown, reminiscent of the 43-day shutdown in October, the longest in US history.

Read more at Coin Telegraph: Kalshi Expands Political Footprint with DC Office, Democratic Hire