The event contracts provider taps John Wang as head of crypto amid Trump administration's supportive stance.
In the meantime, the company, along with Robinhood, was again sued over event contracts resembling sports betting.
The U.S.-regulated prediction marketplace Kalshi hired John Wang, a 23-year-old crypto entrepreneur turned social media influencer, to spearhead the company's push into digital assets.
Kalshi Names John Wang
Head of Crypto in Digital Push
Wang
dropped out of the University of Pennsylvania to start Armor Labs, a crypto
company that was later acquired. Before joining Kalshi, he advised crypto
startups and built a following on X (formerly Twitter) writing about
cryptocurrency and finance topics.
Tarek Mansour, Kalshi's CEO
Kalshi CEO
Tarek Mansour said he discovered Wang through his social media commentary. The
hire comes as the prediction platform looks to capitalize on the Trump
administration's more favorable approach to cryptocurrency regulation.
“All
the largest fintech companies are adopting crypto strategies as a core part of
their company missions now,” Wang said. His immediate focus involves
creating “culturally resonant, fast moving markets that speak directly to
your crypto Twitter people.”
The company
already started accepting crypto deposits as an alternative to traditional bank
transfers and debit card payments. Mansour suggested the distinction between
crypto and traditional financial companies is blurring.
“We
don't really see this distinction between a crypto company and a non-crypto
company,” he said. “Over time, anyone who is basically moving money
or anyone who's in financial services is going to be a crypto company in one
way, shape or form.”
Event Contracts on the
Rise, Along With Controversy
Kalshi gained
significant attention during the 2024 presidential election, partly because
it operates as a CFTC-licensed exchange. This regulatory approval gives it an
advantage over competitors like Polymarket, which runs on blockchain technology
but restricts U.S. users due to regulatory concerns.
The company
has notable political connections. Donald Trump Jr. serves as a strategic
adviser, while board member Brian Quintenz received Trump's nomination to lead
the CFTC.
In its most
recent funding round, Kalshi
raised $185 million at a $2 billion valuation. Notable investors included
crypto-focused venture funds Paradigm and Multicoin.
The
business, however, is not without controversy. Major global exchanges have
recently highlighted the need to regulate, or even restrict, the
tokenized equities and event contracts sector. Kalshi, together with
Robinhood, which offers the provider’s products, has been regularly sued in
court. The
latest example came last week, when a lawsuit targeted event contracts
resembling sports betting.
From Doomscrolling to
Active Participation
Wang
described his fascination with prediction markets dating back to discovering
Augur during the 2018 crypto market downturn. He sees these platforms as
transforming passive news consumption into active participation.
“My
generation grew up doomscrolling, watching events unfold passively with
distance and hopelessness,” Wang wrote on LinkedIn. “Prediction
markets flip that script. Even a small stake makes you pay closer attention,
talk about it with friends, and feel invested in what happens next.”
The company
plans to expand its crypto offerings in the coming months, though specific
details about new products remain unclear. Back in June, the
company partnered with Webull, allowing U.S. retail traders to speculate on
short-term cryptocurrency moves, including Bitcoin (BTC).
The U.S.-regulated prediction marketplace Kalshi hired John Wang, a 23-year-old crypto entrepreneur turned social media influencer, to spearhead the company's push into digital assets.
Kalshi Names John Wang
Head of Crypto in Digital Push
Wang
dropped out of the University of Pennsylvania to start Armor Labs, a crypto
company that was later acquired. Before joining Kalshi, he advised crypto
startups and built a following on X (formerly Twitter) writing about
cryptocurrency and finance topics.
Tarek Mansour, Kalshi's CEO
Kalshi CEO
Tarek Mansour said he discovered Wang through his social media commentary. The
hire comes as the prediction platform looks to capitalize on the Trump
administration's more favorable approach to cryptocurrency regulation.
“All
the largest fintech companies are adopting crypto strategies as a core part of
their company missions now,” Wang said. His immediate focus involves
creating “culturally resonant, fast moving markets that speak directly to
your crypto Twitter people.”
The company
already started accepting crypto deposits as an alternative to traditional bank
transfers and debit card payments. Mansour suggested the distinction between
crypto and traditional financial companies is blurring.
“We
don't really see this distinction between a crypto company and a non-crypto
company,” he said. “Over time, anyone who is basically moving money
or anyone who's in financial services is going to be a crypto company in one
way, shape or form.”
Event Contracts on the
Rise, Along With Controversy
Kalshi gained
significant attention during the 2024 presidential election, partly because
it operates as a CFTC-licensed exchange. This regulatory approval gives it an
advantage over competitors like Polymarket, which runs on blockchain technology
but restricts U.S. users due to regulatory concerns.
The company
has notable political connections. Donald Trump Jr. serves as a strategic
adviser, while board member Brian Quintenz received Trump's nomination to lead
the CFTC.
In its most
recent funding round, Kalshi
raised $185 million at a $2 billion valuation. Notable investors included
crypto-focused venture funds Paradigm and Multicoin.
The
business, however, is not without controversy. Major global exchanges have
recently highlighted the need to regulate, or even restrict, the
tokenized equities and event contracts sector. Kalshi, together with
Robinhood, which offers the provider’s products, has been regularly sued in
court. The
latest example came last week, when a lawsuit targeted event contracts
resembling sports betting.
From Doomscrolling to
Active Participation
Wang
described his fascination with prediction markets dating back to discovering
Augur during the 2018 crypto market downturn. He sees these platforms as
transforming passive news consumption into active participation.
“My
generation grew up doomscrolling, watching events unfold passively with
distance and hopelessness,” Wang wrote on LinkedIn. “Prediction
markets flip that script. Even a small stake makes you pay closer attention,
talk about it with friends, and feel invested in what happens next.”
The company
plans to expand its crypto offerings in the coming months, though specific
details about new products remain unclear. Back in June, the
company partnered with Webull, allowing U.S. retail traders to speculate on
short-term cryptocurrency moves, including Bitcoin (BTC).
Damian's adventure with financial markets began at the Cracow University of Economics, where he obtained his MA in finance and accounting. Starting from the retail trader perspective, he collaborated with brokerage houses and financial portals in Poland as an independent editor and content manager. His adventure with Finance Magnates began in 2016, where he is working as a business intelligence analyst.
TradeLocker Hires Trading Tech Veteran Alex Skolar as Chief Product Officer
How FYNXT is Transforming Brokerages with Modular Tech | Executive Interview with Stephen Miles
How FYNXT is Transforming Brokerages with Modular Tech | Executive Interview with Stephen Miles
Join us for an exclusive interview with Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT, recorded live at FMLS:25. In this conversation, Stephen breaks down how modular brokerage technology is driving growth, retention, and efficiency across the brokerage industry.
Learn how FYNXT's unified yet modular platform is giving brokers a competitive edge—powering faster onboarding, increased trading volumes, and dramatically improved IB performance.
🔑 What You'll Learn in This Video:
- The biggest challenges brokerages face going into 2026
- Why FYNXT’s modular platform is outperforming in-house builds
- How automation is transforming IB channels
- The real ROI: 11x LTV increases and reduced acquisition costs
👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe.
#FYNXT #StephenMiles #FMLS2025 #BrokerageTechnology #ModularTech #FintechInterview #DigitalTransformation #FinancialMarkets #CROInterview #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #IndependentBrokers #FinanceLeaders
Join us for an exclusive interview with Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT, recorded live at FMLS:25. In this conversation, Stephen breaks down how modular brokerage technology is driving growth, retention, and efficiency across the brokerage industry.
Learn how FYNXT's unified yet modular platform is giving brokers a competitive edge—powering faster onboarding, increased trading volumes, and dramatically improved IB performance.
🔑 What You'll Learn in This Video:
- The biggest challenges brokerages face going into 2026
- Why FYNXT’s modular platform is outperforming in-house builds
- How automation is transforming IB channels
- The real ROI: 11x LTV increases and reduced acquisition costs
👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe.
#FYNXT #StephenMiles #FMLS2025 #BrokerageTechnology #ModularTech #FintechInterview #DigitalTransformation #FinancialMarkets #CROInterview #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #IndependentBrokers #FinanceLeaders
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
