Skip to content
Prediction Markets101

How to sign up for Kalshi: the complete US signup guide

Sign up for Kalshi in 10 minutes. Full walkthrough: account creation, KYC, bank linking, first deposit, first trade. Kalshi is CFTC-regulated and legal in all 50 US states.

Prediction Markets 101 editorial team Updated April 16, 2026 7 min read

Before you begin

You need:

  • A US residential address
  • A US phone number (for SMS verification)
  • Your SSN last four digits (for KYC)
  • A US bank account for funding
  • To be 18 or older

Non-US residents cannot sign up for Kalshi. Non-US residents should look at Polymarket instead.

Dual citizens resident abroad with US SSN technically can sign up if they have a US address on file, though the bank-linking step may be tricky without a domestic US bank.

Step-by-step signup

  1. 1

    Visit the signup page

    Go to kalshi.com/sign-up. The referral URL credits your signup to us — no cost to you, supports this site.

  2. 2

    Enter email and create a password

    Use a real email — you'll verify it. Strong password — this account will hold real USD.

  3. 3

    Verify phone number

    SMS verification. Kalshi uses this for fraud detection and account recovery.

  4. 4

    Complete KYC

    Provide: legal name (as on your ID), date of birth, US residential address, SSN last four. Most users are verified instantly. If something doesn't match, Kalshi may ask for additional documentation (driver's license photo, utility bill).

  5. 5

    Agree to user terms

    Read and accept Kalshi's terms. The CFTC requires certain disclosures; clicking through confirms you understand that event contracts carry risk of loss.

  6. 6

    Link a bank account

    Use Plaid to connect your bank instantly, or manually enter routing and account numbers (verification via micro-deposits, takes 1–3 days). Plaid is the faster path for most users.

  7. 7

    Deposit funds

    Choose ACH (free, 1–3 days), wire (fast, small fee), or debit card (instant, 1–2% fee). Minimum deposit is low. Enter amount, confirm.

  8. 8

    Place your first trade

    Browse markets. Pick one that interests you. Click a YES or NO price. Choose your size. Review fee (shown on the ticket). Confirm.

Total time: 10–20 minutes for most users.

KYC details

Kalshi's KYC is standard US brokerage identity verification. Specifically:

  • Name, DOB, SSN — checked against third-party databases
  • Address — verified as a real US residence
  • Phone — SMS verification (not a VOIP number)
  • Email — verified by confirmation link
  • Politically-exposed-person (PEP) check — if you work in government, may require additional review
  • OFAC check — sanctions compliance

For the vast majority of US residents, KYC completes in under a minute. Edge cases (recent address change, thin credit file) may require additional document uploads.

Kalshi does not report your KYC submission to credit bureaus. No credit inquiry.

Funding methods

ACH (free, 1–3 business days)

Standard US bank transfer. Kalshi doesn't charge a fee; your bank might but usually doesn't for outbound transfers.

Best for: most users. Low fees, simple flow.

Wire (fast, small bank fee)

Your bank charges a wire fee (typically $15–30). Kalshi doesn't charge on top. Funds arrive in hours.

Best for: large deposits when you want same-day funding.

Debit card (instant, 1–2% fee)

Use a US debit card. Fee is 1–2% of deposit amount. Instant funding.

Best for: small, urgent deposits. Not worth the fee for larger amounts.

Not supported

  • Credit cards (US regulators prohibit credit-funded gambling/derivatives)
  • PayPal, Venmo, CashApp
  • Cryptocurrency (Kalshi is USD-native)
  • Prepaid cards

Withdrawal process

Withdrawal to your linked bank via ACH is free and takes 1–3 business days. There's no withdrawal minimum. Kalshi doesn't impose frequency limits on withdrawals.

Wire withdrawal is available for larger amounts at a small fee.

Withdrawals are subject to a brief hold on recently deposited funds (standard anti-fraud; typically 1–5 business days after a deposit before you can withdraw that portion).

Initial funding strategy

How much should you fund initially? Three tiers:

  • $20–$100: Learn the mechanics. Place small trades across different markets. Get comfortable with the UI.
  • $100–$1,000: Develop an actual strategy. Track your P&L per category. See which markets you have an edge in.
  • $1,000+: Serious trading. Kalshi's full API, portfolio tools, and deeper contracts become worth using.

There's no minimum. Start where it fits your comfort level.

Security practices

Kalshi is regulated and audited, but your own practices still matter:

  • Unique strong password — don't reuse from other accounts
  • 2FA enabled — use authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy), not SMS
  • Secure email — the email tied to your Kalshi account should itself have 2FA
  • Watch for phishing — Kalshi's URL is kalshi.com. Bookmark it. Phishing sites typo-squat.
  • Review account activity periodically — set alerts for large trades and withdrawals

Your first trade walkthrough

Example: "Will the Fed cut rates at the April 2026 FOMC meeting?"

  1. Browse to Economics → Fed markets
  2. Click the market. Read the resolution criteria: "Resolves YES if the FOMC post-meeting statement indicates a lower target range for the federal funds rate, otherwise NO."
  3. Look at current price: YES $0.35, NO $0.65. Market thinks 35% chance.
  4. If you think the probability is closer to 50%, YES is underpriced.
  5. Click Buy → YES → 20 contracts. Fee shown: $0.40. Total: $7.40 ($7 for contracts + $0.40 fee).
  6. Confirm. You now own 20 YES contracts.
  7. Hold until the FOMC meeting. If they cut, your contracts settle at $20.00. Gross profit: $13 (~180% return). If no cut, you lose $7.40.
  8. Before resolution, you can sell back into the order book at any time. If the price drifts to 0.45 after a dovish speech, selling earns $9 - $7.40 = ~$1.20.

Common onboarding issues

KYC failed. Usually a name or address mismatch. Ensure the information matches your ID exactly. Contact Kalshi support.

Bank linking failed. Plaid can have issues with some smaller regional banks or credit unions. Try manual entry with routing/account number.

Deposit not showing. ACH takes 1–3 business days. Wire should show same day. Debit card instant. If longer than expected, contact support.

"Your country is not supported." Kalshi is US-only. If you're traveling, your IP may flag as non-US; use your US home IP.

2FA lock-out. If you lose your authenticator device, contact Kalshi support for account recovery (requires identity re-verification).

What to expect after signup

First few days:

  • Verification fully completes (KYC + bank link finalized)
  • Your first deposit settles
  • You can place limit orders that remain in the book
  • You get a welcome email with tutorial content

First few weeks:

  • You develop a feel for specific market categories
  • You learn to read resolution criteria carefully
  • Your P&L starts to show edge (or lack of it) per category

End of year:

  • Kalshi issues your 1099 automatically
  • You decide whether to scale up, stay, or exit

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Kalshi free to sign up for?+

Yes. No signup fee, no monthly fee, no inactivity fee. You only pay trading fees on executed trades.

How long does KYC take?+

Most users: instant. Edge cases with documentation requirements: 1–3 business days.

What's the minimum to deposit?+

Very low — typically $20 or $50. Check Kalshi's signup page for current exact minimum.

Can I use a joint bank account?+

Yes, if you are a named owner on the account. The bank account holder name must match your Kalshi KYC name.

Is my deposit insured?+

Segregated in FDIC-insured bank accounts up to $250k per account. This is the same structure as a brokerage account.

Do I need a US SSN?+

Yes, or an equivalent US tax ID (ITIN). Kalshi is a regulated US exchange and required to collect taxpayer identification.

Can I sign up with just an EIN or a business entity?+

Kalshi supports business accounts for registered entities (LLCs, partnerships). Individual retail signup is simpler if you're trading personal funds.

Will signing up affect my credit?+

No. Kalshi does not run a credit check during signup. KYC uses identity databases without credit inquiries.

Related reading

What is Kalshi? The first federally regulated US event-contract exchange

Kalshi is a CFTC-regulated designated contract market (DCM) that lets US residents trade event contracts on politics, economics, sports, weather, and crypto. Here's how it works and why it matters.

How does Kalshi work? The complete walkthrough

Inside Kalshi: the CFTC-regulated DCM architecture, contract structure, resolution process, fees, and how a trade flows from click to settlement.

Kalshi referral code: signup bonuses and how the program works

Kalshi's referral program pays affiliates a share of fees from referred users. New-user bonuses are occasional and time-limited. Here's how to sign up, what bonuses might be available, and our legitimate referral link.

Polymarket vs Kalshi: the definitive comparison

Polymarket vs Kalshi, side by side. Fees, markets, regulation, UX, custody, taxes. The short answer: Kalshi if you're in the US, Polymarket if you're not. Here's the full reasoning.

Is Kalshi legal? The complete regulatory picture

Yes. Kalshi is a CFTC-regulated Designated Contract Market, legal in all 50 US states. Federal authority preempts state gambling law. Here's the full regulatory history and status.