Taiwan Blocks Kalshi, Coinbase Access Over Suspected Election Betting
Summary
- Taiwan said it blocked access to Coinbase and Kalshi ahead of local elections in November over suspicions of election betting.
- Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau said the two platforms had violated the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act and that the block was meant to protect election fairness and prevent foreign interference.
- Taiwan said it punishes gambling on election outcomes and operating such activity for profit, and recently also blocked access to Polymarket.
Taiwan has blocked access to U.S. crypto exchange Coinbase and prediction-market platform Kalshi ahead of local elections in November, citing suspected election betting.
Bloomberg reported on October 15 that the New Taipei District Court recently approved a request from the Criminal Investigation Bureau, allowing local telecommunications regulators and internet registration authorities to restrict access to Kalshi and Coinbase. Some Coinbase users in Taiwan said they had been unable to access the website since October 14.
The Criminal Investigation Bureau says the two platforms violated the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act. Authorities said the block was intended to protect the fairness of the election and prevent "foreign interference."
Taiwan penalizes gambling on election outcomes as well as operating such activity for profit. Under the law, participants in election betting can face up to six months in prison, while operators can be sentenced to as long as five years.
Taiwan has also recently blocked access to Polymarket, a major rival to Kalshi.
JOON HYOUNG LEE
gilson@bloomingbit.ioCrypto Journalist based in Seoul