Taiwan blocks Coinbase and Kalshi ahead of November 28 election over suspicions of enabling illegal election betting.
Regulation & Gov ·
Taiwan's authorities have blocked access to Coinbase and Kalshi ahead of the November 28 local elections, citing concerns that the platforms were facilitating illegal election betting. A court order from New Taipei authorized the blocking to safeguard election integrity.
Taiwan has strengthened its enforcement against election-related wagering through recent legal amendments. Under a 2023 update to election law, individuals caught betting on local elections face penalties of up to six months in prison. The government has also blocked Polymarket, which operates similarly to Kalshi in offering prediction markets.
The blocking reflects Taiwan's broader effort to tighten controls on illicit financial activities linked to elections. Whether additional platforms will face restrictions, or how long the access blocks will remain in place, remains unclear.