Wealthsimple and Kalshi Launch Predict App in Canada

Wealthsimple and Kalshi announced a partnership on Thursday to bring regulated prediction markets to Canada this summer. The new standalone app, called Wealthsimple Predict, will give retail investors access to approximately 4,000 event-based contracts on Kalshi's platform. However, Canadian regulatory restrictions limit available contracts to economic indicators, financial markets, and climate trends. Sports and political betting contracts, popular offerings in other jurisdictions, remain prohibited under current Canadian rules.

Wealthsimple joins Interactive Brokers Canada as one of only dealers authorized to offer prediction markets in the country. This partnership marks a milestone for Canadian investors, who have previously faced limited access to these rapidly expanding financial instruments.

How CIRO Authorization and Consumer Protections Work

The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) authorized Wealthsimple in March to offer event- and forecast-based contract trading, classifying them as derivatives under existing regulatory frameworks. This approval covers contracts with settlement periods of 30 days or longer within pre-approved categories.

Wealthsimple Predict will incorporate multiple consumer protections, including Know Your Client (KYC) processes and educational materials at every stage. Users will receive a guided orientation during their first trade, along with key disclosures, trading risk reminders, contract resolution information, and liquidity warnings on lower-activity markets. The platform is designed to provide Canadians with straightforward access to these markets while maintaining stringent guardrails from launch. All trading through Wealthsimple Predict will be available to Canadian residents.

How Prediction Market Contracts Work

Prediction markets represent the fastest-growing segment of global financial markets, enabling traders to take positions on factors shaping global outcomes. Each contract poses a yes-or-no question, such as whether Canada's inflation rate will rise in a given quarter, and settles at $1 if the answer is correct or $0 if it is incorrect.

The contract price reflects the market's collective belief in the probability of that outcome: a contract trading at $0.70 implies a 70% chance the event resolves as "Yes."

How Kalshi's CFTC Framework Expands to Canadian Investors

Kalshi operates as an authorized event contracts exchange in the United States under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The platform follows the same regulatory framework that applies to other financial assets traded in the US, including equities, bonds, and traditional derivatives.

Wealthsimple's partnership extends this CFTC-regulated framework to Canadian investors seeking regulated alternatives to unregulated markets. The collaboration gives Canadians structured access to prediction markets while maintaining stringent guardrails from launch. This expansion broadens retail investor access to transparent, regulated event contracts previously unavailable in Canada.