Published on: February 6, 2026, 07:36h.
Updated on: February 6, 2026, 07:36h.
- Company reports $100 billion in annualized revenue
- Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes the first NBA player to invest in Kalshi
- He will not be eligible to trade on NBA market events
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the star player of the Milwaukee Bucks, has officially become a shareholder in Kalshi, as announced through his social media channels and confirmed by the prediction market company.
Known as the “Greek Freak,” Antetokounmpo is a 10-time All-Star and two-time MVP. He is actively involved in various business initiatives through his company, Ante Inc., and his venture capital firm, BYL Venture. His latest endeavor includes investing in Kalshi, which boasts an impressive $100 billion in annual revenue.
“I am a fan of the Kalshi markets and have been closely monitoring them lately,” Antetokounmpo stated in a press announcement. “I enjoy winning. It’s evident that Kalshi is destined for success, and I’m thrilled to be part of it.”
Kalshi’s announcement specified that due to his status as a current player in the NBA, Antetokounmpo will not be permitted to trade on any NBA event contracts listed on the platform. This restriction complies with Kalshi’s stringent terms aimed at preventing insider trading and market manipulation. Furthermore, Article 35 of the NBA’s constitution explicitly disallows players from wagering on games in the NBA and G League.
Antetokounmpo Joins Esteemed Group of Kalshi Investors
After securing a $1 billion funding round last year, Kalshi saw its valuation soar to $11 billion. Specific terms of Antetokounmpo’s investment have not been disclosed.
Clearly, the basketball icon is aligning with a prestigious group of Kalshi investors, which includes notable firms like Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, Coinbase Ventures, Paradigm, Anthos Capital, Neo, and ARK Venture Fund led by Cathie Wood, among others.
Antetokounmpo’s entry as a Kalshi shareholder marks a dynamic week in the prediction market financing arena. On Wednesday, Opinion Labs, the entity behind Opinion Trade, successfully raised $20 million in a pre-Series A funding round.
Additionally, tech startup Kairos, which is working on a terminal to integrate prediction markets for professional traders, announced it raised $2.5 million on the same day.
Antetokounmpo Not the First NBA Star to Engage in Prediction Markets
While Antetokounmpo is the first NBA star to invest directly in Kalshi, he follows in the footsteps of other notable players. Former players like Kevin Durant, Trae Young, and Mark Cuban have invested in Underdog, which initially began as a daily fantasy sports company and has pivoted to prediction markets through a collaboration with Crypto.com established last October.
According to the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA), players are allowed to invest in sports betting and cannabis companies.
The league has expressed concerns regarding the risks that prediction markets could pose to the integrity of games and has urged the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to establish regulations similar to those implemented for state-regulated sportsbooks.