Published on: June 24, 2026, 03:37h.
Updated on: June 24, 2026, 03:37h.
- Tarek Mansour, co-founder and CEO of Kalshi, hints at potential IPO plans
- Public share sales won’t occur this year
- Recent rumors suggest Kalshi is exploring an IPO
Tarek Mansour, the co-founder and CEO of Kalshi, has revealed that the leading prediction market is exploring the possibility of an initial public offering (IPO), although the company will not be initiating a public share sale this year.
During an interview with CNBC, Mansour acknowledged that the top U.S. prediction market is contemplating an IPO and engaging in early discussions regarding the matter. However, he refrained from providing a specific timeline, confirming that an IPO will not be realized in 2026.
“Given our financial profile and the growth rate we are witnessing, it’s a conversation that needs to take place,” Mansour expressed to CNBC. “People are starting to inquire, and we’re certainly considering it, though we don’t have definitive answers at this point.”
The conversation occurred just five days after rumors emerged about Kalshi potentially targeting a 2027 or 2028 IPO and reportedly engaging investment banks to facilitate the offering. There are indications that Kalshi aspires to have banks incorporate its prediction market into client-facing platforms for enhanced access by professional clients.
Kalshi’s Valuation Might Soar
Aside from Mansour’s remarks about the IPO, a report released late Wednesday indicated that the company is seeking additional funding and targeting a valuation of $40 billion.
If this information holds true, it suggests that Kalshi’s valuation may have nearly doubled in just three months. The company recently completed a $1 billion Series F funding round in March, which placed its valuation at $22 billion. Kalshi has a history of experiencing significant valuation increases in rapid succession.
At this time last year, Kalshi was valued at $2 billion. Just four months later, that figure jumped to $5 billion, and by December 2025, private market investors were valuing Kalshi at $11 billion. Essentially, this indicates Kalshi’s valuation did double between December 2025 and March 2026.
If Kalshi secures a $40 billion valuation, it would elevate the company among the unicorns—privately-held companies valued at a minimum of $1 billion—placing it just outside the top 15, closely trailing behind Canva and Prometheus, which hold valuations of $42 billion and $41 billion, respectively.
Increased Valuation Doesn’t Guarantee IPO
The pursuit of new capital by prediction markets is a recurring theme. Additionally, the readiness of venture investors to fund Kalshi, along with other players like Polymarket, is becoming increasingly substantial.
However, Kalshi’s aspirations for a $40 billion valuation and its IPO considerations may not necessarily align, as obtaining one does not guarantee the other—particularly as companies choose to remain private for longer stretches.
Excluding Anthropic and OpenAI, which are anticipated to go public later this year, there are six unicorns currently valued above $101 billion, as per Crunchbase data. Furthermore, five more range between $50 billion and $75 billion.