Comment Text:
Dear Chairman and Commissioners,
My name is Courtney Griffin, and I'm just a regular person from Utah who wants to share my thoughts on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Prediction Markets, as published in 91 FR 12516. I've been trading on platforms like Kalshi for a while now, and I believe these markets are valuable for people like me. I'm writing to ask that you support fair and proportionate regulation of prediction markets, rather than imposing heavy restrictions or outright bans.
I got into prediction markets because they give me a way to engage with events that affect my life, like elections or economic decisions, in a way that feels meaningful. The information I get from these markets, the prices and probabilities, is often more accurate than what I see on TV or read in polls. It's not just about trading for me; it's about having better insight into what's happening in the world. I think this kind of price discovery helps everyone, not just traders, by giving the public clearer signals to make decisions. Why wouldn't we want that kind of tool available?
What really matters to me is the freedom to participate in legal, regulated markets like these. I'm not a big investor or a Wall Street type; I'm just someone who does my research and makes small trades based on what I learn. Shutting down or over-regulating these markets would cut off regular folks like me from a system that feels fairer than a lot of other financial spaces. Plus, I worry that if the U.S. clamps down, all the innovation in this area will move overseas. We should be leading the way on financial tools like prediction markets, not handing the advantage to other countries. I want the U.S. to be the place where new ideas in finance grow, and that means allowing platforms like Kalshi to operate under sensible rules.
Looking at some of the questions in your notice, I think my views tie into Question 7 about balancing innovation and consumer protection. I'm all for protecting people from fraud or manipulation, but I believe the CFTC already has tools to handle that without banning entire markets. And on Question 11 about price discovery, I can say from experience that these markets give me data I trust more than a lot of other sources. As for U.S. competitiveness, which I think relates to broader themes in your questions, we can't afford to fall behind other nations that are embracing these technologies.
I understand there are concerns about insider trading or manipulation, but those are already illegal, and the CFTC has the power to enforce those laws. Don't punish everyday traders like me by restricting access to these markets. I respectfully ask that you regulate prediction markets in a way that's fair, targeted, and keeps the U.S. at the forefront of financial innovation.
Thank you for considering my input.
Sincerely,
Courtney Griffin
