Kalshi Seeks to Launch Perpetual Contracts on Equity Indexes

Kalshi, known primarily as a prediction markets platform, has filed a regulatory application to launch a product called 'US500' — a perpetual contract tied to the MerQube U.S. Large Cap Index, which tracks the biggest American companies. Such 'perps' are popular on crypto exchanges and allow traders to hold positions without an expiration date, unlike traditional futures. Launching such an instrument on a regulated platform could position Kalshi as a competitor to established derivatives exchanges like CME. For retail investors, this could offer a new, flexible way to bet on broad stock market moves. Regulators still need to review the filing, and its approval would set an important precedent for the prediction markets industry.