Taiwan blocks Coinbase and Kalshi websites over election betting concerns

Taiwan has pulled the plug on the websites of Coinbase and Kalshi, citing suspected illegal betting on the island’s upcoming local elections. A New Taipei District Court ordered the blocks on October 15, 2026, a little over six weeks before voters head to the polls on November 28. The message from Taipei is simple. You can watch the election, but you cannot wager on it. What the court ordered The rulings target websites owned by Coinbase Global Inc. and Kalshi Inc. The legal basis is Taiwan’s Public Officials Election and Recall Act. That law bans any gambling tied to election or recall outcomes that is designed to turn a profit. Users started reporting trouble reaching the sites around October 14, 2026, a day before the court’s authorization was confirmed. Anyone who tried to visit was redirected to a notice pointing to the court orders. Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau framed the online betting activity as a threat to the electoral process. Authorities also positioned the blocks as a way to head off possible foreign interference before the vote. While web access to Coinbase was cut, reports indicated the exchange’s mobile app was still reachable for some users. The connecti...