Taiwan Cuts Off Coinbase and Kalshi Weeks Before Local Vote: Report

Polymarket, Kalshi's main rival, is also blocked in Taiwan, where election bettors face up to six months in prison under a 2023 amendment. Coinbase and Kalshi have been reportedly blocked from Taiwan due to suspicion of betting on elections and several users of Coinbase have been unable to access the website since October 14. The notice comes ahead of local elections set for November 28, which will be the first time since 2024 when President Lai Ching-te took office. Court Order Targets Access Before Taiwan’s November Vote A New Taipei court authorized Taiwan’s communications regulator and internet registry to block domestic access to the two platforms, a report published October 15 said, citing a ruling seen by Bloomber News. Some Coinbase users in Taiwan had reported access problems since October 14. The Criminal Investigations Bureau, which requested the order, suspected the websites may violate Taiwan’s Public Officials Election and Recall Act. The law prohibits operating gambling for profit based on an election or recall outcome. The bureau said the restrictions were intended to protect election integrity and prevent “overseas interference,” but it did not provide further deta...