Kalshi and Crypto.com are two of the top prediction market platforms in the U.S.
I put these two head-to-head to help you figure out which is better for you.
Overall, I prefer Kalshi because they have lower fees, a more valuable sign-up bonus, stronger social features, and a wider range of markets, including props and parlays for sports that aren’t available on Crypto.com.
Crypto.com is more of an everything app, offering more options beyond sports trading, including DeFi, yield products, NFTs, and collectibles.
Overall, I prefer Kalshi over Crypto.com for prediction markets because what they do best matters more to me as a sports-first user.
That said, I still recommend using both simultaneously for liquidity. Some markets have more action on one platform than the other, and having both open helps you get filled more quickly and closer to your target price.
They also run different exchange frameworks so that the same market can price differently.
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Kalshi vs. Crypto.com Overview
Odds Assist Rating | 91.5 | 86.5 |
Fees | – Taker: $0.07-$1.75 Per 100 contracts taken – Maker: $0.02-$0.44 per 100 contracts | $0.02 + technology fee on $10 and $100 contracts |
Welcome bonus | ||
Promo code | MAXBONUSR5 | No promo code required |
Available in | 50 states | 50 states |
Sports covered | 16+ markets | 13+ markets |
Non-Sports Markets | Politics, mentions, economics, finance, culture, events, weather, climate | Financials, politics, culture & current events, crypto & tech, economics, DeFi & Yield, NFTs & Collectibles, environment & weather |
Payment Methods | Google Pay, debit card, bank transfer, Venmo, PayPal, crypto, wire transfer | Debit card, wire, ACH, cryptocurrencies, PayPal |
Minimum Deposit | $10 | $1 |
Mobile App | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
Customer Support | Email, phone, live chat | Email, live chat |
State Availability – Tie: Both Are Available Nationwide
Both Crypto and Kalshi are federally legal and regulated, making them available in all 50 U.S. states.
However, there have been many lawsuits from states, so check for recent updates to make sure they're available in your state.
Sign-Up Bonus – Winner: Kalshi
Kalshi’s welcome offer is trade $10 and get $10, which you can unlock with promo code MAXBONUSR5.
Crypto.com’s sign-up bonus is up to 1 BTC in CRO Rewards. Note that this welcome offer is for Crypto.com, in general, and isn't related to prediction markets. No promo code is required to unlock the offer.
I’m giving Kalshi the edge over Crypto.com when it comes to their sign-up bonuses, since it's specific to prediction markets and requires less upfront investment.
Fees– Winner: Kalshi
Kalshi charges a variable trading fee based on contract price and trade size. You pay the higher fee when your order fills immediately, and a smaller maker fee when a posted limit order is later matched. If a limit order is canceled before it fills, no fee is charged.
The result is that you’re usually talking in cents per 100 contracts, with taker fees topping out in the low single digits and maker fees lower. Contracts priced closer to $0 or $1 tend to cost less, since Kalshi charges off expected profit rather than total size.
Crypto.com's fees are tied to contract size and apply when you open and close a position. On $1 contracts, they charge an exchange fee each way, while $10 and $100 add a technology fee on entry and exit, so frequent trading gets pricey.
Crypto.com does have one perk: if you settle in the money, the fee on $10 and $100 contracts drops, which can make those larger contracts more efficient on winning holds. But if you’re moving in and out, you’re paying those open and close costs every time.
Still, once you zoom out, Kalshi’s structure is easier to manage and cheaper more often, especially if you’re placing limit orders or trading frequently. The lack of settlement fees and the lower maker costs give it a real edge here. That’s why Kalshi gets the win here.
User Interface – Winner: Kalshi (slightly)
Crypto.com is doing much more than running prediction markets. It’s built as a full crypto/finance ecosystem with payments, swaps, lending/interest products, trading, and a whole bunch of other tools living under one roof.
Kalshi is single-purpose. It’s a regulated prediction market where you trade real-world outcomes through YES/NO contracts, and that’s basically the whole product, without the extra financial or tech add-ons.
That difference shows up clearly in how each app feels. Crypto.com feels more feature-heavy and takes a little longer to get comfortable with, while Kalshi feels more focused because everything centers on trading markets.
On Crypto.com, sports prediction markets live inside the Sports tab, so you’re stepping into that section from the broader platform (it’s on the top nav, but it’s still one more hop).
On Kalshi, the prediction experience is front and center because it’s the only product.
Both use a two-tier menu style where you pick a category and then toggle subcategories across the top.
On Crypto.com, when you open Sports, you’ll see sub-tabs like NFL, college football, and other leagues across the top.
Kalshi does the same thing inside its categories, so if you open something like Economics, you’ll get subcategories like Inflation, Fed, Growth, and more.
Kalshi pulls ahead in sports organization. It’s better at grouping trading options using dropdowns for prop categories, such as passing yards, receiving yards, team totals, and related markets.
Crypto.com’s sports offering is more basic, so the browsing tools don’t go as deep.
Kalshi also gives you more ways to view pricing, including probabilities, American odds, or payout dollars. Crypto.com mostly sticks to probabilities, which works, but it’s not as bettor-friendly if you’re used to thinking in odds.
The biggest separator is the social layer. Kalshi has an Ideas feed, leaderboards, and user profiles that track verified trades and results.
Crypto.com Sports doesn’t have a dedicated community or social hub for sports trading.
Sports Coverage– Winner: Kalshi
Both platforms hit the main U.S. sports most people care about, but Kalshi goes a step further with a few niche options that Crypto.com doesn’t have.
On Crypto.com, you can trade these sports markets:
- NFL
- NBA
- College football
- College basketball
- MLB
- NHL
- UFC
- Golf
- Tennis
- Soccer (MLS, EPL, Champions League, World Cup)
Kalshi offers these sports markets:
- Basketball (NBA, college)
- Baseball
- Hockey
- Football (NFL, college)
- Soccer (Many leagues)
- Tennis
- Golf
- MMA
- Boxing
- Lacrosse
- Rugby
- Darts
- Australian Rules
- Cricket
- Chess
- Motorsport
- Esports
If you want more than the usual big sports, Kalshi’s the better play since it adds a lot of niche sports, including esports, chess, and motorsports, three markets Crypto.com doesn’t offer.
Non-Sports Coverage– Winner: Crypto.com
Both platforms go well beyond sports, but they approach non-sports markets very differently. Kalshi sticks to regulated, outcome-based markets tied to real-world events, while Crypto.com layers prediction markets on top of a much broader crypto and finance ecosystem.
Kalshi non-sports markets:
- Politics
- Economics (macro data releases)
- Finance & markets
- Culture & events
- Weather & climate
Crypto.com non-sports markets and products:
- Politics
- Economics (macro data releases)
- Financials/markets
- Culture & current events
- Crypto & tech events
- Spot and futures trading (400+ cryptocurrencies)
- DeFi and yield products
- NFTs and collectibles
Bottom line, Kalshi covers the major non-sports categories, but Crypto.com offers more ways to trade and interact outside sports. That wider menu is why Crypto.com takes this category.
Sports Market Variety – Winner: Kalshi
On Crypto.com, sports trading is limited to core markets like spreads, totals, and game winners.
Kalshi offers all of these trading options plus props and Combos, which let you roll multiple outcomes into one trade.
Banking & Payouts – Winner: Tie
Kalshi and Crypto.com both make it easy to add funds.
Here’s how deposits stack up.
Kalshi deposit methods:
- ACH bank transfer
- PayPal
- Google Pay (including credit cards)
- Debit/credit card
- Wire transfer
- Crypto deposit (through Zero Hash)
Crypto.com deposit methods:
- ACH bank transfer
- Wire transfer
- Debit card
- PayPal
- Crypto deposits (350+ coins)
On the payout side, Kalshi offers more ways to cash out, but it also imposes security holds on new deposits before you can withdraw. Crypto.com is narrower for fiat cash-outs, but it’s quick once your withdrawal is confirmed.
Kalshi withdrawal options:
- ACH bank transfer
- Debit card
- Crypto withdrawal (only if you previously deposited crypto)
Crypto.com withdrawal options:
- Bank transfer for fiat (with a $1.99 fee, $100 minimum)
- Crypto withdrawals (timing depends on the asset, often near-instant)
Crypto.com often processes bank withdrawals same-day or within about 24 hours, and crypto withdrawals can be close to instant. Kalshi’s ACH takes a few business days, but debit card and crypto withdrawals can be processed faster once funds are eligible.
Bottom line, it’s a tie. Kalshi wins on having more payout routes, and Crypto.com wins on speed, especially if you’re using crypto.
Kalshi vs. Crypto.com Verdict – Kalshi Wins but Both Are Worth Using
If you’re asking me which one I’d ride with, I’m going with Kalshi.
One of the main reasons is the wider variety of sports markets. With props and parlays available, I’ve got more ways to play a market instead of being stuck with a couple of basic options.
I don’t place trades just for the sake of having action. If I’m putting money down, it’s because I have a math-based reason, and I’m fine living with the outcome over time. That’s another reason I like Kalshi: the fees are easier for active traders.
Still, Crypto.com is a strong option. If you’re more of a markets person than a sports bettor, or you’re only dabbling in sports, it’ll probably feel more natural.
Overall, I don’t think this is an either-or decision. Running both apps lets you take advantage of differences in liquidity and pricing. Some markets are more active on one platform than the other, and since they use different exchange setups, prices don’t always line up.
Having access to both gives you a better chance at the best number, rather than settling for what’s there.
Check out our Kalshi Alternatives Guide to see other options, or our Kalshi vs. Polymarket Guide for another comparison of two industry leaders.
