Catenaa, Wednesday, March 04, 2026– Kalshi has removed affiliate badges from accounts on X following a platform policy update that tightens rules on paid promotions tied to gambling and prediction market content.
The move comes after X revised its paid partnership guidelines last week to address undisclosed advertising and increase oversight of betting-related promotions.
The badges had marked influencers and affiliates who partnered with Kalshi to promote event contracts under revenue-sharing arrangements.
While not employees, the designation signaled a formal relationship with the prediction market platform.
Multiple affiliated accounts confirmed the badges were removed, with some stating their profiles were under review.
Scrutiny intensified after X’s head of product, Nikita Bier, publicly warned accounts about failing to disclose paid promotions linked to Kalshi.
He indicated that undisclosed sponsorships could lead to suspension and stressed that hidden commercial ties risk undermining trust on the platform.
A report citing a Kalshi spokesperson confirmed the company, not X, made the decision to eliminate the badges.
It said the spokesperson said confusion grew around what the icons represented, with some users interpreting them as endorsements of specific messages.
Kalshi said it plans to explore other ways to engage its trading community.
The change highlights the reliance of prediction markets on affiliate-driven visibility, particularly during major political and macroeconomic events.
For now, affiliates linked to rival Polymarket retain their badges, following that platform’s prior partnership with X.
