Taiwan has blocked the websites of Coinbase and Kalshi under a court order sought by the Criminal Investigation Bureau, which is investigating election betting activity. The New Taipei District Court authorized Taiwan's telecoms regulator and internet registry to issue the blocks, citing the Public Officials Election and Recall Act.
Coinbase's website became unreachable in Taiwan starting October 14, displaying a block page referencing the criminal ruling. The Taiwan authorities stated the restrictions were intended to protect election integrity and prevent overseas interference, though they have not accused either company of handling funds from mainland China or other specific violations.
Under Taiwan's election law, amended in 2023, individuals who bet on elections face up to six months in prison, while operators face up to five years in prison. A Coinbase spokesperson acknowledged access issues for some Taiwan users and said the company is investigating. Kalshi stated it does not allow trading in Taiwan and lists the country as a restricted jurisdiction in its member agreement, though the platform continues to list markets on Taiwan's November 28 local elections.
On Kalshi's Taipei mayoral market, approximately 198,000 contracts had traded by the time of the block, with various races listed including contests in New Taipei and Kaohsiung, as well as the 2028 presidential election. Coinbase's prediction product, powered by Kalshi, displayed the presidential market.
Taiwan's action follows earlier blocks of Polymarket's domain in December 2023 and May 2024 under the same law. Prosecutors have pursued individual bettors, with one defendant in Kaohsiung receiving a 30-day detention sentence after betting 742.96 USDC on a party election outcome, and a bettor in Tainan receiving a deferred prosecution conditional on paying NT$100,000 to the state treasury. Polymarket still lists approximately two dozen markets on Taiwan's local races.
Taiwan's crackdown on election betting markets follows similar enforcement actions by Indonesia, which blocked Polymarket over bets on its president, and South Korea, where police traced Polymarket bettors through blockchain analysis.
