Taiwan has blocked domestic access to Coinbase and prediction-market platform Kalshi over suspicions of for-profit gambling tied to election outcomes. A New Taipei court authorized the restrictions after a request from Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau, with some Coinbase users reporting losing website access as early as October 14.
The move comes weeks ahead of the island's November 28 local elections. Authorities cited violations of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act, which bars operating gambling for profit based on election or recall outcomes. The Criminal Investigation Bureau framed the blocks as necessary to prevent overseas interference ahead of city-level elections that serve as a key test of support for President Lai Ching-te's government.
Under a 2023 amendment to Taiwan's election law, bettors risk up to six months in prison, while operators face sentences of up to five years. Taiwanese authorities have also separately warned that funds from mainland China could flow through underground financial channels to influence the vote.
This action follows a similar pattern in Asia. South Korea blocked Polymarket earlier this year, and Polymarket has also previously been blocked in Taiwan, reflecting a broader regional approach to restricting election-related wagering.
The Taiwan website block adds to mounting regulatory pressure facing prediction markets globally. In the United States, Coinbase has sued multiple states over prediction market restrictions, arguing that the CFTC holds federal jurisdiction. Kalshi separately sought full Sixth Circuit review of a ruling that allowed Ohio and Tennessee to enforce gambling laws against its sports contracts.
New York City's council has also probed Coinbase, Kalshi, and Polymarket over alleged deceptive advertising of prediction market products, signaling that domestic political pressure is building alongside international regulatory risk. Neither Coinbase nor Kalshi responded to requests for comment regarding the Taiwan blocks.
