Hegseth bars US forces from using undisclosed information to bet on Polymarket, Kalshi

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has issued a directive prohibiting all Pentagon personnel from utilizing non-public information to place wagers on future U.S. military operations through prediction markets and betting platforms, specifically naming Kalshi and Polymarket. The policy aims to prevent the exploitation of sensitive internal data for personal financial gain in the context of military activities.

The measure is framed as a security precaution, with officials noting that international adversaries monitor these betting markets to gain insight into U.S. military movements. By restricting the use of undisclosed information, the Department of Defense intends to mitigate the risk of sensitive operational details being leaked or signaled through financial speculation.