Prediction market operator Kalshi has unveiled Blanket, an AI tool that helps small businesses hedge operational risks with event contracts. The tool covers uncertainties including weather, energy prices, tariffs and elections. Blanket was created by independent fintech founder Lauris Zminsky and runs on Kalshi's CFTC-regulated market, though it is not a Kalshi product. It does not execute trades or handle funds. Instead, it analyzes a company's risk profile through AI and recommends relevant Kalshi contracts. Kalshi says small businesses are becoming a major growth area, with more firms turning to event contracts to manage unpredictable weather, sports events, transport costs and tariff volatility. The launch has also fueled debate over what prediction markets are for. Supporters say the platform is making risk tools that once belonged to large institutions available to ordinary firms. Critics worry that products like Blanket may nudge finance further toward entertainment and speculation. Kalshi holds a CFTC license and insists its marketplace is not a casino, citing stronger user protections and transparency.
Prediction market platform Kalshi has launched Blanket, an AI tool designed to help small businesses hedge operating risks with event contracts, according to Fortune. The tool is meant to cover risks tied to weather, energy prices, tariffs and elections.
What Blanket does
Blanket was developed by Lauris Zminsky, an independent fintech founder. It runs on Kalshi's market, which is regulated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), but it is not a Kalshi product.
The tool does not execute trades or process funds. Instead, it uses AI to analyze a company's risks and recommend Kalshi event contracts that could be used to hedge those exposures.
Small businesses as a growth area
Kalshi said small businesses are becoming a key growth area. More companies, the company added, are using event contracts to manage uncertainty tied to weather anomalies, sports events, transport costs and tariff swings.
Debate over prediction markets
Blanket has also fed into a wider debate about the role of prediction markets. Supporters say the market is expanding access to risk-management tools that once belonged mainly to large financial institutions. Critics worry it could push financial products further toward entertainment and speculation.
Kalshi is licensed by the CFTC and has stressed that its platform is not a casino, offering stronger user protections and transparency.
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