Kalshi Perpetual Futures Trading Guide 2026: How to Use Perps at Kalshi the Right Way

What are Kalshi perpetual futures? The basics

Whilst standard Kalshi prediction markets require you to buy or sell contracts on events that have specific end dates, perpetual futures do not have end dates. As such, you can trade out of your position at any point.

To trade on perpetual futures at Kalshi, you need to buy contracts on whether the price of a cryptocurrency will move up or down. If you subsequently trade out of your contracts after the price has moved in the direction you have predicted, you will make a profit, but if it moves in the other direction, you will incur a loss.

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Are Kalshi perpetual futures legitimate and safe?

Yes! As is the case with their prediction markets, Kalshi perpetual futures fully comply with Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regulations and are available in the majority of US states. All of the perpetual futures at the site are cleared through Kalshi Klear LLC (DCO) and your margin is held in an account that is separate from your main Kalshi prediction market funds.

In addition to complying with all relevant regulations, Kalshi also protect their traders via several advanced safeguarding features, including a stringent application process before you begin trading and in-depth educational tools that you need to go through before making your first trade.

How to trade on Kalshi perpetual futures

Now that you know the basics of Kalshi perpetual futures, let’s go through the process for making trades on the market.

• After opening your Kalshi account (more on that below) and making a deposit, go to the perpetual futures markets by clicking the Perps menu link at the top of the Kalshi homepage.
• This will take you to a page showing a full list of the perpetuals you can trade on, along with details of the current market price and how that price has recently changed. The table below shows the crypto you can currently trade at Kalshi, along with the contract size (i.e., the amount of the asset represented by one contract) and the minimum order size you can make:

• To make your trade, you need to select a cryptocurrency and decide whether its price will ‘Long’ (go up) or ‘Short’ (go down).
• After clicking your preferred option, you need to insert the value of the contracts you wish to purchase.
• You also need to enter your leverage. This magnifies the size of your profit or loss by applying a percentage to your trading amount. For example, if you buy $50 in ‘long’ contracts and your leverage is x5, your exposure will be $250. If the value of that crypto then goes up by 10%, your position will gain by $25 (10% of $50 multiplied by 5).
• You can also use the optional ‘Set Loss’ text box to set a limit on the maximum overall loss you can make.
• There is also a ‘Take Profit’ box that allows you to automatically trade out of your position and lock in a win if your profit reaches a stated amount. We can highly recommend using these tools when placing your trades, as they will help you stay in control of your bankroll and not incur any problematic losses.
• Once you have entered your information and double-checked it, submit your trade.
• You can trade out of your position at any time. Depending on the crypto price at that time, this will either lock in your profit or stop you from incurring a larger loss.

Key differences between Kalshi perpetual futures and Kalshi prediction markets

Kalshi perpetual futures are somewhat different from the standard prediction markets covered in our Kalshi review. Here’s a look at three of the key differences between the two:

• Price-based profit and loss: Whilst prediction markets are dictated by the outcome of an event, perpetual futures directly track the price of the crypto.
• Leverage: Because of these price-based outcomes, you can leverage your position when trading on perpetual futures.
• No expiry date: Because perpetual futures have no end date, you can trade out of your position at any point. In contrast, prediction markets always have a final outcome.

Pros and cons of Kalshi perpetual futures

If you are unsure as to whether to give perpetual futures a try, you may be unsure as to whether to give perpetual futures a try,, here’s a look at the main pros and cons associated with them:

How to get started at Kalshi

If you want to give perpetual futures a try and you have not yet opened your account at Kalshi, here’s what you need to do:

1. Hit the banners on this page to access the Kalshi prediction market site. By using our banners, you will ensure that you go to the correct site and automatically become eligible for the latest Kalshi welcome bonus, which gives you a $10 bonus when you place your first $10 trade.
2. Click the green Sign Up button in the top corner of the screen.
3. Enter your phone number, and Kalshi will send you a unique verification code. Please note: You do not need to enter a Kalshi promo code in the ‘Got a Promo Code’ box on this page.
4. After entering the code, you will need to provide a few personal details such as your date of birth, postal address and email address.
5. Tick the box to confirm that you agree with Kalshi’s terms and conditions.
6. You will then receive a verification email. Just click the link in the email to get your account open.
7. To add funds to your account, head to your profile page and make a payment using one of the accepted deposit methods.
8. If you then go to the Perps section of the Kalshi website and make your first selection, Kalshi will ask you to fill out an application for a margin account and complete some mandatory training to ensure that you know exactly how perpetual futures work.

Summing up - An innovative alternative to Kalshi prediction markets

Kalshi perpetual futures offer unique trading opportunities and provide an extremely interesting alternative to the standard prediction markets found at the site. As we explained in this article, there are several key differences between prediction markets and perpetual futures, but one important similarity is that there is a large risk attached to placing your trades. As such, it is essential that you carefully read the information in this guide AND on the Kalshi website before you begin to make trades. In addition, always use the profit and loss tools provided by Kalshi when making your trades, as these will allow you to control your trades and avoid any problematic losses.

If you want to join Kalshi and begin trading on crypto perpetual futures, simply click our banners and follow the instructions in this article. In no time at all, your account will be open, and you will be ready to make your first trade.

Kalshi perpetual futures - FAQs