US Regulators Move on Prediction Markets With ETF Pause and NHL Pact

Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins said fund sponsors agreed to delay several event contract ETFs tied to prediction markets while the agency seeks public input.

Meanwhile, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the National Hockey League announced a memorandum of understanding aimed at policing event contracts built around professional hockey.

Parallel Oversight of Prediction Markets

The announcements show the SEC and CFTC moving in step to handle a sector that has expanded faster than regulators have written rules.

Roundhill Investments, GraniteShares, and Bitwise’s PredictionShares brand have filed roughly two dozen event contract ETF proposals since February.

The funds would package binary bets on elections, recessions, and sports outcomes into brokerage-friendly wrappers.

Atkins framed the delay as a process question rather than a rejection. The new SEC chair said staff will seek public input on how the agency should respond to recent market changes.

CFTC and NHL Integrity Pact

The CFTC-NHL agreement formalizes information sharing and coordinated monitoring between the agency and the league.

Designated representatives will communicate regularly on integrity issues and share data confidentially.

Our agreement with the CFTC enhances the comprehensive integrity monitoring systems already in place and strengthens our ability to identify, deter, and address potential risks,” the agency stated.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman attached the statement to the CFTC release. The league already runs licensing deals with Kalshi and Polymarket, giving each platform settlement feeds for hockey contracts.

CFTC Chair Mike Selig signed a similar pact with Major League Baseball in March and has previously warned on fraud inside prediction market venues.

Joint Approach Under New Leadership

The two agencies signed their own coordination memorandum in March 2026 covering product definitions and emerging technology.

Both chairs are appointees of the current administration who favor what they call innovation with guardrails.

ETF assets have tripled since 2019, according to Atkins. Prediction market open interest reached $1.2 billion in weekly volume earlier this year.

Retail investors being able to access event contract ETFs now hinges on the public comment process.