Bitcoin News Today: Prediction Markets Surge as Bitcoin Miners Power AI's New Frontier

Kalshi has secured $300 million in a new funding round, valuing the prediction market startup at $5 billion, according to multiple reportsKalshi Valuation Soars to $5B Amid New $300M Funding Round^[1]. The Series D round, led by Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, also included Paradigm, CapitalG, and Coinbase VenturesKalshi’s $300M raise values firm at $5B as it tops Polymarket in global market share^[2]. This marks a significant increase from its $2 billion valuation in June 2025, following a $185 million raiseKalshi Raises $300 Million, Valuing Prediction Market Startup^[3]. The company plans to expand its services to over 140 countries, moving beyond its U.S. baseWall Street’s High-Stakes Gamble: Kalshi’s $300 Million Raise^[4]. Kalshi projects an annual trading volume of approximately $50 billion, a substantial jump from its 2024 figuresKalshi Raises $300 Million, Valuing Prediction Market Startup at^[5].

The funding surge coincides with Kalshi surpassing rival Polymarket in global market share. In September 2025, Kalshi captured 62.2% of total prediction market trading volume, compared to Polymarket's 37%Kalshi Outpaces Polymarket in Prediction Market Volume Amid^[6]. This shift reflects Kalshi's aggressive expansion into sports-based contracts, which now account for over 75% of its activityKalshi Storms Past Polymarket in Trading Volume, Dominates^[7]. However, the company faces legal challenges in the U.S., with Massachusetts suing it over alleged unlicensed sports betting operationsKalshi Outpaces Polymarket in Prediction Market Volume Amid^[8]. Kalshi has responded by filing a federal lawsuit against Ohio regulators, arguing its markets fall under federal CFTC oversightWall Street’s High-Stakes Gamble: Kalshi’s $300 Million Raise^[9].

Meanwhile, Polymarket announced a $2 billion investment from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), valuing it at $9 billionPolymarket vs. Kalshi: $2B NYSE push signals ‘regime change’^[10]. This move positions Polymarket to re-enter the U.S. market after a 2022 regulatory banPolymarket vs. Kalshi: $2B NYSE push signals ‘regime change’^[11]. ICE's involvement underscores growing institutional confidence in prediction markets, with the exchange planning to distribute Polymarket's data to financial institutionsPolymarket vs. Kalshi: $2B NYSE push signals ‘regime change’^[12].

Beyond prediction markets, Bitcoin miners are emerging as key players in AI infrastructure. Bernstein analysts highlighted that miners control over 14 gigawatts of secured power capacity, offering a faster and cheaper path to scale AI data centers amid grid congestionBitcoin Miners Emerge as Key AI Infrastructure Partners Amid^[13]. Leading miner IREN, with 3 gigawatts of operational and under-development power capacity, is positioned as a top beneficiaryBitcoin Miners' Power Edge Makes Them Key AI Infrastructure^[14]. The company has acquired 23,300 GPUs, including NVIDIA's Blackwell models, and expects AI cloud revenue to exceed $500 million annually by early 2026Bitcoin Miners Will Benefit From AI Infrastructure Boom: Bernstein^[15]. Bernstein reiterated its $75 price target for IREN, citing its strategic role in bridging volatile mining and stable AI hostingBitcoin Miners' Power Edge Makes Them Key AI Infrastructure^[16].

The convergence of AI demand and power infrastructure is reshaping the data center landscape. With interconnection delays stretching to seven years, miners' pre-secured power and existing cooling systems provide a competitive edgeBitcoin Miners Emerge as Key AI Infrastructure Partners Amid^[17]. Microsoft has flagged persistent data center shortages through 2026, further validating the sector's potentialBitcoin Miners Emerge as Key AI Infrastructure Partners Amid^[18].