• Interactive Brokers is launching a prediction-markets platform with Kalshi, CME Group and ForecastEx, allowing users to trade yes-or-no contracts tied to elections, climate and the economy.
  • Founder Thomas Peterffy said institutional interest is rising, particularly for hedging commodities and climate-related risks.
  • Kalshi said institutional demand has surged over the past six months as prediction markets gain traction beyond retail traders.

Interactive Brokers Group Inc. is deepening its bet on prediction markets, rolling out extended trading hours and broader platform access for its Forecast Contracts. The move, announced Wednesday, allows clients to trade event-based yes-or-no contracts nearly around the clock, six days a week, across desktop and mobile platforms. The contracts, offered through partnerships with Kalshi, CME Group and IBKR's own ForecastEx, cover a range of real-world outcomes from election results to climate metrics and economic indicators.

“We’re seeing growing demand from institutions looking to hedge commodity price swings and climate-related exposures,” Thomas Peterffy, founder and chairman of Interactive Brokers, said in an interview. “These contracts provide a transparent way to manage risk that wasn’t available a few years ago.” The broker, known for low-cost trading, has been expanding its event-contract offerings since launching ForecastEx in 2024.

Kalshi, a regulated prediction-market exchange, has seen institutional interest surge over the past six months. “Institutions are increasingly using these markets for hedging and scenario analysis,” said a Kalshi spokesperson. The platform, which operates under CFTC oversight, has partnered with CME Group to list contracts on economic and climate events.

The expanded hours—from 8 p.m. ET Sunday to 6 p.m. ET Friday—reflect a push to capture global trading flows and accommodate institutional risk management needs. For now, the contracts remain a niche product, but industry observers see potential for broader adoption if regulatory clarity improves. Interactive Brokers shares rose 1.2% on the news, outperforming the broader market.