On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, the prediction market platform Kalshi announced its first major disciplinary actions for insider trading, involving a video editor for MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson).
The editor, identified as Artem Kaptur, was found to have used non-public information obtained through his job to place “near-perfect” bets on MrBeast-related outcomes.
The Enforcement Action
Kalshi’s surveillance team flagged Kaptur after detecting “statistically anomalous” trading success in low-probability markets.
- The Trades: Kaptur allegedly wagered roughly $4,000 in August and September 2025 on markets such as what MrBeast would say in his next video or specific details about the upcoming “Beast Games.”
- The Profits: He earned $5,397.58 in profits, which Kalshi froze before they could be withdrawn.
- The Penalty: Kalshi imposed a total financial penalty of $20,397.58 (consisting of a $15,000 fine plus the disgorgement of profits).
- The Ban: Kaptur has been suspended from the platform for two years.
- Federal Referral: Kalshi has reported the case to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for further investigation.
Response from Beast Industries
Following the announcement, a spokesperson for Beast Industries issued a “no tolerance” statement regarding the incident.
- Independent Probe: The company has launched its own independent investigation to ensure workplace integrity.
- Statement: “Beast Industries has no tolerance for this behavior, whether by contestants or our own employees. We have a longstanding policy against employees using proprietary company information.”
- Critique of Kalshi: While supporting the crackdown, Beast Industries noted that Kalshi did not communicate its findings with them until the disciplinary action was made public, calling for better collaboration in the future.
A Second Case: Political Insider Trading
The announcement regarding the MrBeast editor was part of a broader transparency push by Kalshi, which also revealed a second closed case.
- Kyle Langford: A former Republican candidate for California governor was banned for five years and fined $2,000 (10 times his wager).
- Violation: Langford had bet $200 on his own candidacy and even posted a video of the trade on social media. Kalshi clarified that while candidates can use market data for insights, they are strictly prohibited from trading on their own races.
Context: The 200 Probes
Kalshi disclosed that it has opened 200 investigations into potential insider trading over the past year, with more than a dozen currently active.
The platform is using these high-profile enforcements to bolster its credibility as a regulated exchange, especially as it faces ongoing legal battles with state regulators who argue that prediction markets are unlicensed gambling.
