Giannis Antetokounmpo Becomes a Kalshi Shareholder
In the United States, Milwaukee Bucks forward and NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo has become a shareholder in the prediction markets platform Kalshi, making him the first professional basketball player to hold an equity stake in the company.
The Partnership Between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kalshi
Shareholder Status and Company Involvement
Kalshi announced that Giannis Antetokounmpo has joined the company as a shareholder.
He is the first basketball player to acquire a stake in a prediction markets platform and will take part in joint events, marketing activities, and other company projects.
Partnership Announcement
The partnership was announced on Friday through Giannis Antetokounmpo’s official social media accounts.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Investment Activity
Previous Investments
Through his company Ante Inc., Giannis Antetokounmpo has previously invested in several projects, including Improbable Media, as well as his own venture fund, BYL Venture.
Kalshi Shareholders
Antetokounmpo joined the list of Kalshi shareholders, which already includes Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Paradigm, Coinbase Ventures, and other investors.
At the time of the announcement, the company reported strong growth and annualized trading volume exceeding $100 billion.
Restrictions for an Active NBA Player
Ban on Trading NBA-Related Markets
As an active NBA player, Giannis Antetokounmpo is not permitted to trade on markets related to the NBA.
This restriction is set out in Kalshi rules, which prohibit insider trading and any form of market manipulation.
Statements from the Parties
Comment from Kalshi Management
Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour stated that Giannis Antetokounmpo is a long-term partner with whom the company links the future development of its brand.
Comment from Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo said that he regularly follows Kalshi markets and is interested in being involved in the company’s development.
About Kalshi
Company Activity
Kalshi was founded in 2018 and is the largest prediction markets platform.
The company offers financial markets based on the outcomes of real-world events, including elections, sports events, and other public events.