A neutral, dated look at whether Crypto.com event contracts are legal and available in Washington. Why the state Gambling Commission treats event based contracts as unauthorized, what the federal preemption claim argues, and what that tension means for a Washington resident. Information, not advice.
Last reviewed 13 February 2026 · Status as of February 2026 · Information, not legal advice
Washington is one of the strictest states on online gambling, and its Gambling Commission has said plainly that event based contracts are not authorized in the state. Crypto.com lists its contracts through a federally registered exchange and argues federal law preempts state gambling rules, but Washington has not stepped back, so a Washington resident sits in genuinely contested territory.
As of February 2026, Washington treats event based contracts as restricted. The Washington State Gambling Commission stated in December 2025 that offering or participating in event based contracts is not authorized in the state, and Washington is in litigation with prediction market operators including Kalshi and Robinhood. Crypto.com lists its event contracts through Crypto.com Derivatives North America, a CFTC registered exchange, and asserts federal preemption, but the state position is unresolved. Treat access from Washington as contested and confirm the current rules before relying on it.
Start with how Crypto.com offers these markets. Its event contracts are listed and cleared by Crypto.com Derivatives North America, known as CDNA, which holds federal registrations as a designated contract market, a derivatives clearing organization, and a futures commission merchant. The legal theory is that, because the Commodity Exchange Act gives the Commodity Futures Trading Commission exclusive jurisdiction over event contracts on registered exchanges, a CDNA contract does not depend on a state gambling licence.
Washington does not accept that reading in practice. In December 2025 the Washington State Gambling Commission issued guidance stating that offering event based contracts, or participating in these markets, is not authorized in Washington State. The commission described the statement as a precautionary alert rather than a formal cease and desist, but it leaves little doubt about the state position.
The dispute has reached the courts. Through 2026 Washington has clashed in litigation with prediction market platforms including Kalshi and Robinhood, with the state defending its gambling laws and the operators leaning on federal preemption. The CFTC has separately sued other states, including Arizona, Illinois, and Connecticut, to assert its jurisdiction, which signals how the federal agency views state action of this kind.
Crypto.com has also been trimming its own footprint. Through late 2025 and 2026 it scaled back sports event contracts and pulled out of several states under regulatory pressure, so the specific markets a Washington resident might see can change quickly and may already be limited. We treat the sports category as especially exposed.
Our read is cautious. Washington has stated that the activity is unauthorized and is actively litigating, so we mark the state as restricted and contested rather than open. We do not tell you it is safe to proceed, and we do not predict how the courts will rule. Confirm the live position with primary sources and the platform before you act.
Because Washington's Gambling Commission has stated that event based contracts are not authorized in the state, we do not present a list of venues for a Washington resident to open. That holds even for federally registered exchanges, because the state regulator has flagged the activity itself rather than one operator. The federal preemption question is unresolved in the courts.
Read the current position in our Washington legality guide before you act. We do not invite a Washington reader to open an account where the state regulator has flagged the activity as unauthorized.
As of February 2026 it is contested. Washington's Gambling Commission stated in December 2025 that event based contracts are not authorized in the state, while Crypto.com lists its contracts through a CFTC registered exchange and argues federal preemption. This is general information, not legal advice.
They are listed and cleared by Crypto.com Derivatives North America, known as CDNA, a designated contract market and clearinghouse registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Trading sits inside the Crypto.com app, but the contracts are the federally registered CDNA product.
In December 2025 the Washington State Gambling Commission stated that offering or participating in event based contracts is not authorized in Washington State. It called the statement a precautionary alert, and the state has been in court with prediction market operators.
No. The CFTC argues it has exclusive jurisdiction over event contracts and has sued several states, while states like Washington defend their gambling laws. The courts have not delivered a final, nationwide answer, so the position is unresolved.
Confirm the current rules with primary sources and the platform, and treat the category as restricted. Because Washington's regulator has flagged event based contracts as unauthorized, we do not direct Washington residents to open an account.
Washington's regulator has flagged this entire category as unauthorized, which is a stronger warning than a fee or a score could convey. Prediction markets can lose you money. Stake only what you can afford to lose, never to chase a loss, and never on borrowed money. If it stops feeling like a free choice, step back. In the United States you can call or text the national helpline on 1-800-GAMBLER or visit ncpgambling.org.
The position above rests on primary regulatory and platform sources. Confirm it yourself before you act, because the rules in this area change.
Status as of February 2026. General information, not legal advice.