- Taiwan reportedly restricted access to Coinbase and Kalshi before the November 28 local elections.
- A New Taipei court approved the order after investigators cited possible election betting violations.
- Coinbase said it was investigating access problems and Kalshi said trading is not allowed in Taiwan.
Taiwan’s Coinbase block was reported weeks before local elections on November 28, after authorities moved to limit domestic access to Coinbase and prediction market platform Kalshi. Bloomberg News said a New Taipei court approved the restrictions after a request from the Criminal Investigations Bureau, which cited possible violations of Taiwan’s election law. Officials said the action was meant to protect election integrity and prevent overseas interference, though they did not provide detailed allegations against either company. Some users had already reported trouble reaching Coinbase from October 14, and the court ruling cited in the report was published on October 15.
Coinbase block reported before Taiwan vote
A New Taipei court authorized Taiwan’s communications regulator and internet registry to block domestic access to Coinbase and Kalshi, according to a report that cited a ruling seen by Bloomberg News. The order came ahead of local elections set for November 28, the first such local vote since President Lai Ching-te took office in 2024.
The Coinbase block appears to have affected users before the ruling became public. Some people in Taiwan reported problems reaching the exchange’s website starting on October 14. Bloomberg said the cited ruling was published on October 15, placing the access restrictions squarely in the period just before the local campaign entered its final stretch.
Why the Coinbase block was ordered
Taiwan’s Criminal Investigations Bureau requested the order and said it suspected the websites could violate the Public Officials Election and Recall Act. Authorities said the restrictions were intended to protect election integrity and prevent overseas interference, but they did not provide further detail on the specific activity that triggered the move.
The law bars operating gambling for profit based on an election or recall outcome. The report also said officials had not accused Coinbase or Kalshi of handling money from mainland China. Even so, Taiwanese authorities have separately warned that Chinese funds could move through underground financial channels and be used to influence elections.
Coinbase block and Taiwan election wagering rules
The Coinbase block comes amid broader enforcement against election wagering in Taiwan. Under a 2023 amendment to the Election Act, people who place election bets can face up to six months in prison, while operators can receive prison sentences of up to five years.
Taiwan has already blocked Polymarket, which the report described as Kalshi’s main rival. The report added that legal pressure tied to election or event wagering has also appeared elsewhere. In South Korea, police opened criminal cases against 26 Polymarket users and referred 18 to prosecutors over about $12.7 million in wagers.
Company responses and related disputes
Coinbase said it was aware that some users in Taiwan could not access its website and that it was investigating the issue. Kalshi said it does not allow trading in Taiwan. The report did not say that either company had been charged in Taiwan in connection with the access restrictions.
Kalshi has also faced separate disputes in the United States. In April, it suspended three political candidates from trading contracts tied to their own campaigns. The report said New York sued Kalshi in July over alleged unlicensed gambling products, while Baltimore filed lawsuits in August against Kalshi and Polymarket over sport-related contracts.
Conclusion
The Coinbase block in Taiwan was reported in the run-up to the November 28 local elections, with a court approving access restrictions on Coinbase and Kalshi after investigators raised concerns about election betting. Authorities said the move was designed to protect election integrity and reduce the risk of overseas interference, while the Criminal Investigations Bureau pointed to possible violations of election law. Coinbase said it was investigating access issues, and Kalshi said its platform does not permit trading in Taiwan. The Coinbase block also fits into Taiwan’s wider crackdown on election wagering, which already includes criminal penalties for bettors and operators.
Disclaimer
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