BlockchainReporter and TronWeekly agree the federal government sued Arkansas over Kalshi, but disagree on whether the CFTC filed alone or jointly with the Department of Justice.
What all sources agree on
- Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin filed a state enforcement action against Kalshi on Nov. 4, 2026.
- The federal complaint seeks to stop Arkansas from enforcing state law against Kalshi's event contracts.
- The federal action argues the Commodity Exchange Act gives the CFTC exclusive jurisdiction over the contracts at issue.
- Arkansas's underlying claim treats Kalshi's products as gambling, while the federal filing treats them as regulated financial contracts/swaps.
Where the reports disagree
1Which federal entity or entities filed the lawsuit against Arkansas
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission sued the State of Arkansas and its attorney general, Tim Griffin, in federal court to stop a state enforcement case against Kalshi
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed a lawsuit against Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin on November 12.
What would settle it: The federal complaint docket in Case 4:26-cv-01255-BSM, Eastern District of Arkansas, which would list the named plaintiffs.
2Date the federal complaint was filed or docketed
The commission announced the lawsuit on Nov. 13, a day after the complaint was docketed in the Eastern District of Arkansas as Case 4:26-cv-01255-BSM.
filed a lawsuit against Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin on November 12.
What would settle it: The federal court docket's filing timestamp for Case 4:26-cv-01255-BSM.
What to make of it
Treat the existence of a federal suit against Arkansas over Kalshi, and Arkansas's Nov. 4 state action, as established; do not treat the question of whether the DOJ is a co-plaintiff alongside the CFTC as settled until the court docket or a regulator statement confirms the named parties.
Treat the existence of a federal suit against Arkansas over Kalshi, and Arkansas's Nov. 4 state action, as established; do not treat the question of whether the DOJ is a co-plaintiff alongside the CFTC as settled until the court docket or a regulator statement confirms the named parties.