Comment on CFTC-2026-0331, CFTC-2026-0331-0001, Seni, Thomas

Dear Chairman and Commissioners, My name is Seni Thomas, and I m the CEO and Founder of EDGE Markets, a responsible gaming and trading bank account based in Florida. I m writing to express my support for the proportionate regulation of prediction markets as outlined in the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Prediction Markets (91 FR 12516). As a business owner in the financial services space, I m new to prediction markets myself, but I see their potential to provide valuable information and opportunities for everyday people like my clients, and I believe the CFTC has a chance to get this right with smart, balanced rules. I started EDGE Markets to help people manage their money responsibly while engaging in gaming and trading activities. My focus has always been on ensuring safety and transparency for users, and that s why I strongly believe regulated prediction markets, like Kalshi operating on a CFTC-registered platform, are the way forward. These markets give people a legal, monitored space to participate, with safeguards against fraud and manipulation already in place. Banning or overly restricting them won t stop the demand. It will just push activity to unregulated offshore platforms where there s no oversight, no consumer protection, and no accountability. I ve seen how unregulated environments can harm users in other financial sectors, and I don t want that to happen here. Beyond safety, I think prediction markets represent a real opportunity for the United States to lead in financial innovation. My business thrives on finding new ways to empower people financially, and I believe these markets can do the same by letting regular folks have a stake in forecasting events that impact their lives, whether it s an election or an economic policy shift. If we over-regulate or shut this down, we re handing the advantage to other countries who will step in and build these platforms instead. The US should be setting the standard, not playing catch-up. I d like to address a couple of specific questions from the ANPR that resonate with me. On Question 7, regarding balancing innovation and consumer protection, I think the answer lies in regulation that encourages participation while enforcing strict rules against manipulation and insider trading, which the CFTC already has tools to handle. And on Question 14, comparing prediction markets to other financial tools, I see them as a unique way to democratize access to information, much like stock markets do for corporate data, but only if they re regulated properly to avoid offshore risks. I urge the CFTC to support well-regulated prediction markets that allow freedom to participate in legal, safe environments. Don t let over-restriction push innovation and activity overseas. Let s build a framework that protects consumers and keeps the US at the forefront of financial progress. Sincerely, Seni Thomas