Kalshi has officially launched fully regulated perpetual futures for Dogecoin in the United States, giving traders access to continuous DOGE derivatives under CFTC oversight. The rollout was confirmed on Thursday, October 1, 2026. Previously, U.S. retail traders had to choose between fixed-term futures on platforms such as Coinbase and Robinhood or offshore venues outside federal jurisdiction. Leading into the launch, Dogecoin was trading at approximately $0.094.
The new contract uses a fractional size of 10 DOGE, with leverage capped at 3.8x for long positions and 2.8x for short positions, far below aggressive offshore levels. Pricing references the DOGEUSD_RTI spot index administered by CF Benchmarks, funding is recalculated every eight hours, and settlements run around the clock. Early trading showed daily volume of about $952,100 and open interest of $553,300, with 54% of positions tilted toward shorts and 46% toward longs.
Kalshi noted that the contracts fall under Section 1256 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, applying the 60/40 rule to profits: 60% may be taxed at long-term capital gains rates and 40% at short-term rates regardless of holding period. Uninvested dollar margin balances can earn 3.25% annual interest starting at $250, although accounts are not insured by the FDIC or SIPC.
The DOGE launch builds on Kalshi’s summer debut in perpetual futures, which generated more than $5.5 billion in cumulative trading volume. Amid regulatory pressure over large transactions, the platform will close its VIP volume-based rewards program on October 13, 2026, but is already preparing applications for similar perpetual contracts on metals and the US500 stock index.
