An editor affiliated with YouTube star MrBeast has been fined more than $20,000 and suspended from trading platform Kalshi for two years after the company found he engaged in insider trading tied to event contracts related to the creator’s content.
Summary
- Kalshi fined and suspended a MrBeast-affiliated editor for insider trading in event contracts tied to the YouTube creator’s content, imposing a $20,397.58 penalty and a two-year ban.
- The disciplinary committee found violations of prohibited insider trading and failure to cooperate with an investigation.
- Beast Industries has launched an independent investigation, stating it has zero tolerance for misuse of proprietary information and urging greater transparency from Kalshi.
Kalshi cracks down on ‘MrBeast’ contract trades
In a disciplinary notice effective February 25, 2026, Kalshi said its Disciplinary Committee determined that the individual, identified as Artem Kaptur, violated rules that bar insiders with access to material non-public information from trading on related contracts.
The rule also prohibits employees or affiliates of a “Source Agency” for any contract from entering or attempting to enter trades in those markets.
According to Kalshi’s findings, Kaptur traded in August and September 2025 in event contract markets connected to a YouTube channel while employed by or legally affiliated with “Mr Beast” contracts. The committee concluded he traded using material, non-public information obtained through that employment.
Kalshi also found that Kaptur failed to cooperate fully with its investigation, violating rules that require participants to promptly and fully cooperate with inquiries and proceedings.
As a result, the committee suspended him from direct or indirect access to Kalshi for two years and imposed a financial penalty totaling $20,397.58. That amount includes $5,397.58 in disgorged profits linked to the improper trading and an additional $15,000 civil penalty.
Kalshi further identified another individual, Kyle Langford, a 24-year-old Republican political candidate in California, for insider trading activity connected to the matter.
In response, Beast Industries said it has “no tolerance for this behavior, whether by contestants or our own employees,” citing a longstanding policy prohibiting employees from using proprietary company information.
The company confirmed it has initiated an independent investigation and urged Kalshi to share its findings, adding that integrity and audience trust remain paramount.
