CFTC Tells Court CME’s Kalshi Bitcoin Lawsuit Is ‘Much Ado About Nothing’

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has asked a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. that challenges the agency’s approval of Bitcoin perpetual futures listed by KalshiEX LLC, arguing that the exchange operator lacks legal standing and that its claimed injuries are “entirely self-inflicted.”

The motion was docketed at 6:44 p.m. Eastern Time on September 2, 2026, in Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. v. Selig, Case No. 1:26-cv-02157, before Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. 

The defendants, the CFTC and Chairman Michael S. Selig, moved to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) for lack of jurisdiction and for failure to state a claim. The supporting memorandum, docketed as Document 30-1, is a 30-page “Statement of Points and Authorities,” with Martin Minot listed as counsel of record.