Taylor Swift's engagement to Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce sparked immediate movement in Super Bowl betting markets, with her odds to headline the halftime show at Super Bowl LX rising sharply.
On prediction markets exchange Kalshi, as of Thursday morning, 60% of users had backed Swift to take the stage at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara next February, making her the runaway favorite ahead of Post Malone (16%) and Metallica (11%).
Key Takeaways
- Taylor Swift’s engagement to Travis Kelce has driven a surge in betting markets on her headlining the Super Bowl LX halftime show
- Swift leads prediction site Kalshi with 61% of picks, far ahead of Post Malone and Metallica.
- The rise in activity around Swift reflects wider momentum in prediction markets, where new platforms and funding are reshaping the sector.
Swift's recent appearance on New Heights, hosted by Travis and Jason Kelce, further fueled speculation.
She spoke about baking sourdough, closely tied to San Francisco's cultural identity, and made repeated references to the number 47. The city's NFL mascot is "Sourdough Sam," while the 47th show of her Eras Tour took place at Levi's Stadium, the venue for next year's game.
Swift, who is 35, has long been linked to Super Bowl halftime rumors but was previously excluded due to her endorsement with Coca-Cola while Pepsi was the halftime sponsor. Apple Music took over sponsorship in 2022 and invited her to perform at Super Bowl LVII, when the Chiefs beat the Eagles, but she declined to focus on touring and re-recordings.
While she has never headlined the show, Swift has been a high-profile presence at recent Super Bowls as Kelce's partner, appearing on the field during Kansas City's victories and in the stands during last season's loss to the Eagles.
Prediction markets gain momentum as the Clearing Company secures $15M
The surge in betting activity surrounding Swift's potential halftime role highlights the broader growth of prediction markets, which continue to attract major investment. On Wednesday, The Clearing Company announced it had raised $15 million in seed funding to launch an on-chain, permissionless, and regulated platform.
Led by Union Square Ventures, the round also included Haun Ventures, Variant, Coinbase Ventures, and others. The startup's leadership team features former staff from Polymarket and Kalshi, two of the most prominent players in the sector, with Toni Gemayel serving as CEO.
The announcement came as established competitors expanded their efforts. Polymarket reported 286,000 active traders in July, its highest total since April. The company also brought Donald Trump Jr. onto its advisory board following his investment.
Kalshi, meanwhile, hired crypto influencer John Wang as head of crypto and partnered with Robinhood to allow trading tied to professional and college football.
Despite the momentum, not all observers are convinced. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently criticized prediction markets for offering little incentive for hedging since most do not pay interest.
Even so, with backing from major investors and growing public participation, the sector appears positioned for further expansion.
