Prediction Mode and the Arena, what's the difference?

The Arena: real betting with financial stakes

The Arena is Ktkarena's core feature. You bet with real KTK that leaves your wallet and goes into escrow.

If you win, you receive the corresponding winnings (your stake + the opponent's stake - commission). If you lose, you lose your stake.

All the principles described in the other articles apply: cascade matching, escrow, resolution by sources, possible disputes.

That's what we call the "full" Ktkarena experience.

Prediction Mode: a risk-free challenge

Prediction Mode is a complementary feature where you can predict the outcome of events without staking any KTK.

When you make a prediction:

• No money leaves your wallet.
• No money enters your wallet at resolution.
• Instead, you earn Oracle points (our virtual prediction currency).
• You climb a leaderboard with other predictors.
• You unlock badges and trophies based on your performance.

It's a pure gamification system. No financial stakes, but an intellectual and competitive challenge.

Why both modes exist

For the Arena: it's what "real" bettors are looking for. Risk creates the satisfaction of winning (and the disappointment of losing). It's our core business.

For Prediction Mode: three use cases:

1. Learning. If you're just starting and don't want to risk money right away, Prediction Mode lets you learn to predict and understand the markets without financial pressure.
2. Testing your skills. Think you're good at predicting soccer? Prediction Mode tells you objectively. You see your success rate and your ranking against others. If you're good here, you can move to the Arena with confidence.
3. Playing risk-free. Some bettors just enjoy the "prediction" side without the financial stakes. Prediction Mode is their main experience.

How to switch between them smartly

Many bettors use both modes depending on the context:

• Prediction Mode for niche or experimental events (foreign politics, art, science). No risk, just for the challenge.
• The Arena for events where you have a real conviction and want to put money on it (your team's matches, your country's election, a crypto you follow).

You can switch from one mode to the other on the same event: start by predicting in Prediction Mode. If your research confirms your prediction, place a real bet in the Arena.