U.S. Soldier Arrested After Betting on Maduro's Ouster Nets $400,000; First Insider Trading Case on Polymarket Concluded
A US Army Special Forces sergeant, Gannon Ken Van Dyke, was arrested and charged by the US Department of Justice for insider trading on the prediction market Polymarket. He used classified information related to "Operation Absolute Resolve," a military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January 2026, to place bets on Maduro's ouster.
Between December 27, 2025, and January 2, 2026, Van Dyke invested approximately $33,034 in 13 bets on Polymarket, all predicting Maduro's removal, US military intervention in Venezuela, and related events. He netted a profit of over $409,881. After the operation, he attempted to conceal his actions by withdrawing funds, changing account details, and requesting the deletion of his Polymarket account.
This case marks the first time the US Justice Department has prosecuted insider trading on a prediction market. The CFTC also filed a civil suit, invoking the "Eddie Murphy Rule" from the Dodd-Frank Act, which prohibits trading based on misappropriated government information.
The incident highlights broader concerns about insider trading on prediction markets, with similar cases recently reported in Israel and France. Polymarket stated it proactively reported the activity and cooperated with the investigation.
marsbit04/24 03:57