Posted on: April 23, 2026, 08:16h.
Last updated on: April 23, 2026, 08:21h.
- U.S. Army Master Sgt. Gannon Van Dyke was charged with insider trading on Polymarket
- Van Dyke allegedly used classified data to profit from the mission to capture Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro
- Federal authorities allege the soldier netted $409,000 before attempting to conceal his digital tracks
A U.S. Army special operations soldier who helped remove Nicolas Maduro from power in Venezuela has been charged with using classified information to bet on the mission via the prediction marketplace Polymarket, federal authorities said Thursday. Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke allegedly won $409,000 using $33,000 wagered across several bets before President Donald Trump announced Maduro’s capture on Jan. 3, 2026.
The indictment accuses Van Dyke of attempting to conceal both the source of his information and his connection to the trading accounts. Prosecutors say he tried to delete his Polymarket profile and alter the email address linked to his cryptocurrency exchange after media outlets began reporting on the unusual trading activity.
Federal officials emphasized that service members entrusted with classified material are strictly prohibited from using it for personal gain. The charges include theft of government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and the unlawful use of confidential intelligence.
Prosecutors noted that Van Dyke was photographed aboard the USS Iwo Jima following Maduro’s capture, appearing in military gear alongside other personnel involved in the operation.
Problem Predicted
The case marks one of the most prominent attempts by U.S. authorities to treat prediction‑market manipulation as a form of insider trading. Platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi have drawn increasing scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators amid concerns that government employees could exploit nonpublic information for financial advantage.
In addition to the $400,000 Maduro bet, another Polymarket user made roughly $550,000 earlier this month through a series of bets predicting that President Donald Trump would announce a ceasefire in the U.S. war with Iran.
Polymarket said it flagged the suspicious Maduro trades to federal authorities and cooperated with the investigation.
Legal experts say the new case may test how existing statutes — particularly provisions of the Commodities Exchange Act — apply to emerging markets built around event‑based contracts.
