US Soldier Arrested Over $400K Polymarket Bets Linked to Maduro Capture

 A United States Army Special Forces soldier has been arrested on charges of using classified government information to place highly profitable bets on a prediction market linked to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the accused, identified as Gannon Ken Van Dyke, allegedly earned nearly $400,000 through wagers on Polymarket by exploiting nonpublic information related to a US military operation.

Investigators said Van Dyke was directly involved in planning and executing “Operation Absolute Resolve,” a mission that led to the apprehension of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in early January 2026.

The indictment alleges that Van Dyke placed a series of bets between late December and early January, wagering approximately $33,000 on outcomes predicting US military action in Venezuela. These bets reportedly yielded returns of nearly twelve times the original amount following the successful operation.

Authorities said the accused had access to sensitive operational details after receiving a classified security briefing and signing a nondisclosure agreement. Despite these obligations, he is alleged to have used insider knowledge to inform his betting strategy.

The case also involves civil charges filed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which accused Van Dyke of violating federal regulations governing commodities trading and misuse of confidential information.

Following the operation and subsequent payouts, prosecutors allege that Van Dyke attempted to conceal his identity by transferring funds to cryptocurrency accounts and requesting deletion of his Polymarket account.

The charges against him include wire fraud, theft of government information, and unlawful use of classified data for personal gain. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison on the most serious count, along with additional penalties for related offenses.

The incident comes amid growing scrutiny of prediction markets, which allow users to wager on real-world events. Regulators have raised concerns about the potential misuse of insider information, particularly in cases involving political or military developments.

Officials said the investigation underscores the risks posed by the intersection of sensitive government information and emerging financial platforms, as authorities continue to monitor potential abuses in the rapidly expanding prediction market sector.