Three Polymarket Accounts Bet on Maduro’s Removal Before His Arrest and Made $630,000

^{Picrured: The arrest of Nicolás Maduro}

According to CryptoNinjas, three newly created accounts on Polymarket earned more than $630,000 in combined profits after placing bets on political developments in Venezuela and the possible removal of President Nicolás Maduro shortly before his arrest.

The case relates to a U.S. special operation in which the Venezuelan leader was detained and taken out of the country. U.S. authorities said the action was linked to previously filed criminal charges and was conducted under heightened secrecy. No public information about the timing or details of the operation was disclosed prior to the official announcement.

Blockchain transaction analysis shows that the three wallets were created and funded just days before the operation. Their activity was almost entirely concentrated on prediction markets tied to Maduro’s potential departure from office and broader political events in Venezuela.

The accounts placed few, if any, bets on other outcomes. Large positions were opened only hours before official reports of the arrest began to emerge.

One wallet invested roughly $34,000 and generated more than $400,000 in profit. Two other accounts committed smaller amounts but also recorded significant gains—around $75,000 and $145,600, respectively. Total profits across the three wallets exceeded $630,000.

The timing of the bets and their narrow focus raised questions among observers and U.S. lawmakers. Members of Congress warned about the risk of non-public information being used on prediction markets.

Against this backdrop, Gambling Park notes that Congressman Ritchie Torres said he intends to introduce legislation that would bar federal officials and executive branch employees from trading on prediction markets if they have access to material non-public information.